What is a coalition government?

The term ‘coalition’ is derived from the Latin word ‘coalitio’ which means ‘to grow together. Thus, technically, coalition means the act of uniting parts into one body or whole. Politically, coalition means an alliance of distinct political parties. A coalition government is a form of government in which political parties cooperate to form a government. The usual reason for such an arrangement is that no single party has achieved an absolute majority after an election.

Further Reading:

• Coalition Government
• Indian Polity Notes For UPSC