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{{Short description|Legislative, executive and judiciary authority of India}}
{{Short description|Legislative, executive and judiciary authority of India}}
{{pp-protected|reason=Persistent [[WP:Disruptive editing|disruptive editing]]|small=yes}}
{{Pp-protected|reason=Persistent [[WP:Disruptive editing|disruptive editing]]|small=yes}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox
{{Infobox government
| title            = Government of India<br />{{small|{{transl|hi|ISO|Bhārat Sarkār}}}}
| government_name  = Government of the Republic of India
| headerstyle      = vertical-align:middle;background-color:#efefef;
| nativename      = {{transl|hi|ISO|Bhārat Gaṇarājya kī Sarkār}}
| image1          = [[File:Emblem of India (without motto).svg |45px]]
| image            = Emblem of India.svg
| image2          = [[File:Flag of India.png |105px|border]]
| image_size      = 90px
| caption1        = [[Emblem of India]]
| caption          =  
| caption2        = [[Flag of India]]
| date            = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1950|1|26}}
| label1          = Formation
| country          = [[Republic of India]]
| data1            = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1950|1|26}}
| website          = {{official URL}}
| label2          = Country
 
| data2            = [[Republic of India]]
| legislature      = [[Parliament of India|Parliament]]
| label3          = Website
| meeting_place    = [[Sansad Bhavan]]
| data3            = {{URL|https://www.india.gov.in|india.gov.in}}
 
| label7          = Seat
| leader_title = [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]]
| data7            = [[Rashtrapati Bhavan]] (Official Residence of the [[President of India]])
| departments = [[Union Council of Ministers]], [[Union Government ministries of India]]
| header8          = [[Legislature]]
| headquarters    = [[Secretariat Building, New Delhi|Central Secretariat]]
| label9          = [[Legislature]]
 
| data9            = [[Parliament of India|Parliament]]
| court           = [[Supreme Court of India]]
| label10          = [[Upper house]]
| chief_justice_label = Chief Justice
| data10          = [[Rajya Sabha]]
| chief_justice    = [[Chief Justice of India]]
| label11          = Leader
| data11          = [[Chairman of Rajya Sabha|Chairman]] ([[Venkaiah Naidu]])
| label12          = [[Lower house]]
| data12          = [[Lok Sabha]]
| label13          = Leader
| data13          = [[Speaker of Lok Sabha|Speaker]] ([[Om Birla]])
| label14          = Meeting place
| data14          = [[Sansad Bhavan]]
| header15        = [[Executive (government)|Executive]]
| label16          = [[Head of state]]
| data16          = [[President of India|President]] [[Ram Nath Kovind]]
| label17          = [[Head of government]]
| data17          = [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Narendra Modi]]
| label18          = Main organ
| data18          = [[Union Council of Ministers of India|Cabinet]]
| label19          = Head of civil services
| data19          = [[Cabinet Secretary of India|Cabinet secretary]] ([[Rajiv Gauba]], [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]])
| label20          = Meeting place
| data20          = [[Secretariat Building, New Delhi|Central secretariat]]
| label21          = [[Ministry (government department)|Ministries]]
| data21          = [[Union Government ministries of India|57]]
| label22          = Responsible to
| data22          = [[Lok Sabha]]
| header23        = [[Judiciary]]
| label24          = [[Supreme court|Court]]
| data24          = [[Supreme Court of India]]
| label25          = [[Chief Justice of India|Chief Justice]]
| data25          = [[N. V. Ramana]]
}}
}}
{{Politics of India}}
{{Politics of India}}


The '''Government of India''' ([[ISO 15919|ISO]]: {{transl|hi|ISO|Bhārat Sarkār}}) (often abbreviated as '''GoI'''), also known as the '''Central''' or '''Union Government''' or simply the '''Centre''', is the [[federal republic|federal]] government of the [[Republic of India]] created by the [[Constitution of India]] as the [[Parliament of India|legislative]], executive and [[Judiciary of India|judicial]] authority to govern the union of twenty eight [[States and union territories of India|states]] and eight [[Union territory|union territories]]. The president acts as the head of state and is the highest figure of authority, nominally, of the nation however it is the prime minister who is the ''[[de facto]]'' chief executive and head of government. The seat of the government is located in [[New Delhi]], the capital of India.
The '''Government of India''' ([[ISO 15919|ISO]]: {{transl|hi|ISO|Bhārat Sarkār}}; often abbreviated as '''GoI'''), known as the '''Union Government''' or '''Central Government''' but often simply as the '''Centre''',{{Efn|The Constitution of India describes the federal government as "The Union".}} is the [[Government|national authority]] of the [[Republic of India]], a federal democracy located in [[South Asia]], consisting of 28 union states and eight union territories. Under the [[Constitution of India|Constitution]], there are three primary branches of government: the legislative, the executive and the judiciary, whose powers are vested in a [[Bicameralism|bicameral]] [[Parliament of India|Parliament]], [[President of India|President]], aided by the [[Union Council of Ministers|Council of Ministers]], and the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] respectively. Through judicial evolution, the Parliament has lost [[Parliamentary sovereignty|its sovereignty]] as its [[Amendment of the Constitution of India|amendments to the Constitution]] are subject to judicial intervention. Judicial appointments in India are unique in that the executive or legislature have negligible say.
 
==Etymology and history==
{{Expand section|date=June 2022}}
 
The [[Government of India Act 1833]], passed by the [[British parliament]], is the first such [[act of law]] with the [[epithet]] "Government of India".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.britannica.com/event/Government-of-India-Acts | title=Government of India Acts &#124; United Kingdom &#124; Britannica | access-date=4 June 2022 | archive-date=4 June 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604230000/https://www.britannica.com/event/Government-of-India-Acts | url-status=live }}</ref>


== Basic structure ==
== Basic structure ==
The government of India, also known as the Union of India (According to Article 300 of the Indian constitution),<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1415462/|title=Article 300 in The Constitution Of India 1949}}</ref> is modelled after the [[Westminster system]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-prime-ministerial-form-of-government/article6120400.ece|title=A prime ministerial form of government|last=Subramanian|first=K.|date=17 June 2014|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=9 March 2018|issn=0971-751X|oclc=13119119}}</ref> The Union government is mainly composed of the [[Executive (government)|executive]], the [[legislature]], and the [[judiciary]], and powers are vested by the [[Constitution of India|constitution]] in the [[Prime Minister of India|prime minister]], [[Parliament of India|parliament]] and the [[Supreme Court of India|supreme court]] respectively. The [[president of India]] is the [[head of state]] and the [[commander-in-chief]] of the [[Indian Armed Forces]] whilst the [[Elections in India|elected]] [[Prime Minister of India|prime minister]] acts as the head of the executive, and is responsible for running the Union government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elections.in/government/|title=Government of India, Structure of Government India|website=elections.com |date=8 January 2018}}</ref> The parliament is [[bicameral]] in nature, with the [[Lok Sabha]] being the [[lower house]], and the [[Rajya Sabha]] the [[upper house]]. The judiciary systematically contains an apex [[Supreme Court of India|supreme court]], 25 [[High Courts of India|high courts]], and several [[District Courts of India|district courts]], all inferior to the supreme court.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://india.gov.in/my-government/constitution-india|title=Constitution of India's definition of India|website=Indiagovt.in|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111125035/https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/constitution-india|archive-date=11 November 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The government of India, also known as the Union of India (according to Article 300 of the Indian constitution),<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1415462/|title=Article 300 in The Constitution Of India 1949|access-date=11 June 2021|archive-date=11 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611163112/https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1415462/|url-status=live}}</ref> is modelled after the [[Westminster system]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-prime-ministerial-form-of-government/article6120400.ece|title=A prime ministerial form of government|last=Subramanian|first=K.|date=17 June 2014|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=9 March 2018|issn=0971-751X|oclc=13119119|archive-date=10 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180610072155/http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-prime-ministerial-form-of-government/article6120400.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> The Union government is mainly composed of the [[Executive (government)|executive]], the [[legislature]], and the [[judiciary]], and powers are vested by the [[Constitution of India|constitution]] in the [[Prime Minister of India|prime minister]], [[Parliament of India|parliament]], and the [[Supreme Court of India|supreme court]], respectively. The [[president of India]] is the [[head of state]] and the [[commander-in-chief]] of the [[Indian Armed Forces]], whilst the [[Elections in India|elected]] [[Prime Minister of India|prime minister]] acts as the head of the executive and is responsible for running the Union government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elections.in/government/|title=Government of India, Structure of Government India|website=elections.com|date=8 January 2018|access-date=19 May 2017|archive-date=21 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521132635/http://www.elections.in/government/|url-status=live}}</ref> The parliament is [[bicameral]] in nature, with the [[Lok Sabha]] being the [[lower house]], and the [[Rajya Sabha]] the [[upper house]]. The judiciary systematically contains an apex [[Supreme Court of India|supreme court]], 25 [[High Courts of India|high courts]], and several [[District Courts of India|district courts]], all inferior to the supreme court.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://india.gov.in/my-government/constitution-india|title=Constitution of India's definition of India|website=Indiagovt.in|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111125035/https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/constitution-india|archive-date=11 November 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>


