Government of India

The Government of India is the national authority for the Republic of India. It operates according to the Constitution of India. This central authority is often called the Union Government or the Central Government. The Constitution describes India as a "Union of States." This means the central government shares power with different parts of the country.

The government uses a parliamentary republic system. This system is based on the British Westminster model. It is divided into three primary branches: the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary. The legislature is the Parliament, which creates laws. The executive branch implements those laws. The judiciary branch, led by the Supreme Court, ensures laws are followed.

The legislature is a bicameral Parliament. This means it has two separate houses. The first is the Rajya Sabha, or the Council of States. It is a permanent house that cannot be dissolved. Members serve six-year terms and are elected by state legislatures. The second is the Lok Sabha, or the House of the People. It is a temporary house that can be dissolved. General elections for the Lok Sabha occur every five years. The most recent election was held in 2024.

The executive branch manages the daily administration of the state. The President of India is the ceremonial head of state. The President holds formal executive power and is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. However, the President acts on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is the head of government. The Prime Minister leads the Union Council of Ministers. This council is the peak decision-making body for executive policy.

India uses a quasi-federal system of governance. This system blends federal and unitary elements. The country is divided into 28 states and 8 union territories. These 36 subnational entities have different levels of control. States are self-governing administrative divisions with their own governments. Union territories are governed directly by the Union Government. The President appoints a lieutenant governor or an administrator to lead them.

The history of this government began during British colonial rule. In 1909, the Morley-Minto reforms introduced elections to the Imperial Legislative Council. Before this, no Indians held high levels of government. The 1919 Montagu-Chelmsford reforms created a larger, two-house council. Later, the Government of India Act 1935 aimed to move power away from London. This Act established provincial governments and civil service institutions. After independence in 1947, India was a dominion for three years. On 26 January 1950, the Constitution made India a republic.

Today, India is the world's largest democracy. It is also the 4th largest economy in the world. The legal system uses English common law and statutory law. The Supreme Court sits at the top of a massive judicial hierarchy. This hierarchy includes 25 high courts and hundreds of district courts. The government's formal seat is located at Parliament House in New Delhi.