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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} | ||
{{Infobox government | {{Infobox government | ||
| government_name = Government | | government_name = Government of India | ||
| nativename = {{transl|hi|ISO|Bhārat | | nativename = {{transl|hi|ISO|Bhārat Sarkār}} | ||
| image = Emblem of India.svg | | image = Emblem of India.svg | ||
| image_size = 90px | | image_size = 90px | ||
| caption = | | caption = | ||
| date = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1950|1|26}} | | date = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1833|8|28}} ([[Government of India Act 1833|First established]])<br/> | ||
| country = [[Republic of India]] | ----- | ||
{{Start date and age|df=yes|1950|1|26}} ([[Constitution of India|Current constitution]]) | |||
| country = [[India|Republic of India]] | |||
| website = {{official URL}} | | website = {{official URL}} | ||
| legislature = [[Parliament of India|Parliament]] | | legislature = [[Parliament of India|Parliament]] | ||
| meeting_place = [[ | | meeting_place = [[New Parliament House, New Delhi| Parliament House]] | ||
| leader_title = [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] | | leader_title = [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] | ||
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{{Politics of India}} | {{Politics 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. | The '''Government of India''' ([[ISO 15919|ISO]]: {{transl|hi|ISO|Bhārat Sarkār}}; often abbreviated as '''GoI'''), also 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== | ==Etymology and history== | ||
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== Basic structure == | == Basic structure == | ||
The | The Government of India 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|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]]. | 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]]. | ||
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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|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> | 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{{When|date=April 2023}} 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 == | ||
{{Main|Elections in India|Politics of India}}{{See also|Election Commission of India}} | {{Main|Elections in India|Politics of India}}{{See also|Election Commission of India}} | ||
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= | 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=The Constitution of India |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 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> | India is currently the largest democracy in the world, with around 900 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> | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
* [http://www.india.gov.in/ Official Portal of the Indian Government] | * [http://www.india.gov.in/ Official Portal of the Indian Government] | ||