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Government of India

society Maturity 11-13 politics
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India has a big government.

Glimpses of the new Parliament Building, in New Delhi (2).jpg
Glimpses of the new Parliament Building, in New Delhi (2).jpg
It helps many people live together. Leaders make rules for the land. A prime minister helps run things. This helps keep the country strong. Do you like learning about leaders?

81 words

India has a big government.

Glimpses of the new Parliament Building, in New Delhi (2).jpg
Glimpses of the new Parliament Building, in New Delhi (2).jpg

It helps many people live together. The government has three parts. One part makes rules. Another part runs the land. The last part is a court.

Supreme Court of India - 200705.jpg
Supreme Court of India - 200705.jpg

A president is the head of state. A prime minister is the head of government. The prime minister leads a group of ministers.

India has 28 states. It also has 8 union territories. Many people live in these places. This helps the land stay organized. It is a very large democracy.

134 words

The Government of India is the main authority for the country. It follows the rules in the Constitution of India.

Glimpses of the new Parliament Building, in New Delhi (2).jpg
Glimpses of the new Parliament Building, in New Delhi (2).jpg

India has three main parts. The legislature makes laws in Parliament. The executive branch carries out the laws. The judiciary uses courts to follow the law.

Supreme Court of India - 200705.jpg
Supreme Court of India - 200705.jpg

Parliament has two houses. The Lok Sabha is the lower house. The Rajya Sabha is the upper house. The Lok Sabha is a temporary house. The Rajya Sabha is a permanent house.

Parliament House, British India (1926).png
Parliament House, British India (1926).png

The President is the head of state. The President is the leader of the armed forces. The Prime Minister is the head of government. The Prime Minister leads the Council of Ministers. This group helps the President make choices.

India is divided into 28 states and 8 union territories. The states can rule themselves in many ways. The Union Government rules the union territories directly. India is the largest democracy in the world. It also has the 4th largest economy.

215 words

The Government of India is the national authority for the Republic of India. It follows the rules written in the Constitution of India. This government is often called the Union Government or the Central Government. India is described as a "Union of States." This means the central authority works alongside many different parts of the country.

New Delhi government block 03-2016 img5.jpg
New Delhi government block 03-2016 img5.jpg

The government works through three main branches. The legislature is the Parliament, which makes the laws. The executive branch carries out these laws every day. This branch includes the President and the Prime Minister. The judiciary branch uses the courts to make sure laws are followed. The Supreme Court of India is the highest court in this system.

Supreme Court of India - 200705.jpg
Supreme Court of India - 200705.jpg

India's government has roots in the past. During British colonial rule, laws like the Indian Councils Act 1909 introduced elections. Later, the Government of India Act 1919 created a larger council with two houses. The 1935 Act tried to give more power to local areas. After gaining independence in 1947, India was a dominion for a short time. Finally, on 26 January 1950, India became a republic.

Parliament House, British India (1926).png
Parliament House, British India (1926).png

Today, the Parliament is a bicameral system. This means it has two houses called the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The Lok Sabha is the lower house, or the "House of the People." The Rajya Sabha is the upper house, or the "Council of States." The President appoints the Prime Minister based on elections. The Prime Minister leads the Council of Ministers to run the country.

Glimpses of the new Parliament Building, in New Delhi (2).jpg
Glimpses of the new Parliament Building, in New Delhi (2).jpg

India is divided into 28 states and 8 union territories. The states have their own governments to rule themselves. However, the Union Government rules the union territories directly. The President appoints an administrator to help lead these territories. India is known as the world's largest democracy. It is also the 4th largest economy in the world.

367 words

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

New Delhi government block 03-2016 img5.jpg
New Delhi government block 03-2016 img5.jpg

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

Supreme Court of India - 200705.jpg
Supreme Court of India - 200705.jpg

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

Glimpses of the new Parliament Building, in New Delhi (2).jpg
Glimpses of the new Parliament Building, in New Delhi (2).jpg

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

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

Government of India hierarchy.svg
Government of India hierarchy.svg

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

Parliament House, British India (1926).png
Parliament House, British India (1926).png

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

Rajagopalachari declares India as a Republic.jpg
Rajagopalachari declares India as a Republic.jpg

549 words
🖼️ Images & Media (9)
File:Parliament House, British India (1926).png
Parliament House, British India (1926).png
File:Rajagopalachari declares India as a Republic.jpg
Rajagopalachari declares India as a Republic.jpg
File:Glimpses of the new Parliament Building, in New Delhi (2).jpg
Glimpses of the new Parliament Building,...
File:The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu administered the Oath of Office of Vice President of India to Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan at a Swearing-in-Ceremony held at Ganatantra Mandap, in Rashtrapati Bhavan on September 12, 2025.jpg
The President of India, Smt Droupadi...
File:New Delhi government block 03-2016 img5.jpg
New Delhi government block 03-2016 img5.jpg
File:Government of India hierarchy.svg
Government of India hierarchy.svg
File:The Union Home Secretary, Shri Rajiv Gauba in a group photograph with the IPS Officer Trainees of 2016 batch, in New Delhi.jpg
The Union Home Secretary, Shri Rajiv...
File:Supreme Court of India - 200705.jpg
Supreme Court of India - 200705.jpg
File:RBI-Tower.jpg
RBI-Tower.jpg
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