The basic [[Civil law (common law)|civil]] and criminal laws governing the citizens of India are set down in major parliamentary legislation, such as the [[Code of Civil Procedure (India)|civil procedure code]], the [[Indian Penal Code|penal code]], and the [[Code of Criminal Procedure (India)|criminal procedure code]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legalserviceindia.com/Criminallaws/criminal_law.htm|title=Legal services India on Criminal laws in India|publisher=Legal Services India|access-date=11 April 2018}}</ref> Similar to the Union government, individual state governments each consist of executive, legislative and judiciary branches. The legal system as applicable to the Union and individual state governments is based on the [[Common Law|English common]] and [[Statutory Law|statutory law]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://ijlljs.in/structure-of-indian-legal-system-orignal-orign-and-development-dheeraj-kumar-tiwari-bb-a-ll-b-1st-year-siddhartha-law-collegedehradun-uttarakhand/ |title=Structure of Indian Legal System: {{sic|Orignal Orign|nolink=y}} and Development |author=Dheeraj Kumar Tiwari |work=International Journal of Law and Legal Jurisprudence Studies|access-date=19 May 2017}}</ref> The full name of the country is the ''Republic of India''. India and Bharat are equally official short [[Names for India|names]] for the Republic of India in the Constitution,<ref>{{Cite book|title=India|last=A. M.|first=Buckley|publisher=ABDO Publishing Company|year=2012|isbn=978-1-61787-625-7|location=[[Edina, Minnesota]]|oclc=767886738}}</ref> and both names appears on legal banknotes, in treaties and in legal cases. The terms "Union government", "central government" and "{{transl|hi|ISO|bhārat sarkār}}" are often used officially and unofficially to refer to the government of India.{{Citation needed|date=July 2017}} The term ''New Delhi'' is commonly used as a [[metonym]] for the Union government,{{Citation needed|date=July 2017}} as the seat of the government is in [[New Delhi]].
The basic [[Civil law (common law)|civil]] and criminal laws governing the citizens of India are set down in major parliamentary legislation, such as the [[Code of Civil Procedure (India)|civil procedure code]], the [[Indian Penal Code|penal code]], and the [[Code of Criminal Procedure (India)|criminal procedure code]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legalserviceindia.com/Criminallaws/criminal_law.htm|title=Legal services India on Criminal laws in India|publisher=Legal Services India|access-date=11 April 2018|archive-date=28 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328020227/http://legalserviceindia.com/Criminallaws/criminal_law.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Similar to the Union government, individual state governments each consist of executive, legislative and judiciary branches. The legal system as applicable to the Union and individual state governments is based on the [[Common Law|English common]] and [[Statutory Law|statutory law]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://ijlljs.in/structure-of-indian-legal-system-orignal-orign-and-development-dheeraj-kumar-tiwari-bb-a-ll-b-1st-year-siddhartha-law-collegedehradun-uttarakhand/ |title=Structure of Indian Legal System: Original Origin and Development |author=Dheeraj Kumar Tiwari |work=International Journal of Law and Legal Jurisprudence Studies |access-date=19 May 2017 |archive-date=8 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608234531/http://ijlljs.in/structure-of-indian-legal-system-orignal-orign-and-development-dheeraj-kumar-tiwari-bb-a-ll-b-1st-year-siddhartha-law-collegedehradun-uttarakhand/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The full name of the country is the ''Republic of India''. India and Bharat are equally official short [[Names for India|names]] for the Republic of India in the Constitution,<ref>{{Cite book|title=India|first=A. M.|last=Buckley|publisher=ABDO Publishing Company|year=2012|isbn=978-1-61787-625-7|location=[[Edina, Minnesota]]|oclc=767886738}}</ref> and both names appears on legal banknotes, in treaties and in legal cases. The terms "Union government", "central government" and "{{transl|hi|ISO|bhārat sarkār}}" are often used officially and unofficially to refer to the government of India.{{Citation needed|date=July 2017}} The term ''New Delhi'' is commonly used as a [[metonym]] for the Union government,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Das |first=Nairita |date=2012-06-14 |title=Why Raisina Hills, is so important for Indian Politicians? |work=[[One India]] |url=https://www.oneindia.com/2012/06/14/why-raisina-hill-so-important-for-indian-politicians-1018252.html?story=1 |access-date=2022-07-23}}</ref> as the seat of the central government is in [[New Delhi]].


== Legislature ==
== Legislature ==
{{Main|Parliament of India}}
{{Main|Parliament of India}}
[[File:New Delhi government block 03-2016 img3.jpg|thumb|left|Building of the [[Parliament of India]]]]
[[File:New Delhi government block 03-2016 img3.jpg|thumb|left|Building of the [[Parliament of India]]]]
The powers of the legislature in India are exercised by [[Parliament of India|the Parliament]], a bicameral legislature consisting of the [[Rajya Sabha]] and the [[Lok Sabha]]. Of the two houses of parliament, the Rajya Sabha (or the 'Council of States') is considered to be the [[upper house]] and consists of members appointed by the president and [[Indirect election|elected]] by the [[States and union territories of India|state and territorial legislatures]]. The Lok Sabha (or the 'House of the People') is considered the [[lower house]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Cultural Perspectives on Youth Justice: Connecting Theory, Policy and International Practise |isbn=978-1-137-43397-8 |page=186|url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1137433973|access-date=10 May 2017|last1=Arnull |first1=Elaine |last2=Fox |first2=Darrell |date=29 June 2016 }}</ref>
The powers of the legislature in India are exercised by [[Parliament of India|the Parliament]], a bicameral legislature consisting of the [[Rajya Sabha]] and the [[Lok Sabha]]. Of the two houses of parliament, the Rajya Sabha (or the 'Council of States') is considered to be the [[upper house]] and consists of members appointed by the president and [[Indirect election|elected]] by the [[States and union territories of India|state and territorial legislatures]]. The Lok Sabha (or the 'House of the People') is considered the [[lower house]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Cultural Perspectives on Youth Justice: Connecting Theory, Policy and International Practise |isbn=978-1-137-43397-8 |page=186 |url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1137433973 |access-date=10 May 2017 |last1=Arnull |first1=Elaine |last2=Fox |first2=Darrell |date=29 June 2016 |archive-date=14 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714053953/https://www.google.com/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=isbn:1137433973&google_abuse=GOOGLE_ABUSE_EXEMPTION%3DID%3D614091833f082527:TM%3D1657777193:C%3D%3E:IP%3D207.241.232.188-:S%3DFNOYOqpKvknwH1pjMbRenw%3B+path%3D/%3B+domain%3Dgoogle.com%3B+expires%3DThu,+14-Jul-2022+08:39:53+GMT |url-status=live }}</ref>


The parliament does not have complete control and [[Parliamentary sovereignty|sovereignty]], as its laws are subject to [[judicial review]] by the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/Parliaments-actions-subject-to-judicial-review-court/article14704694.ece|title=Parliament's actions subject to judicial review: court|work=The Hindu|access-date=19 July 2017}}</ref> However, it does exercise some control over the [[Executive (government)|executive]]. The members of the [[Union Council of Ministers|Council of Ministers]], including [[Prime Minister of India|the prime minister]], are either chosen from parliament or elected there within six months of assuming office.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.lawteacher.net/free-law-essays/administrative-law/indian-constitution-and-parliamentary-government-administrative-law-essay.php|title=Indian Constitution And Parliamentary Government {{!}} Law Teacher|access-date=20 July 2017}}</ref> The council as a whole is [[Responsible government|responsible]] to the Lok Sabha.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DY1CAQAAQBAJ&q=parliament+control+executive&pg=SA5-PA9|title=Governance in India|last=Laxmikanth|publisher=Tata McGraw-Hill Education|isbn=978-0-07-107466-7|language=en}}</ref> The Lok Sabha is a temporary house and can be dissolved only when the party in power loses the support of the majority of the house. The Rajya Sabha is a permanent house and can never be dissolved. The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected for a six-year term.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://www.parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/intro/p1.htm&gws_rd=cr&ei=jzlwWeOqLYGq0AT4zbmwAg|title=Our Parliament|website=webcache.googleusercontent.com|access-date=20 July 2017}}</ref>
The parliament does not have complete control and [[Parliamentary sovereignty|sovereignty]], as its laws are subject to [[judicial review]] by the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/Parliaments-actions-subject-to-judicial-review-court/article14704694.ece|title=Parliament's actions subject to judicial review: court|work=The Hindu|access-date=19 July 2017|archive-date=8 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108183753/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/Parliaments-actions-subject-to-judicial-review-court/article14704694.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> However, it does exercise some control over the [[Executive (government)|executive]]. The members of the [[Union Council of Ministers|Council of Ministers]], including [[Prime Minister of India|the prime minister]], are either chosen from parliament or elected there within six months of assuming office.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.lawteacher.net/free-law-essays/administrative-law/indian-constitution-and-parliamentary-government-administrative-law-essay.php|title=Indian Constitution And Parliamentary Government {{!}} Law Teacher|access-date=20 July 2017|archive-date=17 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917213650/https://www.lawteacher.net/free-law-essays/administrative-law/indian-constitution-and-parliamentary-government-administrative-law-essay.php|url-status=live}}</ref> The council as a whole is [[Responsible government|responsible]] to the Lok Sabha.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DY1CAQAAQBAJ&q=parliament+control+executive&pg=SA5-PA9|title=Governance in India|last=Laxmikanth|publisher=Tata McGraw-Hill Education|isbn=978-0-07-107466-7|language=en|access-date=11 November 2020|archive-date=11 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611230658/https://books.google.com/books?id=DY1CAQAAQBAJ&q=parliament+control+executive&pg=SA5-PA9|url-status=live}}</ref> The Lok Sabha is a temporary house and can be dissolved only when the party in power loses the support of the majority of the house. The Rajya Sabha is a permanent house and can never be dissolved. The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected for a six-year term.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://www.parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/intro/p1.htm&gws_rd=cr&ei=jzlwWeOqLYGq0AT4zbmwAg|title=Our Parliament|website=webcache.googleusercontent.com|access-date=20 July 2017}}</ref>


== Executive ==
== Executive ==
The [[executive branch|executive]] of government is the one that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the republican idea of the [[separation of powers]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rn2QDAAAQBAJ&q=The+Executive+Branch+of+government+of+India+is+the+one+that+has+sole+authority+and+responsibility+for+the+daily+administration+of+the+state+bureaucracy.+The+division+of+power+into+separate+branches+of+government+is+central+to+the+republican+idea+of+the+separation+of+powers.+President&pg=PA186|title=Cultural Perspectives on Youth Justice: Connecting Theory, Policy and International Practice|last1=Arnull|first1=Elaine|last2=Fox|first2=Darrell|date=29 June 2016|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-1-137-43397-8|language=en}}</ref>
The [[executive branch|executive]] of government is the one that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the republican idea of the [[separation of powers]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rn2QDAAAQBAJ&q=The+Executive+Branch+of+government+of+India+is+the+one+that+has+sole+authority+and+responsibility+for+the+daily+administration+of+the+state+bureaucracy.+The+division+of+power+into+separate+branches+of+government+is+central+to+the+republican+idea+of+the+separation+of+powers.+President&pg=PA186|title=Cultural Perspectives on Youth Justice: Connecting Theory, Policy and International Practice|last1=Arnull|first1=Elaine|last2=Fox|first2=Darrell|date=29 June 2016|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-1-137-43397-8|language=en|access-date=11 November 2020|archive-date=11 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611230607/https://books.google.com/books?id=Rn2QDAAAQBAJ&q=The+Executive+Branch+of+government+of+India+is+the+one+that+has+sole+authority+and+responsibility+for+the+daily+administration+of+the+state+bureaucracy.+The+division+of+power+into+separate+branches+of+government+is+central+to+the+republican+idea+of+the+separation+of+powers.+President&pg=PA186|url-status=live}}</ref>


=== President ===
=== President ===
Line 77: Line 55:
The council of ministers remains in power during the 'pleasure' of the president. However, in practice, the council of ministers must retain the support of the Lok Sabha. If a president were to dismiss the council of ministers on his or her initiative, it might trigger a constitutional crisis. Thus, in practice, the Council of Ministers cannot be dismissed as long as it holds the support of a majority in the [[Lok Sabha]].
The council of ministers remains in power during the 'pleasure' of the president. However, in practice, the council of ministers must retain the support of the Lok Sabha. If a president were to dismiss the council of ministers on his or her initiative, it might trigger a constitutional crisis. Thus, in practice, the Council of Ministers cannot be dismissed as long as it holds the support of a majority in the [[Lok Sabha]].


