Government of India

Government of India
Government of India · Public domain · source
Government name	Government of India
Caption	The State Emblem of India is an adaptation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka.
Date	26 January 1950; 74 years ago
Country	India
Polity	Federal republic
Constitution	Constitution of India
Legislature	Parliament of India
Meeting place	Sansad Bhavan
Leader title	President of India
Appointed	Electoral College
Main body	Union Council of Ministers
Leader title2	Prime Minister of India
Appointed2	President of India
Leader title3	Chief Justice of India
Appointed3	President of India
Headquarters	New Delhi
Ministries	58 Union Ministries
Court	Supreme Court of India
Seat	Tilak Marg, New Delhi

Government of India. The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government and also termed the Central Government, is the national authority of the Republic of India, a federal democratic republic modeled after the Westminster system. Established by the Constitution of India which came into force on 26 January 1950, it operates from the capital, New Delhi, and comprises three distinct branches: the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary. Its powers and structure are detailed in the constitution, which designates it as the Government of the Union with jurisdiction over matters in the Union List.

Structure and branches

The government is structured as a federal parliamentary democratic republic, where the President of India serves as the constitutional head of state and the Prime Minister of India is the head of government. The framework is defined by the Constitution of India, which draws from several sources including the Government of India Act 1935 and influences from the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Ireland. Sovereignty is vested in the people of India, and the government operates through a system of separated powers among its branches, with checks and balances to prevent the concentration of authority. The Cabinet Secretary of India heads the Cabinet Secretariat, which facilitates inter-ministerial coordination.

Executive branch

The executive branch is headed by the President of India, who is elected by an Electoral College comprising members of the Parliament of India and the State Legislative Assemblies. The real executive power is vested in the Prime Minister of India and the Union Council of Ministers, which is responsible to the Lok Sabha. Key executive bodies include the Prime Minister's Office and the various Union Ministries such as the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of External Affairs. The Civil Services of India, including the Indian Administrative Service, implement government policies, while the Armed Forces of India are under the control of the Ministry of Defence.

Legislative branch

The legislative branch is the bicameral Parliament of India, which consists of the President of India and two houses: the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States). The Lok Sabha is composed of members directly elected by the people from parliamentary constituencies, while the Rajya Sabha members are elected by the State Legislative Assemblies. Parliament meets at the Sansad Bhavan in New Delhi. Major legislative functions include the making of laws on subjects in the Union List and Concurrent List, the passing of the annual budget, and oversight of the executive through mechanisms like Question Hour. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides over the lower house.

Judicial branch

The judiciary is independent and headed by the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi, with the Chief Justice of India as its head. The Supreme Court is the ultimate interpreter of the Constitution of India and the highest court of appeal, with the power of judicial review. Below it are the High courts of India, such as the Allahabad High Court and the Delhi High Court, and subordinate courts including District Courts. The judiciary safeguards fundamental rights and settles disputes between the Union Government and the States, or between the States themselves. The Attorney General of India is the government's chief legal advisor.

State and local governments

India's federal structure includes governments at the state and local levels. Each of the 28 States has its own government, patterned after the Union model, with a Governor, a Chief Minister, and a State Legislative Assembly (or Council). The Union Territories are administered by the President of India through an Administrator or Lieutenant Governor. Local self-government is enshrined in the constitution through Panchayati Raj institutions in rural areas and Municipalities in urban areas, established by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments.

Elections and political parties

Elections are conducted by the autonomous Election Commission of India, headed by the Chief Election Commissioner of India, under provisions of the Constitution of India. General elections for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies are held based on universal adult franchise. India has a multi-party system with the Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party being the two major national parties historically. Other significant parties include the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Bahujan Samaj Party, and various regional parties like the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Trinamool Congress. The first-past-the-post system is used for most elections, and political funding is regulated by laws overseen by the Election Commission of India. Category:Government of India India