What is the Indian political system?
A map of the political divisions in 1909, published by The Imperial Gazetteer of India. CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia
India is the largest democracy in the world. Its government is similar to Britain’s parliamentary system. It has a bicameral parliament led by the Lok Sabha, or People’s Assembly, and a prime minister who leads the ruling party or coalition and serves as the head of government. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by the people. Members of the Upper House, or Rajya Sabha, are mostly elected by state legislatures. India’s indirectly elected president has powers analogous to those of the queen in the United Kingdom or the governor general in Canada. India has dozens of second-tier and local political parties that are represented at the national level. Individual states have their own legislative assemblies. Judicial powers are vested in a Supreme Court as well as several lower circuit courts called “High Courts.”
Does India have a king?
No, the Indian political system does not include a king. Years ago, before British India, the subcontinent had many kingdoms and principalities. Some kings continued to rule under British patrimony, but all such states were absorbed into India or Pakistan after independence.
Do women have voting rights in India?
The Indian constitution prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. Women were given the right to vote in 1935, 15 years after the United States did. Indira Gandhi, daughter of India’s first prime minister, served as prime minister from 1966 to 1977 and 1980 to 1984. Pratibha Patil, a woman, was India’s president from 2007 to 2012.
Are Indians involved in U.S. politics?
Republican governors Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Nikki Haley of South Carolina are Indian Americans. Jindal had been considered as a running mate for Gov. Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election. Ami Bera, a Democrat from California, is a U.S. congressman. Bera was the third Indian-American to be elected to Congress. Dalip Singh Saund was the first, elected in 1952, and Jindal, elected in 2004, was second. Five other Indian-Americans ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2012.
