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India

Image:Emblem of India.svg This article is part of the series: Politics and government of India

Constitution Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat Government Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Deputy Prime Minister Ministers Parliament Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee Recent Elections General elections, 2004 State Assembly elections Political parties Supreme Court Chief Justice Yogesh Kumar Sabharwal High Courts District Courts States and territories Human rights Political scandals Foreign relations

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The Government of India (Hindi: Bharat Sarkar), officially referred to as the Union Government, and commonly as Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of a federal union of 28 states and 7 union territories, collectively called the Republic of India. The basic civil and criminal laws governing the citizens of India are set down in major parliamentary legislation, such as the Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, etc. The federal (union) and individual state governments consist of executive, legislative and judicial branches. The legal system as applicable to the federal and individual state governments is based on the English Common and Statutory Law. India accepts compulsory International Court of Justice jurisdiction with several reservations.

Contents 1 Legislative branch 2 Executive branch 2.1 President of India 2.2 The Council of Ministers 2.3 The Union Ministries 3 Constitution 3.1 Sovreign 3.2 Socialist 3.3 Secular 3.4 Democratic 3.5 Republic

[edit] Legislative branch

India's bicameral parliament (also known as the Sansad) consists of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People). The Union Council of Ministers is responsible to the Lok Sabha. In India's parliamentary system, the executive is nominally subordinate to the legislature. There are 543 members in the Lok Sabha that are elected from the various states on the basis of proportional representation. There are 2 Anglo-Indian members nominated by the President.

[edit] Executive branch

The Executive arm consists of the President, Vice-President, the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers. Any minister holding a portfolio must be a member of either house of parliament.

[edit] President of India

Main article: President of India

The government exercises its broad administrative powers in the name of the President of India, who is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the Head of State and chief guardian of the Constitution of the Republic.

The President's true role is mostly ceremonial. He is the Supreme Commander of the nation's armed forces, has the authority to dissolve Parliament and call fresh elections, declare a state of emergency, and dismiss governments in the states, but all upon the counsel of the Prime Minister and the elected government.

Historically, the President of the Republic has been a person revered by the people for his position above ordinary politics. The President and Vice President are elected indirectly for 5-year terms by a special electoral college, composed of delegates from the federal Parliament and state legislatures.

[edit] The Council of Ministers

Main article: Indian Cabinet Ministers

Real national executive power is centered in the Council of Ministers, the Union Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister of India, the Head of Government. The President appoints the Prime Minister, who is the designated leader of the political party or coalition commanding parliamentary majority. All Central Government decisions are nominally taken in the name of the President.

The Ministers may be of 3 types - Cabinet Minister, Minister of State (Independent Charge) and Minister of State, in order of seniority. Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State with independent charge may usually attend Cabinet meetings.

[edit] The Union Ministries

The day-to-day enforcement and administration of national laws lies in the hands of the various federal Union Ministries and Departments, created by the Indian Parliament to deal with specific areas of national and international affairs. In matters delegated to the States, Ministries act in advisory and funding capacity.

• Ministry of Agriculture
• Ministry of Agro and Rural Industries
• Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
• Ministry of Civil Aviation
• Ministry of Coal
• Ministry of Commerce and Industry
• Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
• Ministry of Company Affairs
• Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
• Ministry of Defence
• Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
• Ministry of Environment and Forests
• Ministry of External Affairs
• Ministry of Finance
• Ministry of Food Processing Industries

[edit] Constitution

The Preamble of the Inidan Constitution outlines the type of government that India has chosen: sovreign, socialist, secular, democratic, and a republic.

[edit] Sovreign

The Indian government and people are free and independent from any foreign interference.

[edit] Socialist

The word "socialist" was added to the Indian Constitution in 1976. It implies that all citizens are to be treated equal regardless of sex, race, religion, and creed. India also holds a mixed economic model with strong government participation.

[edit] Secular

The word "secular was added to the Indian Constitution in 1976. It implies that India is tolerant to all different religions and does not discriminate against different beliefs. India has no state religion.

[edit] Democratic

India is a direct democracy in which the people choose their leaders in free elections and participate in the government.

[edit] Republic

India is a republic. It has many political parties that participate in its elections.