The President is responsible for appointing many high officials in India. These high officials include the [[Governors of states of India|governors]] of the 28 [[States and territories of India|states]]; the [[Chief Justice of India|chief justice]]; other judges of the [[Supreme Court of India|supreme court]] and [[List of high courts in India|high courts]] on the advice of other judges; the [[Attorney General of India|attorney general]]; the [[Comptroller and Auditor General of India|comptroller and auditor general]]; the [[Chief Election Commissioner of India|chief election commissioner]] and other [[Election Commissioner of India|election commissioners]]; the chairman and members of the [[Union Public Service Commission]]; the officers of the [[All India Services]] ([[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]], [[Indian Forest Service|IFoS]] and [[Indian Police Service|IPS]]) and [[Central Civil Services]] in group 'A'; and the [[ambassador]]s and [[High commissioner (Commonwealth)|high commissioners]] to other countries on the recommendations of the Council of Ministers.<ref name="Darpan2007">{{cite book|author=Pratiyogita Darpan|title=Pratiyogita Darpan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5ugDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT60|date=March 2007|publisher=Pratiyogita Darpan|page=60}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=The Constitution of India|last=Bakshi|first=Parvinrai Mulwantrai|publisher=Universal Law Pub. Co|year=2010 |isbn=978-8175348400 |edition=10th |location=New Delhi |page=48|oclc=551377953}}</ref>
The President is responsible for appointing many high officials in India. These high officials include the [[Governors of states of India|governors]] of the 28 [[States and territories of India|states]]; the [[Chief Justice of India|chief justice]]; other judges of the [[Supreme Court of India|supreme court]] and [[List of high courts in India|high courts]] on the advice of other judges; the [[Attorney General of India|attorney general]]; the [[Comptroller and Auditor General of India|comptroller and auditor general]]; the [[Chief Election Commissioner of India|chief election commissioner]] and other [[Election Commissioner of India|election commissioners]]; the chairman and members of the [[Union Public Service Commission]]; the officers of the [[All India Services]] ([[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]], [[Indian Forest Service|IFoS]] and [[Indian Police Service|IPS]]) and [[Central Civil Services]] in group 'A'; and the [[ambassador]]s and [[High commissioner (Commonwealth)|high commissioners]] to other countries on the recommendations of the Council of Ministers.<ref name="Darpan2007">{{cite book|author=Pratiyogita Darpan|title=Pratiyogita Darpan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5ugDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT60|date=March 2007|publisher=Pratiyogita Darpan|page=60|access-date=15 November 2015|archive-date=7 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107002040/https://books.google.com/books?id=5ugDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT60|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=The Constitution of India|last=Bakshi|first=Parvinrai Mulwantrai|publisher=Universal Law Pub. Co|year=2010 |isbn=978-8175348400 |edition=10th |location=New Delhi |page=48|oclc=551377953}}</ref>


The President, as the [[head of state]], also receives the credentials of [[ambassador]]s from other countries, whilst the [[Prime Minister of India|prime minister]], as [[head of government]], receives credentials of [[High commissioner (Commonwealth)|high commissioners]] from other [[Commonwealth of Nations|members of the Commonwealth]], in line with historical tradition.
The President, as the [[head of state]], also receives the credentials of [[ambassador]]s from other countries, whilst the [[Prime Minister of India|prime minister]], as [[head of government]], receives credentials of [[High commissioner (Commonwealth)|high commissioners]] from other [[Commonwealth of Nations|members of the Commonwealth]], in line with historical tradition.


The President is the ''[[de jure]]'' [[commander-in-chief]] of the [[Indian Armed Forces]].<ref name="Oldenburg2010">{{cite book|last=Oldenburg|first=Philip|title=India, Pakistan, and Democracy: Solving the Puzzle of Divergent Paths|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V6nras7L790C&pg=PA71|year=2010|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-0-415-78018-6|page=71}}</ref>
The President is the ''[[de jure]]'' [[commander-in-chief]] of the [[Indian Armed Forces]].<ref name="Oldenburg2010">{{cite book|last=Oldenburg|first=Philip|title=India, Pakistan, and Democracy: Solving the Puzzle of Divergent Paths|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V6nras7L790C&pg=PA71|year=2010|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-0-415-78018-6|page=71|access-date=15 November 2015|archive-date=7 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107002040/https://books.google.com/books?id=V6nras7L790C&pg=PA71|url-status=live}}</ref>


The [[President of India]] can grant a pardon to or reduce the sentence of a convicted person once, particularly in cases involving the punishment of death. The decisions involving pardoning and other rights by the president are independent of the opinion of the prime minister or the Lok Sabha majority. In most other cases, however, the president exercises his or her executive powers on the advice of the prime minister.<ref name="Kumar">Kumar; Rajesh. [https://books.google.com/books?id=an78gq3JwzYC&pg=PA72 Universal's Guide to the Constitution of India] Pg no. 72.</ref> Presently, the President of India is [[Ram Nath Kovind]].
The [[President of India]] can grant a pardon to or reduce the sentence of a convicted person once, particularly in cases involving the punishment of death. The decisions involving pardoning and other rights by the president are independent of the opinion of the prime minister or the Lok Sabha majority. In most other cases, however, the president exercises his or her executive powers on the advice of the prime minister.<ref name="Kumar">Kumar; Rajesh. [https://books.google.com/books?id=an78gq3JwzYC&pg=PA72 Universal's Guide to the Constitution of India] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107002040/https://books.google.com/books?id=an78gq3JwzYC&pg=PA72 |date=7 January 2016 }} Pg no. 72.</ref> Presently, the President of India is [[Droupadi Murmu]].


=== Vice president ===
=== Vice president ===
Line 93: Line 71:
[[File:New Delhi government block 03-2016 img5.jpg|thumb|The [[Rashtrapati Bhawan]] complex, with North and South Block housing the [[Prime Minister's Office (India)|Prime Minister's Office]], [[Cabinet Secretariat of India|Cabinet Secretariat]], [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]], and others.|300x300px]]
[[File:New Delhi government block 03-2016 img5.jpg|thumb|The [[Rashtrapati Bhawan]] complex, with North and South Block housing the [[Prime Minister's Office (India)|Prime Minister's Office]], [[Cabinet Secretariat of India|Cabinet Secretariat]], [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]], and others.|300x300px]]


The [[Prime Minister of India]], as addressed in the [[Constitution of India]], is the chief of the government, chief adviser to the [[President of India|president]], head of the [[Union Council of Ministers|council of ministers]] and the leader of the majority party in the parliament. The prime minister leads the executive of the Government of India.
The [[Prime Minister of India]], as addressed in the [[Constitution of India]], is the chief executive of the government and the leader of the majority party that holds a majority in the Lok Sabha. The prime minister leads the executive of the Government of India.


The prime minister is the senior member of the cabinet in the executive government in a parliamentary system. The prime minister selects and can dismiss other members of the cabinet; allocates posts to members within the Government; is the presiding member and chairman of the cabinet and is responsible for bringing a proposal of legislation. The resignation or death of the prime minister dissolves the cabinet.
The prime minister is the senior member of the cabinet in the executive government in a parliamentary system. The prime minister selects and can dismiss other members of the cabinet; allocates posts to members within the Government; is the presiding member and chairman of the cabinet and is responsible for bringing a proposal of legislation. The resignation or death of the prime minister dissolves the cabinet.
Line 105: Line 83:


==== Secretaries ====
==== Secretaries ====
{{Main|Secretary to Government of India}}
{{Main|Secretary to the Government of India}}
A [[Secretary to Government of India|secretary to the Government of India]], a [[Civil service|civil servant]], generally an [[Indian Administrative Service]] (IAS) officer,<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/parity-between-ias-and-non-ias-the-ias-will-get-to-decide/story-9RijZjXY4DeaPlvo8m25mJ.html|title=Parity between IAS and non-IAS? The IAS will get to decide|last=Tikku|first=Aloke|date=15 January 2016|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|access-date=13 August 2017}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=http://www.asianage.com/india/non-ias-bureaucrats-now-eligible-secretary-level-posts-288|title=Non-IAS bureaucrats now eligible for secretary-level posts|date=18 January 2016|work=[[The Asian Age]]|access-date=13 August 2017}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/need-pay-parity-with-ias-officers-say-officials-of-20-civil-services-1426279|title=Need Pay Parity With IAS Officers, Say Officials of 20 Civil Services|date=30 June 2016|publisher=[[NDTV]]|access-date=13 August 2017}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/alleging-bias-non-ias-officers-petition-pm-modi-4473316/|title=Alleging bias, non-IAS officers petition PM Modi|last=Dastidar|first=Avishek G|date=14 January 2017|work=[[The Indian Express]]|access-date=13 August 2017}}</ref> is the administrative head of the ministry or department, and is the principal adviser to the minister on all matters of policy and administration within the ministry/department.<ref name="Governance India">{{cite book|title=Governance in India|last=Laxmikanth|first=M.|publisher=McGraw Hill Education|year=2014|isbn=978-9339204785|location=[[Noida]]|pages=3.1–3.10|edition=2nd}}</ref><ref name="CSMOP India2">{{cite web|url=http://darpg.gov.in/sites/default/files/CSMOP_0_0.pdf|title=Central Secretariat Manual of Office Procedure – 14th Edition (2015)|publisher=[[Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (India)|Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension]]|page=6|access-date=15 November 2016}}</ref> Secretaries to the Government of India rank 23rd on [[Indian order of precedence]].<ref name="rajyasabha2" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name="Maheshwari 2001 6662" /> Secretaries at the higher level are assisted by one or many [[Additional secretary to Government of India|additional secretaries]], who are further assisted by [[Joint secretary to Government of India|joint secretaries]].<ref name="CSMOP India2" /> At the middle they are assisted by directors/deputy secretaries and under secretaries.<ref name="CSMOP India2" /> At the lower level, there are section officers, assistant section officers, upper division clerks, lower division clerks and other secretarial staff.<ref name="CSMOP India2" />
A [[secretary to the Government of India]], a [[Civil service|civil servant]], generally an [[Indian Administrative Service]] (IAS) officer,<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/parity-between-ias-and-non-ias-the-ias-will-get-to-decide/story-9RijZjXY4DeaPlvo8m25mJ.html|title=Parity between IAS and non-IAS? The IAS will get to decide|last=Tikku|first=Aloke|date=15 January 2016|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|access-date=13 August 2017|archive-date=13 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813055556/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/parity-between-ias-and-non-ias-the-ias-will-get-to-decide/story-9RijZjXY4DeaPlvo8m25mJ.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=http://www.asianage.com/india/non-ias-bureaucrats-now-eligible-secretary-level-posts-288|title=Non-IAS bureaucrats now eligible for secretary-level posts|date=18 January 2016|work=[[The Asian Age]]|access-date=13 August 2017|archive-date=14 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714053948/https://www.asianage.com/india/non-ias-bureaucrats-now-eligible-secretary-level-posts-288|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/need-pay-parity-with-ias-officers-say-officials-of-20-civil-services-1426279|title=Need Pay Parity With IAS Officers, Say Officials of 20 Civil Services|date=30 June 2016|publisher=[[NDTV]]|access-date=13 August 2017|archive-date=13 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813142643/http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/need-pay-parity-with-ias-officers-say-officials-of-20-civil-services-1426279|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/alleging-bias-non-ias-officers-petition-pm-modi-4473316/|title=Alleging bias, non-IAS officers petition PM Modi|last=Dastidar|first=Avishek G|date=14 January 2017|work=[[The Indian Express]]|access-date=13 August 2017|archive-date=13 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813055642/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/alleging-bias-non-ias-officers-petition-pm-modi-4473316/|url-status=live}}</ref> is the administrative head of the ministry or department, and is the principal adviser to the minister on all matters of policy and administration within the ministry/department.<ref name="Governance India">{{cite book|title=Governance in India|last=Laxmikanth|first=M.|publisher=McGraw Hill Education|year=2014|isbn=978-9339204785|location=[[Noida]]|pages=3.1–3.10|edition=2nd}}</ref><ref name="CSMOP India2">{{cite web|url=http://darpg.gov.in/sites/default/files/CSMOP_0_0.pdf|title=Central Secretariat Manual of Office Procedure – 14th Edition (2015)|publisher=[[Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (India)|Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension]]|page=6|access-date=15 November 2016|archive-date=15 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115133401/http://darpg.gov.in/sites/default/files/CSMOP_0_0.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Secretaries to the Government of India rank 23rd on [[Indian order of precedence]].<ref name="rajyasabha2" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name="Maheshwari 2001 6662" /> Secretaries at the higher level are assisted by one or many [[Additional secretary to Government of India|additional secretaries]], who are further assisted by [[Joint secretary to Government of India|joint secretaries]].<ref name="CSMOP India2" /> At the middle they are assisted by directors/deputy secretaries and under secretaries.<ref name="CSMOP India2" /> At the lower level, there are section officers, assistant section officers, upper division clerks, lower division clerks and other secretarial staff.<ref name="CSMOP India2" />


