India is a **federal parliamentary democratic republic** governed under the **Constitution of India**, which came into force in 1950. The system combines a strong Union government with constitutionally defined powers for states and union territories.
## National structure - **Head of State:** President of India - **Head of Government:** Prime Minister of India - **Legislature:** Bicameral Parliament consisting of the **Lok Sabha** (House of the People) and **Rajya Sabha** (Council of States) - **Judiciary:** Independent court system headed by the **Supreme Court of India**
## Federal organization - **28 states** and **8 union territories** - States have elected legislatures and governments, typically headed by **Chief Ministers**. - Union territories are administered under varying arrangements; some have legislatures and chief ministers, while others are more directly administered by the Union government.
## Administration and public services India’s public administration extends through states, districts, sub-districts, municipalities, municipal corporations, cantonments, and village-level institutions.
Key service areas include: - public health systems - school education - policing and public order (primarily state subject) - roads and transport - water supply and sanitation - social welfare schemes - digital identity and e-governance services
## Elections and representation India operates one of the world’s largest democratic election systems, administered by the **Election Commission of India**. Citizens vote in national, state, and local elections. Political representation is shaped by parliamentary constituencies, state assembly constituencies, and constitutionally reserved seats for **Scheduled Castes** and **Scheduled Tribes** in some legislatures.
## Local government - **Urban local bodies:** municipal corporations, municipalities, town councils - **Rural local government:** panchayati raj institutions at village, block, and district levels
Public policy in India is often influenced by the balance between central authority and state-level variation, which is substantial across language, law implementation, welfare delivery, and economic strategy.
