Legal System of India

India is located in South Asia. It is geographically situated in southern asia, bordering the arabian sea and the bay of bengal, between burma and pakistan. The country achieved independence on 15 august 1947 (from the uk). The capital is New Delhi.

Government Overview

Government Type: federal parliamentary republic Chief of State: President Droupadi MURMU (since 25 July 2022) Head of Government: Prime Minister Narendra MODI (since 26 May 2014) Cabinet: Union Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister, appointed by the president Administrative Divisions: 28 states and 8 union territories*; Andaman and Nicobar Islands*, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh*, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu*, Delhi*, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir*, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Ladakh*, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Puducherry*, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal National Holiday: Republic Day, 26 January (1950) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal System

The legal system of India is described as common law system based on the English model; separate personal law codes apply to Muslims, Christians, and Hindus; judicial review of legislative acts International Law: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt

Constitutional Framework

The constitution has the following history: previous 1935 (pre-independence); latest draft completed 4 November 1949, adopted 26 November 1949, effective 26 January 1950 Amendment Process: proposed by either the Council of States or the House of the People; passage requires majority participation of the total membership in each house and at least two-thirds majority of voting members of each house, followed by assent of the president of India; proposed amendments to the constitutional amendment procedures also must be ratified by at least one half of the India state legislatures before presidential assent

Judicial Branch

Highest Court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 28 judges, including the chief justice) Judge Selection: justices appointed by the president to serve until age 65 Subordinate Courts: High Courts; District Courts; Labour Court

Legislative Branch

The legislative structure consists of bicameral Note: note: in September 2023, both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha passed a bill that reserves one third of the House seats for women; implementation could begin for the House election in 2029 Lower Chamber: House of the People (Lok Sabha) (545 (543 directly elected; 2 appointed) seats) Electoral System (Lower Chamber): plurality/majority Upper Chamber: Council of States (Rajya Sabha)

Citizenship and Suffrage

Citizenship by Birth: no Citizenship by Descent: at least one parent must be a citizen of India Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Historical Background

The Indus Valley civilization, one of the world's oldest, flourished during the 3rd and 2nd millennia B.C. and extended into northwestern India. Aryan tribes from the northwest infiltrated the Indian subcontinent about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. The Maurya Empire of the 4th and 3rd centuries B.C. -- which reached its zenith under ASHOKA -- united much of South Asia. The Gupta dynasty (4th to 6th centuries A.D.

This article provides a summary of the legal system and governmental structure of India based on the CIA World Factbook. The Factbook is a public domain publication of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.