{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+Ministries and departments of the Government of India
|+Ministries and departments of the Government of India
! style="padding-center:15px;" |Ministry
!#
! style="padding-center:15px;" |Department(s)
!Ministry
|-
!Department(s)
| colspan="2" align="center" |President's Secretariat
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |Vice President's Secretariat
! rowspan="2" |1
| rowspan="2" |[[Prime Minister's Office (India)|Prime Minister's Office]]
|[[Department of Space|Department of Atomic Energy]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" |[[Prime Minister's Office (India)|Prime Minister's Office]]
|[[Department of Space]]
| align="center" |[[Department of Atomic Energy|Atomic Energy]]
|-
|-
| align="center" |[[Department of Space|Space]]
! rowspan="2" |2
| rowspan="2" |[[Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare|Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare]]
|[[Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare]]
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Cabinet Secretariat of India|Cabinet Secretariat]]
|Department of Agricultural Research and Education
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" align="center" |[[Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare|Agriculture and Farmers Welfare]]
!3
| align="center" |Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare
|[[Ministry of Ayush]]
|
|-
|-
| align="center" |Agricultural Research and Education
! rowspan="3" |4
| rowspan="3" |[[Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers]]
|Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals
|-
|-
| align="center" |Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries
|Department of Fertilizers
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of AYUSH|AYUSH]]
|Department of Pharmaceuticals
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" align="center" |[[Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers|Chemicals and Fertilizers]]
!5
| align="center" |Chemicals and Petrochemicals
|[[Ministry of Civil Aviation (India)|Ministry of Civil Aviation]]
|
|-
|-
| align="center" |Fertilizers
!6
|[[Ministry of Co-operation]]
|
|-
|-
| align="center" |Pharmaceuticals
!7
|[[Ministry of Coal]]
|
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Civil Aviation (India)|Civil Aviation]]
! rowspan="2" |8
| rowspan="2" |[[Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)|Ministry of Commerce and Industry]]
|[[Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade]]
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Coal|Coal]]
|Department of Commerce
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)|Commerce and Industry]]
! rowspan="2" |9
| align="center" |Commerce
| rowspan="2" |[[Ministry of Communications (India)|Ministry of Communications]]
|[[India Post|Department of Posts]]
|-
|-
| align="center" |Industrial Policy and Promotion
|[[Department of Telecommunications]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Communications (India)|Communications]]
! rowspan="2" |10
| align="center" |[[India Post|Posts]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution]]
|Department of Consumer Affairs
|-
|-
| align="center" |[[Department of Telecommunications|Telecommunications]]
|Department of Food and Public Distribution
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution|Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution]]
!11
| align="center" |Consumer Affairs
|[[Ministry of Corporate Affairs]]
|
|-
|-
| align="center" |Food and Public Distribution
!12
|[[Ministry of Culture (India)|Ministry of Culture]]
|
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Corporate Affairs|Corporate Affairs]]
! rowspan="5" |13
| rowspan="5" |[[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]]
|Department of Defence
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Culture (India)|Culture]]
|Department of Defence Production
|-
|-
| rowspan="4" align="center" |[[Ministry of Defence (India)|Defence]]
|Department of Defence Research and Development
| align="center" |Defence
|-
|-
| align="center" |Defence Production
|[[Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare|Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare]]
|-
|-
| align="center" |[[Defence Research and Development Organisation|Defence Research and Development]]
|[[Department of Military Affairs]]
|-
|-
| align="center" |[[Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare|Ex-servicemen Welfare]]
!14
|[[Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region]]
|
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region|Development of North Eastern Region]]
!15
|[[Ministry of Earth Sciences]]
|
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation|Drinking Water and Sanitation]]
! rowspan="2" |16
| rowspan="2" |[[Ministry of Education (India)|Ministry of Education]]
|[[Department of Higher Education (India)|Department of Higher Education]]
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Earth Sciences|Earth Sciences]]
|Department of School Education and Literacy
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology|Electronics and Information Technology]]
!17
|[[Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology]]
|
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change|Environment, Forest and Climate Change]]
!18
|[[Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change]]
|
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|External Affairs]]
!19
|[[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Ministry of External Affairs]]
|
|-
|-
| rowspan="5" align="center" |[[Ministry of Finance (India)|Finance]]
! rowspan="6" |20
| align="center" |Economic Affairs
| rowspan="6" |[[Ministry of Finance (India)|Ministry of Finance]]
|Department of Economic Affairs
|-
|-
| align="center" |Expenditure
|Department of Expenditure
|-
|-
| align="center" |Financial Services
|Department of Financial Services
|-
|-
| align="center" |Investment and Public Asset Management
|Department of Investment and Public Asset Management
|-
|-
| align="center" |Revenue
|Department of Public Enterprises
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Food Processing Industries|Food Processing Industries]]
|Department of Revenue
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Health and Family Welfare|Health and Family Welfare]]
!21
| align="center" |Health and Family Welfare
|[[Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying]]
|Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries
|-
|-
| align="center" |Health Research
!22
|[[Ministry of Food Processing Industries]]
|
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises|Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises]]
! rowspan="3" |23
| align="center" |Heavy Industry
| rowspan="3" |[[Ministry of Health and Family Welfare]]
|Department of Family Welfare
|-
|-
| align="center" |Public Enterprises
|Department of Health
|-
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center" |[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Home Affairs]]
|Department of Health Research
| align="center" |Border Management
|-
|-
| align="center" |Internal Security
!24
|[[Ministry of Heavy Industries]]
|
|-
|-
| align="center" |Jammu Kashmir Affairs
! rowspan="6" |25
| rowspan="6" |[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]]
|Department of Border Management
|-
|-
| align="center" |Home
|Department of Home
|-
|-
| align="center" |Official Language
|Department of Internal Security
|-
|-
| align="center" |States
|Department of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Affairs
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Urban Development|Housing and Urban Affairs]]
|[[Department of Official Language]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Education (India)|Education]]
|Department of States
| align="center" |[[Department of Higher Education (India)|Higher Education]]
|-
|-
| align="center" |School Education and Literacy
!26
|[[Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs]]
|[[Central Public Works Department]]
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Information and Broadcasting]]
!27
|[[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Ministry of Information and Broadcasting]]
|
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Labour and Employment (India)|Labour and Employment]]
!28
|[[Ministry of Jal Shakti]]
|
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" align="center" |[[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Law and Justice]]
!29
| align="center" |Justice
|[[Ministry of Labour and Employment (India)|Ministry of Labour and Employment]]
|
|-
|-
| align="center" |Legal Affairs
! rowspan="3" |30
| rowspan="3" |[[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Ministry of Law and Justice]]
|Department of Legal Affairs
|-
|-
| align="center" |Legislative
|Department of Justice
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises|Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises]]
|Legislative Department
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Mines (India)|Mines]]
!31
|[[Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises]]
|
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Minority Affairs|Minority Affairs]]
!32
|[[Ministry of Mines (India)|Ministry of Mines]]
|
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of New and Renewable Energy|New and Renewable Energy]]
!33
|[[Ministry of Minority Affairs]]
|
|-
|-
| colspan="2" |{{Center|[[NITI Aayog]]}}
!34
|[[Ministry of New and Renewable Energy]]
|
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Panchayati Raj|Panchayati Raj]]
!35
|[[Ministry of Panchayati Raj]]
|
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (India)|Parliamentary Affairs]]
!36
|[[Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (India)|Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs]]
|
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" align="center" |[[Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions|Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions]]
! rowspan="3" |37
| align="center" |Personnel and Training
| rowspan="3" |[[Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions]]
|Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances
|-
|-
| align="center" |Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances
|Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare
|-
|-
| align="center" |Pension and Pensioners' Welfare
|Department of Personnel and Training
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas|Petroleum and Natural Gas]]
!38
|[[Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas]]
|
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Power (India)|Power]]
!39
|[[Ministry of Planning (India)|Ministry of Planning]]
|
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Railways (India)|Railways]]
!40
|[[Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways]]
|
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Road Transport and Highways|Road Transport and Highways]]
!41
|[[Ministry of Power (India)|Ministry of Power]]
|
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Rural Development (India)|Rural Development]]
!42
| align="center" |Land Resources
|[[Ministry of Railways (India)|Ministry of Railways]]
|
|-
|-
| align="center" |Rural Development
!43
|[[Ministry of Road Transport and Highways]]
|
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" align="center" |[[Ministry of Science and Technology (India)|Science and Technology]]
! rowspan="2" |44
| align="center" |Biotechnology
| rowspan="2" |[[Ministry of Rural Development (India)|Ministry of Rural Development]]
|Department of Land Resources
|-
|-
| align="center" |Science and Technology
|Department of Rural Development
|-
|-
| align="center" |Scientific and Industrial Research
! rowspan="3" |45
| rowspan="3" |[[Ministry of Science and Technology (India)|Ministry of Science and Technology]]
|[[Department of Biotechnology]]
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Shipping (India)|Shipping]]
|Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship|Skill Development and Entrepreneurship]]
|[[Department of Science and Technology (India)|Department of Science and Technology]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment|Social Justice and Empowerment]]
!46
| align="center" |Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
|[[Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship]]
|
|-
|-
| align="center" |Social Justice and Empowerment
! rowspan="2" |47
| rowspan="2" |[[Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment]]
|Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation|Statistics and Programme Implementation]]
|Department of Social Justice and Empowerment
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Steel|Steel]]
!48
|[[Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation]]
|
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Textiles|Textiles]]
!49
|[[Ministry of Steel]]
|
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Tourism (India)|Tourism]]
!50
|[[Ministry of Textiles]]
|
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Tribal Affairs|Tribal Affairs]]
!51
|[[Ministry of Tourism (India)|Ministry of Tourism]]
|
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation|Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation]]
!52
|[[Ministry of Tribal Affairs]]
|
|-
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Women and Child Development|Women and Child Development]]
!53
|[[Ministry of Women and Child Development]]
|
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" |[[Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports|Youth Affairs and Sports]]
! rowspan="2" |54
| align="center" |Sports
| rowspan="2" |[[Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports]]
|Department of Youth Affairs
|-
|-
| align="center" |Youth Affairs
|Department of Sports
|-
! colspan="2" |Total
|-
!Ministries
!Departments
|-
| align="center" |58
| align="center" |93
|}
|}


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The cabinet secretary ([[International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration|IAST]]: {{IAST|Maṃtrimaṇḍala Saciva}}) is the top-most executive official and [[Civil Services of India|senior-most civil servant]] of the Government of India. The cabinet secretary is the ''[[ex-officio]]'' head of the Civil Services Board, the [[Cabinet Secretariat of India|Cabinet Secretariat]], the [[Indian Administrative Service]] (IAS) and the head of all civil services under the rules of business of the government.
The cabinet secretary ([[International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration|IAST]]: {{IAST|Maṃtrimaṇḍala Saciva}}) is the top-most executive official and [[Civil Services of India|senior-most civil servant]] of the Government of India. The cabinet secretary is the ''[[ex-officio]]'' head of the Civil Services Board, the [[Cabinet Secretariat of India|Cabinet Secretariat]], the [[Indian Administrative Service]] (IAS) and the head of all civil services under the rules of business of the government.


