India
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- federal parliamentary republic
- CONSTITUTION
- January 26, 1950; amended several times
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on English common law; partial review of legislative acts by the judiciary
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral, Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and People's Assembly (Lok Sabha)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court, judges appointed by the President and serve until 65 years of age
RELIGIONS
80% Hindu; 11% Muslims; 2% Christians; 2% Sikhs; Buddhist minorities and others
From the country
DECEMBER 7, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: MAN GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR KILLING HIS SISTER
In a stern action against an Honor Killing case in Haryana, a court awarded death penalty to a man on 5 December 2018 who was guilty of murdering his sister.
DECEMBER 7, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTY1984 ANTI-SIKH RIOTS: 1ST CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE CASE – YASHPAL SINGH GETS DEATH SENTENCE
A Delhi court on 19 November 2018 awarded death penalty to one of the accused in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. The conviction of Yashpal Singh came as first capital punishment in the case.
DECEMBER 6, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: SUPREME COURT COMMUTES DEATH PENALTY OF CHHATTISGARH MAN
The Supreme Court on 28 November 2018 commuted the death penalty imposed on a Chhattisgarh man convicted of killing three people and attempting to kill a fourth.
NOVEMBER 22, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: 7 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING ONE NINE YEARS AGO IN UTTAR PRADESH
A sessions court in Muzaffarnagar on 20 November 2018 sentenced seven persons to death for killing a man nearly nine years ago at Harsoli in the district after a clash between two groups of people over an old dispute.
NOVEMBER 21, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: CONVICT IN ANTI-SIKH RIOTS CASE SENTENCED TO DEATH
A New Delhi court on 19 November 2018 handed down a rare death sentence over anti-Sikh riots in 1984 that left nearly 3,000 dead following the assassination of prime minister Indira Gandhi.
- NOVEMBER 21, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: MADHYA PRADESH HC UPHOLDS MAN'S DEATH SENTENCE FOR RAPING, KILLING MINOR
The Madhya Pradesh High Court on 15 November 2018 upheld the death sentence awarded to a 19-year-old man for raping and killing a four-year-old girl in Dhar district.
- NOVEMBER 19, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: SC COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE
The Supreme Court on 14 November 2018 commuted death penalty imposed on a man accused of rape and murder of an eight year old girl in Rajasthan.
- NOVEMBER 6, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: IDUKKI MAN GETS DEATH PENALTY FOR RAPING AND KILLING WOMAN, DAUGHTER
The High Court in Idukki on 30 October 2018 confirmed the death sentence awarded by Thodupuzha second additional sessions judge T U Kuruvila on June 20, 2012, to an Idukki native for brutally raping and murdering a mother and her daughter at Peermade in 2
- NOVEMBER 2, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: MAN GETS DEATH FOR RAPE, KILLING MINOR
In a major verdict Sessions Judge SK Tekam on 31 October 2018 awarded capital punishment, ‘Hang till Death’ to a man for rape and killing a four-year-old girl.
OCTOBER 30, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: HC COMMUTES DEATH PENALTY OF RAPE CONVICT
The Madhya Pradesh High Court on 26 October 2018 commuted to rigorous imprisonment for 20 years the death sentence awarded to a rickshaw driver who was accused of penetrating a four-year-old girl with his finger after a five-day trial.
OCTOBER 9, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: CALCUTTA HC COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE OF SEVEN FOR WITCH-HUNTING 3 WOMEN
The Calcutta High Court has commuted to life the death sentence of seven men guilty of killing three women believing them to be witches, livelaw.in reported on 7 October 2018.
- OCTOBER 5, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: MAN GETS DEATH PENALTY FOR RAPE-MURDER OF MINOR GIRL
A court of Assam on October 4, 2018 awarded death penalty to a man for the rape and murder of a 13-year-old tribal girl.