India is a federal parliamentary republic with New Delhi as its capital. It has 29 states and 7 union territories which are administered directly by the central government. The political system mirrors that of the national government with an elected legislature, executive, and judiciary. Power is concentrated in the office of the prime minister who is the leader of the majority party in the lower house of parliament, the Lok Sabha. The president is the ceremonial head of state elected by an electoral college for 5-year terms.
2. Republic of India
• A federal republic with a parliamentary
system of government
• capital: New Delhi
3. A federal system
• 29 states and 7 centrally administered
Union Territories
– 2 states are partially claimed by Pakistan and
China
4. What are union territories?
• A union territory is a type
of administrative division in the Republic of
India.
• Unlike states, which have their own
elected governments, union territories are
ruled directly by the Union
Government (Central Government), hence
the name 'union territory'.
5. Union Territories in India
1.Andaman and Nicobar Islands
2.Chandigarh
3.Dadra and Nagar Haveli
4.Daman and Diu
5.Lakshadweep
6.National Capital Territory of Delhi
7.Puducherry
6. Federal system
• Relatively centralized
• federal government controls the most
essential government functions
– defense
– foreign policy
– taxation
– public expenditures
– economic (industrial) planning
7. Federal system
• state governments formally control
– agriculture
– education
– law and order within states
– dependent on central government for funds
8. Federal system
• considerable center-state conflict when
ruling political party in a state is different
from national ruling party
9. Parallel state structure
• Formal political structure of the states
parallels that of the national government
• national state
• President Governor
• Prime Minister Chief Minister
• Parliament Assembly
• Supreme Court High Court
15. Upper House
• Rajya Sabha (Council of States)
• not more than 250 members(currently
245)
– 12 are nominated by the President of India
– the rest are indirectly elected
• by state Legislative Assemblies
• The Council of States can not be
dissolved
– members have terms of 6 years
– 1/3 members retire at end of every 2nd year
17. Lower House
• Lok Sabha (House of the People)
• 545 members
– 2 are appointed by the President of India
– the rest are directly elected from single-member
districts
• 5-year terms unless dissolved
• Lok Sabha elects its presiding officer
– the Speaker
18. Lok Sabha
• Elections held at least every 5 years
• Prime Minister may call elections earlier.
19. Prime Minister
• Leader of the majority party leader in Lok
Sabha becomes the prime minister
• prime minister nominates a cabinet
– members of Parliament in the ruling coalition
– Council of Ministers
• effective power is concentrated in the
office of the prime minister
– where most of the important policies originate
20. Prime Ministers of India
• 38 years in the Nehru-Gandhi family
• more and more rapid turnover
21. The President of India
• Head of the State
• Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces
• elected by an electoral college
– national Parliament
– state legislature
• 5-year terms
• can be reelected
23. The President of India
• Ceremonial office
– symbolize national unity
– supposedly above partisan politics
• mostly acts on the advice of the prime
minister
• President plays a significant role when the
selection of a prime minister is complex
– in 1998 President requested BJP to form govt.
24. The Judiciary
• Fundamental contradiction in constitution
– principle of parliamentary sovereignty
– principle of judicial review
25. The Judiciary
• judiciary tries to preserve the constitution’s
basic structure
• to ensure that legislation conforms with
the intent of the constitution
• parliament tries to assert its right to amend
the constitution