The cabinet secretary is generally the senior-most officer of the [[Indian Administrative Service]]. The cabinet secretary ranks 11th on the [[Indian order of precedence]].<ref name="rajyasabha2">{{cite web|url=http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/guidline_govt_mp/chap11.pdf|title=Order of Precedence|date=26 July 1979|work=[[Rajya Sabha]]|publisher=President's Secretariat|access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/table_of_precedence.pdf|title=Table of Precedence|date=26 July 1979|website=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]], Government of India|publisher=President's Secretariat|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527155701/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/table_of_precedence.pdf|archive-date=27 May 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/hindi/top|title=Table of Precedence|website=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]], Government of India|publisher=President's Secretariat|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428030937/http://mha.nic.in/hindi/top|archive-date=28 April 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref><ref name="Maheshwari 2001 6662">{{cite book|title=Indian Administration|last=Maheshwari|first=S.R.|publisher=Orient Blackswan Private Ltd.|year=2000|isbn=9788125019886|location=[[New Delhi]]|edition=6th}}</ref> The cabinet secretary is under the direct charge of the [[Prime Minister of India|prime minister]]. Presently, the [[Cabinet Secretary of India]] is [[Rajiv Gauba]], [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]].
The cabinet secretary is generally the senior-most officer of the [[Indian Administrative Service]]. The cabinet secretary ranks 11th on the [[Indian order of precedence]].<ref name="rajyasabha2">{{cite web|url=http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/guidline_govt_mp/chap11.pdf|title=Order of Precedence|date=26 July 1979|work=[[Rajya Sabha]]|publisher=President's Secretariat|access-date=24 September 2017|archive-date=4 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704022423/http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/guidline_govt_mp/chap11.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/table_of_precedence.pdf|title=Table of Precedence|date=26 July 1979|website=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]], Government of India|publisher=President's Secretariat|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527155701/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/table_of_precedence.pdf|archive-date=27 May 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/hindi/top|title=Table of Precedence|website=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]], Government of India|publisher=President's Secretariat|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428030937/http://mha.nic.in/hindi/top|archive-date=28 April 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref><ref name="Maheshwari 2001 6662">{{cite book|title=Indian Administration|last=Maheshwari|first=S.R.|publisher=Orient Blackswan Private Ltd.|year=2000|isbn=9788125019886|location=[[New Delhi]]|edition=6th}}</ref> The cabinet secretary is under the direct charge of the [[Prime Minister of India|prime minister]]. Presently, the [[Cabinet Secretary of India]] is [[Rajiv Gauba]], [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]].


== Judiciary ==
== Judiciary ==
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As the [[Appellate court|final court of appeal]] of the country, it takes up appeals primarily against verdicts of the [[List of high courts in India|high courts]] of various states of the Union and other courts and tribunals. It safeguards [[fundamental rights]] of citizens and settles disputes between various governments in the country. As an advisory court, it hears matters which may specifically be referred to it under the [[Constitution of India|constitution]] by the president. It also may take cognisance of matters on its own (or 'suo moto'), without anyone drawing its attention to them. The law declared by the supreme court becomes binding on all courts within India and also by the union and state governments.<ref name="History PDF">{{cite web|url=http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/supct/scm/m2.pdf|title=History of Supreme Court of India|publisher=Supreme Court of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222100038/http://www.supremecourtofindia.nic.in/supct/scm/m2.pdf|archive-date=22 December 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=30 August 2014}}</ref> Per [[wikisource: Constitution of India/Part V|Article 142]], it is the duty of the [[President of India|president]] to enforce the decrees of the supreme court.
As the [[Appellate court|final court of appeal]] of the country, it takes up appeals primarily against verdicts of the [[List of high courts in India|high courts]] of various states of the Union and other courts and tribunals. It safeguards [[fundamental rights]] of citizens and settles disputes between various governments in the country. As an advisory court, it hears matters which may specifically be referred to it under the [[Constitution of India|constitution]] by the president. It also may take cognisance of matters on its own (or 'suo moto'), without anyone drawing its attention to them. The law declared by the supreme court becomes binding on all courts within India and also by the union and state governments.<ref name="History PDF">{{cite web|url=http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/supct/scm/m2.pdf|title=History of Supreme Court of India|publisher=Supreme Court of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222100038/http://www.supremecourtofindia.nic.in/supct/scm/m2.pdf|archive-date=22 December 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=30 August 2014}}</ref> Per [[wikisource: Constitution of India/Part V|Article 142]], it is the duty of the [[President of India|president]] to enforce the decrees of the supreme court.


In addition, Article 32 of the constitution gives an extensive original jurisdiction to the supreme court concerning enforcing fundamental rights. It is empowered to issue directions, orders or writs, including [[writ]]s in the nature of ''[[habeas corpus]]'', ''[[mandamus]]'', ''[[prohibition]]'', ''[[quo warranto]]'' and ''[[certiorari]]'' to enforce them. The supreme court has been conferred with power to direct the transfer of any civil or criminal case from one state high court to another state high court, or from a Court subordinate to another state high court and the supreme court. Although the proceedings in the supreme court arise out of the judgment or orders made by the subordinate courts, of late the supreme court has started entertaining matters in which the interest of the public at large is involved. This may be done by any individual or group of persons either by filing a ''[[writ]] petition'' at the filing counter of the court or by addressing a letter to the [[Chief Justice of India]], highlighting the question of public importance for redress. These are known as [[Public interest litigation in India|public interest litigations]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legalserviceindia.com/article/l273-Public-Interest-Litigation.html|title=PIL|website=LegalServicesIndia|access-date=10 May 2017}}</ref>
In addition, Article 32 of the constitution gives an extensive original jurisdiction to the supreme court concerning enforcing fundamental rights. It is empowered to issue directions, orders or writs, including [[writ]]s in the nature of ''[[habeas corpus]]'', ''[[mandamus]]'', ''[[prohibition]]'', ''[[quo warranto]]'' and ''[[certiorari]]'' to enforce them. The supreme court has been conferred with power to direct the transfer of any civil or criminal case from one state high court to another state high court, or from a Court subordinate to another state high court and the supreme court. Although the proceedings in the supreme court arise out of the judgment or orders made by the subordinate courts, of late the supreme court has started entertaining matters in which the interest of the public at large is involved. This may be done by any individual or group of persons either by filing a ''[[writ]] petition'' at the filing counter of the court or by addressing a letter to the [[Chief Justice of India]], highlighting the question of public importance for redress. These are known as [[Public interest litigation in India|public interest litigations]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legalserviceindia.com/article/l273-Public-Interest-Litigation.html|title=PIL|website=LegalServicesIndia|access-date=10 May 2017|archive-date=28 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428094327/http://www.legalserviceindia.com/article/l273-Public-Interest-Litigation.html|url-status=live}}</ref>


== Elections and voting ==
== Elections and voting ==
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India has a [[Federalism|quasi-federal]] form of government, called "union" or "central" government,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lawmin.nic.in/olwing/coi/coi-english/coi-4March2016.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=16 July 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416084719/http://lawmin.nic.in/olwing/coi/coi-english/coi-4March2016.pdf |archive-date=16 April 2016 }}</ref> with elected officials at the union, state and local levels. At the national level, the [[head of government]], the [[Prime Minister of India|prime minister]], is appointed by the [[president of India]] from the party or coalition that has the majority of seats in the [[Lok Sabha]]. The members of the Lok Sabha are directly elected for a term of five years by [[universal suffrage|universal adult suffrage]] through a [[first-past-the-post]] voting system. Members of the [[Rajya Sabha]], which represents the [[States of India|states]], are elected by the members of State legislative assemblies by [[proportional representation]], except for 12 members who are nominated by the president.
India has a [[Federalism|quasi-federal]] form of government, called "union" or "central" government,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lawmin.nic.in/olwing/coi/coi-english/coi-4March2016.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=16 July 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416084719/http://lawmin.nic.in/olwing/coi/coi-english/coi-4March2016.pdf |archive-date=16 April 2016 }}</ref> with elected officials at the union, state and local levels. At the national level, the [[head of government]], the [[Prime Minister of India|prime minister]], is appointed by the [[president of India]] from the party or coalition that has the majority of seats in the [[Lok Sabha]]. The members of the Lok Sabha are directly elected for a term of five years by [[universal suffrage|universal adult suffrage]] through a [[first-past-the-post]] voting system. Members of the [[Rajya Sabha]], which represents the [[States of India|states]], are elected by the members of State legislative assemblies by [[proportional representation]], except for 12 members who are nominated by the president.


