Government of India

The Government of the India, officially referred to as the Union Governnment, and commonly as Central Government, established by the Constitution of India, is a union federal republic of 28 states and 7 union territories. The basic laws of the India are set down in major parliamentary legislation, such as the India Code. The federal, union government consists of executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The legal system is based on English common and statutory law, while most state and territorial law is based on English common law. India accepts compulsory International Court of Justice jurisdiction, with many reservations. The branches of State Governments usually mirror the pattern followed at the national level.

Executive branch

The executive arm consists of the President, Vice-President, the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers. Any minister holding a portfolio must be a member of either house of parliament

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President of India

The government exercises its broad administrative powers in the name of the President of India, who is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the Head of State and chief guardian of the Constitution of the Republic.

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The President's true role is mainly ceremonial. He is the Supreme Commander, has the authority to dissolve Parliament and call elections, declare a state of emergency and dismiss governments in the states, but all upon the counsel of the Prime Minister and the elected government.

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Historically, the President of the Republic has been a man revered by the people for his position aloof and above ordinary politics, leaving him as a source of comfort for peoples disenchanted by the ills of politics and national problems.

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The President and Vice President are elected indirectly for 5-year terms by a special electoral college, composed of delegates from the Union Parliament and state legislatures.

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Union Cabinet

Real national executive power is centered in the Council of Ministers, the Union Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister of India, the head of government. The President appoints the Prime Minister, who is the designated leader of the political party or coalition commanding parliamentary majority. All Central Government decisions are nominally taken in the name of the President.

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The Ministers can be of 3 types: Cabinet Minister, Minister of State (Independent Charge) and Minister of State, in the order of seniority. Cabinet Minister and M of State (Indp Charge) usually attend Cabinet meeetings. Accordingly to policy issues at discussion, the Cabinet meets as the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, Cabinert Committee on Defence etc.

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The Union Ministries

The day-to-day enforcement and administration of national laws is in the hands of the various federal Union Ministries and Departments, created by the Indian Parliament to deal with specific areas of national and international affairs. In matters delegated to the States, Ministries act in advisory and fundng capacity.

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Independent Executive Agencies

The Constitution also provides for following independent organisations, who are answerable only to the Parliament and are not under the purview of any Ministry,

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• Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) - premier national investigative agency, analogous to the United States FBI, but limited in authority.
• Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) -
• Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)
• Election Commission of India
• National Commission for Women
• National Commission on Population
• National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
• Planning Commission - The premier agency
• Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) - Telecom regulator.
• Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) - The recruitment agency for Union Government positions based on competitive exams.