Nepedia
Back to Discover
Fluent Reader
📖

Government of India

society Maturity 11-13 politics Next article →

This article covers sensitive topics: politics. Parents can manage visibility in Parental Controls.

The Government of India is the national authority for the Republic of India. It follows the rules written in the Constitution of India. This government is often called the Union Government or the Central Government. India is described as a "Union of States." This means the central authority works alongside many different parts of the country.

New Delhi government block 03-2016 img5
New Delhi government block 03-2016 img5

The government works through three main branches. The legislature is the Parliament, which makes the laws. The executive branch carries out these laws every day. This branch includes the President and the Prime Minister. The judiciary branch uses the courts to make sure laws are followed. The Supreme Court of India is the highest court in this system.

Supreme Court of India - 200705
Supreme Court of India - 200705

India's government has roots in the past. During British colonial rule, laws like the Indian Councils Act 1909 introduced elections. Later, the Government of India Act 1919 created a larger council with two houses. The 1935 Act tried to give more power to local areas. After gaining independence in 1947, India was a dominion for a short time. Finally, on 26 January 1950, India became a republic.

Parliament House, British India (1926)
Parliament House, British India (1926)

Today, the Parliament is a bicameral system. This means it has two houses called the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The Lok Sabha is the lower house, or the "House of the People." The Rajya Sabha is the upper house, or the "Council of States." The President appoints the Prime Minister based on elections. The Prime Minister leads the Council of Ministers to run the country.

Glimpses of the new Parliament Building, in New Delhi (2)
Glimpses of the new Parliament Building, in New Delhi (2)

India is divided into 28 states and 8 union territories. The states have their own governments to rule themselves. However, the Union Government rules the union territories directly. The President appoints an administrator to help lead these territories. India is known as the world's largest democracy. It is also the 4th largest economy in the world.

306 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (9)
File:Parliament House, British India (1926).png
Parliament House, British India (1926).png
File:Rajagopalachari declares India as a Republic.jpg
Rajagopalachari declares India as a Republic.jpg
File:Glimpses of the new Parliament Building, in New Delhi (2).jpg
Glimpses of the new Parliament Building,...
File:The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu administered the Oath of Office of Vice President of India to Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan at a Swearing-in-Ceremony held at Ganatantra Mandap, in Rashtrapati Bhavan on September 12, 2025.jpg
The President of India, Smt Droupadi...
File:New Delhi government block 03-2016 img5.jpg
New Delhi government block 03-2016 img5.jpg
File:Government of India hierarchy.svg
Government of India hierarchy.svg
File:The Union Home Secretary, Shri Rajiv Gauba in a group photograph with the IPS Officer Trainees of 2016 batch, in New Delhi.jpg
The Union Home Secretary, Shri Rajiv...
File:Supreme Court of India - 200705.jpg
Supreme Court of India - 200705.jpg
File:RBI-Tower.jpg
RBI-Tower.jpg
More to explore

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.