India is currently the largest democracy in the world, with around 900&nbsp;million eligible voters, as of 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/indian-voter-population-is-900-million/articleshow/68345392.cms|title=Indian voter population is 900 million|date=10 March 2019|website=The Economic Times}}</ref>
India is currently the largest democracy in the world, with around 900&nbsp;million eligible voters, as of 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/indian-voter-population-is-900-million/articleshow/68345392.cms|title=Indian voter population is 900 million|date=10 March 2019|website=The Economic Times|access-date=24 May 2019|archive-date=26 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426184028/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/indian-voter-population-is-900-million/articleshow/68345392.cms|url-status=dead}}</ref>


== State and local governments ==
== State and local governments ==
{{Main|State governments of India|Local government#India|Union territory}}
{{Refimprove section|date=March 2021}}
{{Refimprove section|date=March 2021}}


{{Main|State governments of India|Local government#India|Union territory}}
[[State government]]s in India are the governments ruling [[states of India]] and the [[Chief Minister (India)|chief minister]] heads the state government.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Prasad |first1=R. C. |title=Local Government and Development in India |journal=International Political Science Review |year=1980 |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=265–279 |doi=10.1177/019251218000100210 |jstor=1600996 |s2cid=145673733 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1600996}}</ref> Power is [[Federalism in India|divided]] between union government and state governments.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jagannadham |first1=V. |title=Division of Powers in the Indian Constitution |journal=The Indian Journal of Political Science |year=1947 |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=742–751 |jstor=42743171 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/42743171}}</ref> The state legislature is [[bicameral]] in [[List of states of India by type of legislature|five states]] and [[unicameral]] in the rest.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=de Miñón |first1=Miguel Herrero |title=The Passing of Bicameralism |journal=The American Journal of Comparative Law |year=1975 |volume=23 |issue=2 |pages=236–254 |doi=10.2307/839106 |jstor=839106 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/839106}}</ref> The lower house is elected with a five-year term, while in the upper house one-third of the members in the house gets elected every two years with six-year terms.
[[State government]]s in India are the governments ruling [[states of India]] and the [[Chief Minister (India)|chief minister]] heads the state government.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Prasad |first1=R. C. |title=Local Government and Development in India |journal=International Political Science Review |year=1980 |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=265–279 |doi=10.1177/019251218000100210 |jstor=1600996 |s2cid=145673733 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1600996}}</ref> Power is [[Federalism in India|divided]] between union government and state governments.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jagannadham |first1=V. |title=Division of Powers in the Indian Constitution |journal=The Indian Journal of Political Science |year=1947 |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=742–751 |jstor=42743171 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/42743171}}</ref> The state legislature is [[bicameral]] in [[List of states of India by type of legislature|five states]] and [[unicameral]] in the rest.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=de Miñón |first1=Miguel Herrero |title=The Passing of Bicameralism |journal=The American Journal of Comparative Law |year=1975 |volume=23 |issue=2 |pages=236–254 |doi=10.2307/839106 |jstor=839106 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/839106}}</ref> Lower house is elected with five-years term, while in upper house one-third of the members in the house gets elected every two years with six-year term.


Local governments function at the basic level. It is the third level of government apart from union and state governments. It consists of [[Local self-government in India|panchayats]] in rural areas and [[Municipal governance in India|municipalities]] in urban areas. They are elected directly or indirectly by the people.
Local governments function at the basic level. It is the third level of government apart from union and state governments. It consists of [[Local self-government in India|panchayats]] in rural areas and [[Municipal governance in India|municipalities]] in urban areas. They are elected directly or indirectly by the people.
Line 366: Line 425:
{{Main|Taxation in India}}
{{Main|Taxation in India}}
[[File:RBI-Tower.jpg|thumb|[[Reserve Bank of India]]'s headquarters in Mumbai, India's financial capital]]
[[File:RBI-Tower.jpg|thumb|[[Reserve Bank of India]]'s headquarters in Mumbai, India's financial capital]]
India has a three-tier tax structure, wherein the [[Constitution of India|constitution]] empowers the union government to levy [[income tax]], tax on capital transactions ([[wealth tax]], [[inheritance tax]]), [[sales tax]], service tax, customs and [[excise]] duties and the [[States and territories of India|state governments]] to levy sales tax on intrastate sale of goods, taxon [[entertainment tax|entertainment]] and [[profession]]s, excise duties on manufacture of [[alcoholic beverage|alcohol]], [[stamp duty|stamp duties]] on transfer of property and collect land revenue (levy on land owned). The [[local governments]] are empowered by the state government to levy [[property tax]] and charge users for [[public utilities]] like [[water supply]], [[sewage]] etc.<ref name="angela">{{cite journal |author1=Bernardi, Luigi |author2=Fraschini, Angela | title=Tax System And Tax Reforms in India | year=2005 |version=Working paper n. 51 | url=https://ideas.repec.org/p/uca/ucapdv/45.html}}</ref> More than half of the revenues of the union and state governments come from taxes, of which 3/4 come from [[direct taxes]]. More than a quarter of the union government's tax revenues are shared with the state governments.<ref name="sharing">Tax revenue was 88% of total union government revenue in 1950–51 and has come down to 73% in 2003–04, as a result of the increase in non-tax revenue. Tax revenues were 70% of total state government revenues from 2002 to 2003. Indirect taxes were 84% of the union government's total tax revenue and have come down to 62% in 2003–04, mostly because of cuts in import duties and rationalisation. The state's share in the union government's tax revenue is 28.0% for the period 2000 to 2005 as per the recommendations of the eleventh finance commission. In addition, states that do not levy sales tax on sugar, textiles and tobacco, are entitled to 1.5% of the proceeds.{{cite book|author1=Datt, Ruddar |author2=Sundharam, K.P.M.|title=Indian Economy|publisher=S.Chand|year=2005|isbn=81-219-0298-3|pages=938, 942, 946}}</ref>
India has a three-tier tax structure, wherein the [[Constitution of India|constitution]] empowers the union government to levy [[income tax]], tax on capital transactions ([[wealth tax]], [[inheritance tax]]), [[sales tax]], service tax, customs and [[excise]] duties and the [[States and territories of India|state governments]] to levy sales tax on intrastate sale of goods, taxon [[entertainment tax|entertainment]] and [[profession]]s, excise duties on manufacture of [[alcoholic beverage|alcohol]], [[stamp duty|stamp duties]] on transfer of property and collect land revenue (levy on land owned). The [[local governments]] are empowered by the state government to levy [[property tax]] and charge users for [[public utilities]] like [[water supply]], [[sewage]] etc.<ref name="angela">{{cite journal |author1=Bernardi, Luigi |author2=Fraschini, Angela |title=Tax System And Tax Reforms in India |year=2005 |version=Working paper n. 51 |url=https://ideas.repec.org/p/uca/ucapdv/45.html |journal= Polis Working Papers|access-date=15 November 2015 |archive-date=29 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629132746/https://ideas.repec.org/p/uca/ucapdv/45.html |url-status=live }}</ref> More than half of the revenues of the union and state governments come from taxes, of which 3/4 come from [[direct taxes]]. More than a quarter of the union government's tax revenues are shared with the state governments.<ref name="sharing">Tax revenue was 88% of total union government revenue in 1950–51 and has come down to 73% in 2003–04, as a result of the increase in non-tax revenue. Tax revenues were 70% of total state government revenues from 2002 to 2003. Indirect taxes were 84% of the union government's total tax revenue and have come down to 62% in 2003–04, mostly because of cuts in import duties and rationalisation. The state's share in the union government's tax revenue is 28.0% for the period 2000 to 2005 as per the recommendations of the eleventh finance commission. In addition, states that do not levy sales tax on sugar, textiles and tobacco, are entitled to 1.5% of the proceeds.{{cite book|author1=Datt, Ruddar |author2=Sundharam, K.P.M.|title=Indian Economy|publisher=S.Chand|year=2005|isbn=81-219-0298-3|pages=938, 942, 946}}</ref>


The tax reforms, initiated in 1991, have sought to rationalise the tax structure and increase compliance by taking steps in the following directions:
The tax reforms, initiated in 1991, have sought to rationalise the tax structure and increase compliance by taking steps in the following directions:
Line 375: Line 434:
*21 of the 29 states introduced [[value added tax]] (VAT) on 1 April 2005 to replace the complex and multiple sales tax system<ref name="angela" /><ref name="VAT">{{cite news|title=Indif_real_GDP_per_capitaa says 21 of 29 states to launch new tax |date=25 March 2005 |work=Daily Times |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_25-3-2005_pg5_13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116065316/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_25-3-2005_pg5_13 |archive-date=16 January 2009 }}</ref>
*21 of the 29 states introduced [[value added tax]] (VAT) on 1 April 2005 to replace the complex and multiple sales tax system<ref name="angela" /><ref name="VAT">{{cite news|title=Indif_real_GDP_per_capitaa says 21 of 29 states to launch new tax |date=25 March 2005 |work=Daily Times |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_25-3-2005_pg5_13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116065316/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_25-3-2005_pg5_13 |archive-date=16 January 2009 }}</ref>


The non-tax revenues of the central government come from [[finance|fiscal]] services, interest receipts, public sector dividends, etc., while the non-tax revenues of the States are grants from the central government, interest receipts, dividends and income from general, economic and social services.<ref name="Datt-3">{{cite book|author1=Datt, Ruddar |author2=Sundharam, K.P.M.|title=Indian Economy|pages=943–945|chapter=55}}</ref>
The non-tax revenues of the central government come from [[finance|fiscal]] services, interest receipts, public sector dividends, etc., while the non-tax revenues of the States are grants from the central government, interest receipts, dividends and income from general, economic and social services.<ref name="Datt-3">{{cite book|author1=Datt, Ruddar |author2=Sundharam, K. P. M.|title=Indian Economy|pages=943–945|chapter=55}}</ref>


Inter-state share in the union tax pool is decided by the recommendations of the [[Finance Commission]] to the president.
Inter-state share in the union tax pool is decided by the recommendations of the [[Finance Commission]] to the president.
Line 383: Line 442:
=== Union budget ===
=== Union budget ===
{{Main|Union budget of India}}
{{Main|Union budget of India}}
The Finance minister of India usually presents the annual [[Union budget of India|union budget]] in the [[Parliament of India|parliament]] on the last [[working day]] of February. However, for the F.Y. 2017–18, this tradition had been changed. Now the budget will be presented on the 1st day of February. The budget has to be passed by the [[Lok Sabha]] before it can come into effect on 1 April, the start of India's [[fiscal year]]. The Union budget is preceded by an [[Economic survey of India|economic survey]] which outlines the broad direction of the budget and the economic performance of the country for the outgoing financial year<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ibef.org/economy/union-budget-2017-18|title=Union Budget 2017–18|website=ibef.org|access-date=21 July 2017}}</ref>


India's non-development revenue expenditure had increased nearly five-fold in 2003–04 since 1990–91 and more than tenfold from 1985–1986. Interest payments are the single largest item of expenditure and accounted for more than 40% of the total non-development expenditure in the 2003–04 budget. Defence expenditure increased fourfold during the same period and has been increasing to defend from a difficult neighbourhood and external terror threats. In 2020-21, India's defence budget stood at ₹4,71,378 crores (US$65.86 Billion).
The Finance minister of India usually presents the annual [[Union budget of India|union budget]] in the [[Parliament of India|parliament]] on the last [[working day]] of February. However, for the F.Y. 2017–18, this tradition had been changed. Now the budget will be presented on the 1st day of February. The budget has to be passed by the [[Lok Sabha]] before it can come into effect on 1 April, the start of India's [[fiscal year]]. The Union budget is preceded by an [[Economic survey of India|economic survey]] which outlines the broad direction of the budget and the economic performance of the country for the outgoing financial year<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ibef.org/economy/union-budget-2017-18|title=Union Budget 2017–18|website=ibef.org|access-date=21 July 2017|archive-date=25 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325104858/https://www.ibef.org/economy/union-budget-2017-18|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
India's non-development revenue expenditure had increased nearly five-fold in 2003–04 since 1990–91 and more than tenfold from 1985 to 1986. Interest payments are the single largest item of expenditure and accounted for more than 40% of the total non-development expenditure in the 2003–04 budget. Defence expenditure increased fourfold during the same period and has been increasing to defend from a difficult neighbourhood and external terror threats. In 2020-21, India's defence budget stood at {{INRConvert|4.71|t|year=2020}}.


