Government of India

The Government of India (Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government, the Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, established in accordance to the Constitution of India. Outlined in Part I, India is a "Union of States," a term often used interchangeably to refer to the "Union Government" or the Government of India, representing the central authority. India is a parliamentary republic led by the president of India who, as the ceremonial head of state, holds formal executive power. Dictated by parliamentary elections, the president appoints the prime minister as the head of government, along with other ministers.

India is divided into 28 states and 8 union territories, making a total of 36 subnational entities. The governance of these entities is described in the Constitution as a quasi-federal system, blending elements of both federal and unitary governments. While the states are self-governing administrative divisions with their own state governments, the union territories are directly governed by the Union Government, under the administration of a lieutenant governor or an appointed administrator, who is chosen by the president of India. India operates under a dual federalist system, where the Constitution outlines the powers and limitations of both the states and union territories. The President of India, serving as the ceremonial head of state, holds formal executive power. Based on parliamentary elections, the President appoints the Prime Minister as the head of government, along with other ministers who are members of Parliament.

The government's formal seat is at Parliament House in New Delhi. It has three primary branches: the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary. The Constitution of India vests legislative power in the bicameral Parliament of India, executive power in the Union Council of Ministers, and judicial power in the Supreme Court of India, with the president as head of state. It is a derivation of the British Westminster system, and has a federal structure. The government is formed by the prime minister and ministers, who are members of parliament and belong to the Union Council of Ministers, with the prime minister at its head. The Union Council of Ministers is the peak decision-making body within the executive branch responsible for advising the president on executive policy.

The Union Council of Ministers is responsible to the Lok Sabha (lower house), as is the Cabinet in accordance with the principles of responsible government. As is the case in most parliamentary systems, the government is dependent on Parliament to legislate, and general elections are held every five years to elect a new Lok Sabha. The most recent election was in 2024. After an election, the president generally selects as Prime Minister the leader of the party or alliance most likely to command the confidence of the majority of the Lok Sabha. In the event that the prime minister is not a member of either house of parliament upon appointment, they are given six months to be elected or appointed to parliament.