Indian Political System
According to our Constitution, India is a "sovereign secular socialist democratic republic." It has 28 states and seven Union Territories. With a population of approximately 112 crore, India happens to be the largest democracy in the world. Indian polity is a multi-party democracy, based on the adult franchise system of voting. That is any Indian citizen of 18 and above, who is not debarred by law, can vote in the Indian elections, at national, state and local levels.
India is a parliamentary democracy and a federal parliamentary representative democratic republic, where the Prime Minister is the head of government. He or she should be chosen by the MPs (Member of Parliaments) of the ruling party or the coalition that comes to power, and is the focal point of political power in India.
However, the Prime Minister is formally appointed by the President of India. Presently Manmohan Singh is the Prime Minister of India.
Indian President: A Titular Head
President is the head of the state and the first citizen of the country, and also the supreme commander of the armed forces. Though in theory he/she holds considerable power, but in reality he/she is a titular head, whose role is similar to that of the Constitutional Monarch in the UK. The President is elected by members of an electoral college, consisting of elected members of both Houses of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies of the states, with suitable weightage given to each vote. The election uses single transferable voting method of proportional representation. The President's term of office is five years, and the President can be re-elected to his/her office.
Among his/her important powers on paper, the President can proclaim an emergency in the country if he/she is satisfied that the security of the country or of any part of its territory is threatened whether by war or external aggression or armed rebellion. When there is a failure of the constitutional machinery in a state, he/she can assume to
India is a parliamentary democracy and a federal parliamentary representative democratic republic, where the Prime Minister is the head of government. He or she should be chosen by the MPs (Member of Parliaments) of the ruling party or the coalition that comes to power, and is the focal point of political power in India.
However, the Prime Minister is formally appointed by the President of India. Presently Manmohan Singh is the Prime Minister of India.
Indian President: A Titular Head
President is the head of the state and the first citizen of the country, and also the supreme commander of the armed forces. Though in theory he/she holds considerable power, but in reality he/she is a titular head, whose role is similar to that of the Constitutional Monarch in the UK. The President is elected by members of an electoral college, consisting of elected members of both Houses of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies of the states, with suitable weightage given to each vote. The election uses single transferable voting method of proportional representation. The President's term of office is five years, and the President can be re-elected to his/her office.
Among his/her important powers on paper, the President can proclaim an emergency in the country if he/she is satisfied that the security of the country or of any part of its territory is threatened whether by war or external aggression or armed rebellion. When there is a failure of the constitutional machinery in a state, he/she can assume to