== Issues ==
== Issues ==
=== Corruption ===
=== Corruption ===
{{Main|Corruption in India}}
{{Main|Corruption in India}}
Several ministers are accused of corruption and nearly a quarter of the 543 elected members of parliament had been charged with crimes, including murder, in 2009.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/13/AR2009051303758.html Washington Post:When the Little Ones Run the Show (quote from the New Delhi based Association for Democratic Reform)] retrieved 14 May 2009</ref> Many of the biggest scandals since 2010 have involved high-level government officials, including cabinet ministers and chief ministers, such as the [[Concerns and controversies over the 2010 Commonwealth Games|2010 Commonwealth Games scam]] ({{INRConvert|70000|c|lk=on|year=2010}}), the [[Adarsh Housing Society scam]], the [[Coal Mining Scam]] ({{INRConvert|1.86|lc|lk=on|year=2010}}), the [[Mining scams in India#Illegal iron ore mining in Karnataka|mining scandal in Karnataka]] and the [[Cash-for-votes scandal|cash for vote scandal]].
 
In 2009, several ministers are accused of corruption and nearly a quarter of the 543 elected members of parliament had been charged with crimes, including murder.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/13/AR2009051303758.html When the Little Ones Run the Show (quote from the New Delhi based Association for Democratic Reform)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215123223/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/13/AR2009051303758.html |date=15 December 2018 }}. ''[[The Washington Post]]''. Retrieved 14 May 2009.</ref> Many of the biggest scandals since 2010 have involved high-level government officials, including cabinet ministers and chief ministers, such as the [[Concerns and controversies over the 2010 Commonwealth Games|2010 Commonwealth Games scam]] ({{INRConvert|700|b|year=2010}}), the [[Adarsh Housing Society scam]], the [[Coal Mining Scam]] ({{INRConvert|1.86|t|year=2010}}), the [[Mining scams in India#Illegal iron ore mining in Karnataka|mining scandal in Karnataka]] and the [[cash-for-votes scandal]].


== See also ==
== See also ==
{{Portal|India}}
{{Portal|India}}
* [[Foreign relations of India]]
* [[Foreign relations of India]]
* [[List of agencies of the government of India]]
* [[india.gov.in|National Portal of India]]
* [[india.gov.in|National Portal of India]]
* [[My Gov|National Social-media Portal]]
* [[MyGov.in|National Social-media Portal]]
* [[Parliamentary democracy]]
* [[Parliamentary system]]
* [[List of Government of India agencies]]
* [[Union government ministries of India]]
* [[Union Government ministries of India]]


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}{{Notelist}}


== Further reading ==
== Further reading ==
* Subrata K. Mitra and V.B. Singh (1999). ''Democracy and Social Change in India: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the National Electorate''. New Delhi: Sage Publications. {{ISBN|81-7036-809-X}} (India HB), {{ISBN|0-7619-9344-4}} (US HB).
* Subrata K. Mitra and V. B. Singh (1999). ''Democracy and Social Change in India: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the National Electorate''. New Delhi: Sage Publications. {{ISBN|81-7036-809-X}} (India HB), {{ISBN|0-7619-9344-4}} (US HB).


==External links==
==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Wikiquote}}
*{{Commons category-inline}}
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.india.gov.in/ Official Portal of the Indian Government]
* [http://www.india.gov.in/ Official Portal of the Indian Government]


{{India topics}}
{{India topics}}
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[[Category:Government of India| ]]
[[Category:Government of India| ]]
[[Category:Asian governments]]

Revision as of 00:13, 14 March 2023


Government of the Republic of India
Bhārat Gaṇarājya kī Sarkār
Emblem of India.svg
Formation26 January 1950; 74 years ago (1950-01-26)
CountryRepublic of India
Legislative branch
LegislatureParliament
Meeting placeSansad Bhavan
Executive branch
LeaderPrime Minister
HeadquartersCentral Secretariat
DepartmentsUnion Council of Ministers, Union Government ministries of India
Judicial branch
CourtSupreme Court of India

The Government of India (ISO: Bhārat Sarkār; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre,[lower-alpha 1] is the national authority of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, consisting of 28 union states and eight union territories. Under the Constitution, there are three primary branches of government: the legislative, the executive and the judiciary, whose powers are vested in a bicameral Parliament, President, aided by the Council of Ministers, and the Supreme Court respectively. Through judicial evolution, the Parliament has lost its sovereignty as its amendments to the Constitution are subject to judicial intervention. Judicial appointments in India are unique in that the executive or legislature have negligible say.

Etymology and history

The Government of India Act 1833, passed by the British parliament, is the first such act of law with the epithet "Government of India".[1]

Basic structure

The government of India, also known as the Union of India (according to Article 300 of the Indian constitution),[2] is modelled after the Westminster system.[3] The Union government is mainly composed of the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary, and powers are vested by the constitution in the prime minister, parliament, and the supreme court, respectively. The president of India is the head of state and the commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces, whilst the elected prime minister acts as the head of the executive and is responsible for running the Union government.[4] The parliament is bicameral in nature, with the Lok Sabha being the lower house, and the Rajya Sabha the upper house. The judiciary systematically contains an apex supreme court, 25 high courts, and several district courts, all inferior to the supreme court.[5]

The basic civil and criminal laws governing the citizens of India are set down in major parliamentary legislation, such as the civil procedure code, the penal code, and the criminal procedure code.[6] Similar to the Union government, individual state governments each consist of executive, legislative and judiciary branches. The legal system as applicable to the Union and individual state governments is based on the English common and statutory law.[7] The full name of the country is the Republic of India. India and Bharat are equally official short names for the Republic of India in the Constitution,[8] and both names appears on legal banknotes, in treaties and in legal cases. The terms "Union government", "central government" and "bhārat sarkār" are often used officially and unofficially to refer to the government of India.[citation needed] The term New Delhi is commonly used as a metonym for the Union government,[9] as the seat of the central government is in New Delhi.

Legislature

Building of the Parliament of India

The powers of the legislature in India are exercised by the Parliament, a bicameral legislature consisting of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. Of the two houses of parliament, the Rajya Sabha (or the 'Council of States') is considered to be the upper house and consists of members appointed by the president and elected by the state and territorial legislatures. The Lok Sabha (or the 'House of the People') is considered the lower house.[10]

The parliament does not have complete control and sovereignty, as its laws are subject to judicial review by the Supreme Court.[11] However, it does exercise some control over the executive. The members of the Council of Ministers, including the prime minister, are either chosen from parliament or elected there within six months of assuming office.[12] The council as a whole is responsible to the Lok Sabha.[13] The Lok Sabha is a temporary house and can be dissolved only when the party in power loses the support of the majority of the house. The Rajya Sabha is a permanent house and can never be dissolved. The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected for a six-year term.[14]

Executive

The executive of government is the one that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the republican idea of the separation of powers.[15]

President

The executive power is vested mainly in the President of India, as per Article 53(1) of the constitution. The president has all constitutional powers and exercises them directly or through subordinate officers as per the aforesaid Article 53(1). The president is to act following aid and advice tendered by the Prime Minister, who leads the Council of Ministers as described in Article 74 of the Constitution.

The council of ministers remains in power during the 'pleasure' of the president. However, in practice, the council of ministers must retain the support of the Lok Sabha. If a president were to dismiss the council of ministers on his or her initiative, it might trigger a constitutional crisis. Thus, in practice, the Council of Ministers cannot be dismissed as long as it holds the support of a majority in the Lok Sabha.

The President is responsible for appointing many high officials in India. These high officials include the governors of the 28 states; the chief justice; other judges of the supreme court and high courts on the advice of other judges; the attorney general; the comptroller and auditor general; the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners; the chairman and members of the Union Public Service Commission; the officers of the All India Services (IAS, IFoS and IPS) and Central Civil Services in group 'A'; and the ambassadors and high commissioners to other countries on the recommendations of the Council of Ministers.[16][17]

The President, as the head of state, also receives the credentials of ambassadors from other countries, whilst the prime minister, as head of government, receives credentials of high commissioners from other members of the Commonwealth, in line with historical tradition.

The President is the de jure commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces.[18]

The President of India can grant a pardon to or reduce the sentence of a convicted person once, particularly in cases involving the punishment of death. The decisions involving pardoning and other rights by the president are independent of the opinion of the prime minister or the Lok Sabha majority. In most other cases, however, the president exercises his or her executive powers on the advice of the prime minister.[19] Presently, the President of India is Droupadi Murmu.

Vice president

The vice president is the second-highest constitutional position in India after the president. The vice president represents the nation in the absence of the president and takes charge as acting president in the incident of resignation impeachment or removal of the president. The vice president also has the legislative function of acting as the chairman of the Rajya Sabha.[20] The vice president is elected indirectly by members of an electoral college consisting of the members of both the houses of the parliament following the system of proportional representation employing the single transferable vote and the voting is by secret ballot conducted by the election commission.

Prime minister

The Rashtrapati Bhawan complex, with North and South Block housing the Prime Minister's Office, Cabinet Secretariat, Ministry of Defence, and others.

The Prime Minister of India, as addressed in the Constitution of India, is the chief executive of the government and the leader of the majority party that holds a majority in the Lok Sabha. The prime minister leads the executive of the Government of India.

The prime minister is the senior member of the cabinet in the executive government in a parliamentary system. The prime minister selects and can dismiss other members of the cabinet; allocates posts to members within the Government; is the presiding member and chairman of the cabinet and is responsible for bringing a proposal of legislation. The resignation or death of the prime minister dissolves the cabinet.

The prime minister is appointed by the president to assist the latter in the administration of the affairs of the executive.

Cabinet, ministries and agencies

The organizational structure of a department of the Government of India.

The Union Council of Ministers includes the prime minister, Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State (MoS).[21] Each minister must be a member of one of the houses of the parliament. The cabinet is headed by the prime minister, and is advised by the cabinet secretary, who also acts as the head of the Indian Administrative Service and other civil services. Other members of the council are either union cabinet ministers, who are heads of various ministries; or ministers of state, who are junior members who report directly to one of the cabinet ministers, often overseeing a specific aspect of government; or ministers of state (independent charges), who do not report to a cabinet minister. As per article 88 of the constitution, every minister shall have the right to speak in, and to take part in the proceedings of, either house, any joint sitting of the houses, and any committee of parliament of which he may be named a member, but shall not be entitled to a vote in the house where he is not a member.

Secretaries

A secretary to the Government of India, a civil servant, generally an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer,[22][23][24][25] is the administrative head of the ministry or department, and is the principal adviser to the minister on all matters of policy and administration within the ministry/department.[26][27] Secretaries to the Government of India rank 23rd on Indian order of precedence.[28][29][30][31] Secretaries at the higher level are assisted by one or many additional secretaries, who are further assisted by joint secretaries.[27] At the middle they are assisted by directors/deputy secretaries and under secretaries.[27] At the lower level, there are section officers, assistant section officers, upper division clerks, lower division clerks and other secretarial staff.[27]

Ministries and departments of the Government of India
# Ministry Department(s)
1 Prime Minister's Office Department of Atomic Energy
Department of Space
2 Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Department of Agricultural Research and Education
3 Ministry of Ayush
4 Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals
Department of Fertilizers
Department of Pharmaceuticals
5 Ministry of Civil Aviation
6 Ministry of Co-operation
7 Ministry of Coal
8 Ministry of Commerce and Industry Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
Department of Commerce
9 Ministry of Communications Department of Posts
Department of Telecommunications
10 Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs
Department of Food and Public Distribution
11 Ministry of Corporate Affairs
12 Ministry of Culture
13 Ministry of Defence Department of Defence
Department of Defence Production
Department of Defence Research and Development
Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare
Department of Military Affairs
14 Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
15 Ministry of Earth Sciences
16 Ministry of Education Department of Higher Education
Department of School Education and Literacy
17 Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
18 Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
19 Ministry of External Affairs
20 Ministry of Finance Department of Economic Affairs
Department of Expenditure
Department of Financial Services
Department of Investment and Public Asset Management
Department of Public Enterprises
Department of Revenue
21 Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries
22 Ministry of Food Processing Industries
23 Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Department of Family Welfare
Department of Health
Department of Health Research
24 Ministry of Heavy Industries
25 Ministry of Home Affairs Department of Border Management
Department of Home
Department of Internal Security
Department of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Affairs
Department of Official Language
Department of States
26 Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Central Public Works Department
27 Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
28 Ministry of Jal Shakti
29 Ministry of Labour and Employment
30 Ministry of Law and Justice Department of Legal Affairs
Department of Justice
Legislative Department
31 Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
32 Ministry of Mines
33 Ministry of Minority Affairs
34 Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
35 Ministry of Panchayati Raj
36 Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
37 Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances
Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare
Department of Personnel and Training
38 Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
39 Ministry of Planning
40 Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
41 Ministry of Power
42 Ministry of Railways
43 Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
44 Ministry of Rural Development Department of Land Resources
Department of Rural Development
45 Ministry of Science and Technology Department of Biotechnology
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
Department of Science and Technology
46 Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
47 Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
Department of Social Justice and Empowerment
48 Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
49 Ministry of Steel
50 Ministry of Textiles
51 Ministry of Tourism
52 Ministry of Tribal Affairs
53 Ministry of Women and Child Development
54 Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Department of Youth Affairs
Department of Sports

Civil services

The Civil Services of India are the civil services and the permanent bureaucracy of India. The executive decisions are implemented by the Indian civil servants.

In the parliamentary democracy of India, the ultimate responsibility for running the administration rests with the elected representatives of the people which are the ministers. These ministers are accountable to the legislatures which are also elected by the people based on universal adult suffrage. The ministers are indirectly responsible to the people themselves. But the handful of ministers is not expected to deal personally with the various problems of modern administration. Thus the ministers lay down the policy and it is for the civil servants to enforce it.

Cabinet secretary

The cabinet secretary (IAST: Maṃtrimaṇḍala Saciva) is the top-most executive official and senior-most civil servant of the Government of India. The cabinet secretary is the ex-officio head of the Civil Services Board, the Cabinet Secretariat, the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and the head of all civil services under the rules of business of the government.

The cabinet secretary is generally the senior-most officer of the Indian Administrative Service. The cabinet secretary ranks 11th on the Indian order of precedence.[28][29][30][31] The cabinet secretary is under the direct charge of the prime minister. Presently, the Cabinet Secretary of India is Rajiv Gauba, IAS.

Judiciary

India's independent union judicial system began under the British, and its concepts and procedures resemble those of Anglo-Saxon countries. The Supreme Court of India consists of the chief justice and 33 associate justices, all appointed by the president on the advice of the Chief Justice of India. The jury trials were abolished in India in the early 1960s, after the famous case KM Nanavati v. the State of Maharashtra, for reasons of being vulnerable to media and public pressure, as well as to being misled.

Unlike its United States counterpart, the Indian justice system consists of a unitary system at both state and union levels. The judiciary consists of the Supreme Court of India, high courts at the state level, and district courts and Sessions Courts at the district level.

Supreme Court

Building of the Supreme Court of India.
Building of the Supreme Court of India.

The Supreme Court of India is situated in New Delhi, the capital region of India.

The Supreme Court is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal under the Constitution of India, the highest constitutional court, with the power of constitutional review. Consisting of the Chief Justice of India and 33 sanctioned other judges, it has extensive powers in the form of original, appellate and advisory jurisdictions.[32]

As the final court of appeal of the country, it takes up appeals primarily against verdicts of the high courts of various states of the Union and other courts and tribunals. It safeguards fundamental rights of citizens and settles disputes between various governments in the country. As an advisory court, it hears matters which may specifically be referred to it under the constitution by the president. It also may take cognisance of matters on its own (or 'suo moto'), without anyone drawing its attention to them. The law declared by the supreme court becomes binding on all courts within India and also by the union and state governments.[33] Per Article 142, it is the duty of the president to enforce the decrees of the supreme court.

In addition, Article 32 of the constitution gives an extensive original jurisdiction to the supreme court concerning enforcing fundamental rights. It is empowered to issue directions, orders or writs, including writs in the nature of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto and certiorari to enforce them. The supreme court has been conferred with power to direct the transfer of any civil or criminal case from one state high court to another state high court, or from a Court subordinate to another state high court and the supreme court. Although the proceedings in the supreme court arise out of the judgment or orders made by the subordinate courts, of late the supreme court has started entertaining matters in which the interest of the public at large is involved. This may be done by any individual or group of persons either by filing a writ petition at the filing counter of the court or by addressing a letter to the Chief Justice of India, highlighting the question of public importance for redress. These are known as public interest litigations.[34]

Elections and voting

India has a quasi-federal form of government, called "union" or "central" government,[35] with elected officials at the union, state and local levels. At the national level, the head of government, the prime minister, is appointed by the president of India from the party or coalition that has the majority of seats in the Lok Sabha. The members of the Lok Sabha are directly elected for a term of five years by universal adult suffrage through a first-past-the-post voting system. Members of the Rajya Sabha, which represents the states, are elected by the members of State legislative assemblies by proportional representation, except for 12 members who are nominated by the president.

India is currently the largest democracy in the world, with around 900 million eligible voters, as of 2019.[36]

State and local governments

State governments in India are the governments ruling states of India and the chief minister heads the state government.[37] Power is divided between union government and state governments.[38] The state legislature is bicameral in five states and unicameral in the rest.[39] The lower house is elected with a five-year term, while in the upper house one-third of the members in the house gets elected every two years with six-year terms.

Local governments function at the basic level. It is the third level of government apart from union and state governments. It consists of panchayats in rural areas and municipalities in urban areas. They are elected directly or indirectly by the people.

Finance

Taxation

Reserve Bank of India's headquarters in Mumbai, India's financial capital

India has a three-tier tax structure, wherein the constitution empowers the union government to levy income tax, tax on capital transactions (wealth tax, inheritance tax), sales tax, service tax, customs and excise duties and the state governments to levy sales tax on intrastate sale of goods, taxon entertainment and professions, excise duties on manufacture of alcohol, stamp duties on transfer of property and collect land revenue (levy on land owned). The local governments are empowered by the state government to levy property tax and charge users for public utilities like water supply, sewage etc.[40] More than half of the revenues of the union and state governments come from taxes, of which 3/4 come from direct taxes. More than a quarter of the union government's tax revenues are shared with the state governments.[41]

The tax reforms, initiated in 1991, have sought to rationalise the tax structure and increase compliance by taking steps in the following directions:

  • Reducing the rates of individual and corporate income taxes, excises, and customs and making it more progressive
  • Reducing exemptions and concessions
  • Simplification of laws and procedures
  • Introduction of permanent account number (PAN) to track monetary transactions
  • 21 of the 29 states introduced value added tax (VAT) on 1 April 2005 to replace the complex and multiple sales tax system[40][42]

The non-tax revenues of the central government come from fiscal services, interest receipts, public sector dividends, etc., while the non-tax revenues of the States are grants from the central government, interest receipts, dividends and income from general, economic and social services.[43]

Inter-state share in the union tax pool is decided by the recommendations of the Finance Commission to the president.

Total tax receipts of Centre and State amount to approximately 18% of national GDP. This compares to a figure of 37–45% in the OECD.

Union budget

The Finance minister of India usually presents the annual union budget in the parliament on the last working day of February. However, for the F.Y. 2017–18, this tradition had been changed. Now the budget will be presented on the 1st day of February. The budget has to be passed by the Lok Sabha before it can come into effect on 1 April, the start of India's fiscal year. The Union budget is preceded by an economic survey which outlines the broad direction of the budget and the economic performance of the country for the outgoing financial year[44]

India's non-development revenue expenditure had increased nearly five-fold in 2003–04 since 1990–91 and more than tenfold from 1985 to 1986. Interest payments are the single largest item of expenditure and accounted for more than 40% of the total non-development expenditure in the 2003–04 budget. Defence expenditure increased fourfold during the same period and has been increasing to defend from a difficult neighbourhood and external terror threats. In 2020-21, India's defence budget stood at 4.71 trillion (US$66 billion).

Issues

Corruption

In 2009, several ministers are accused of corruption and nearly a quarter of the 543 elected members of parliament had been charged with crimes, including murder.[45] Many of the biggest scandals since 2010 have involved high-level government officials, including cabinet ministers and chief ministers, such as the 2010 Commonwealth Games scam (700 billion (equivalent to 1.3 trillion or US$18 billion in 2019)), the Adarsh Housing Society scam, the Coal Mining Scam (1.86 trillion (equivalent to 3.4 trillion or US$47 billion in 2019)), the mining scandal in Karnataka and the cash-for-votes scandal.

See also

References

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  41. Tax revenue was 88% of total union government revenue in 1950–51 and has come down to 73% in 2003–04, as a result of the increase in non-tax revenue. Tax revenues were 70% of total state government revenues from 2002 to 2003. Indirect taxes were 84% of the union government's total tax revenue and have come down to 62% in 2003–04, mostly because of cuts in import duties and rationalisation. The state's share in the union government's tax revenue is 28.0% for the period 2000 to 2005 as per the recommendations of the eleventh finance commission. In addition, states that do not levy sales tax on sugar, textiles and tobacco, are entitled to 1.5% of the proceeds.Datt, Ruddar; Sundharam, K.P.M. (2005). Indian Economy. S.Chand. pp. 938, 942, 946. ISBN 81-219-0298-3.
  42. "Indif_real_GDP_per_capitaa says 21 of 29 states to launch new tax". Daily Times. 25 March 2005. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009.
  43. Datt, Ruddar; Sundharam, K. P. M. "55". Indian Economy. pp. 943–945.
  44. "Union Budget 2017–18". ibef.org. Archived from the original on 25 March 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  45. When the Little Ones Run the Show (quote from the New Delhi based Association for Democratic Reform) Archived 15 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine. The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  1. The Constitution of India describes the federal government as "The Union".

Further reading

  • Subrata K. Mitra and V. B. Singh (1999). Democracy and Social Change in India: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the National Electorate. New Delhi: Sage Publications. ISBN 81-7036-809-X (India HB), ISBN 0-7619-9344-4 (US HB).

External links

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