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
JULY 26, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: YOUTH GETS DEATH SENTENCE AFTER QUICK TRIAL IN MINOR’S RAPE AND MURDER CASE
A 25-year-old youth was awarded a death sentence in Madhya Pradesh for raping and killing a six-year-old girl
JULY 24, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: HC SETS ASIDE DEATH SENTENCE, ACQUITS CONVICT OF ALL CHARGES
The Madras High Court set aside the conviction as well as death sentence imposed by a trial court on 24-year-old P. Manikandan
JULY 21, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTYRAJASTHAN: 19-YEAR-OLD GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR RAPING INFANT IN ALWAR
A special court in Alwar sentenced a 19-year-old to death for raping a seven-month-old child in Rajasthan’s Laxmangarh area.
- JULY 17, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: PUNJAB & HARYANA HC CONFIRMS DEATH PENALTY FOR HARYANA WOMEN & HER LOVER
The Punjab and Haryana High Court confirmed the death sentence awarded to a Haryana woman and her boyfriend for poisoning and strangulating seven members of her family, including four children, in September 2009.
- JULY 9, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCES OVER 2012 DELHI GANG RAPE
India's Supreme Court upheld death sentences for three men over the infamous gang-rape and murder of a woman in New Delhi in 2012 that sparked national protests and soul-searching.
JULY 7, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTYMADHYA PRADESH COURT PRONOUNCES DEATH PENALTY TO MAN WHO RAPED 9-YEAR-OLD GIRL
A man who was accused of raping a nine-year-old girl in Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh, was convicted for the heinous crime and awarded capital punishment by a Bhopal court.
JULY 2, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: PUNJAB WANTS DEATH PENALTY FOR SMUGGLERS
The Punjab cabinet decided to recommend to the Centre death penalty for drug smugglers.
JUNE 19, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: MAN IN MADHYA PRADESH SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR RAPE, MURDER OF 9-YEAR-OLD GIRL
A court in Sagar Madhya Pradesh sentenced a 21-year-old man to death for raping and killing a nine-year-old girl last year.
MAY 30, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: PRESIDENT KOVIND REJECTS FIRST MERCY PLEA PLACED BEFORE HIM
President Ram Nath Kovind rejected the first ever mercy plea placed before him
- APRIL 27, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: FIVE GET DEATH SENTENCE FOR POISONING ILLICIT LIQUOR
A court in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvannamalai sentenced to death five persons who poisoned illicit liquor that left 13 people dead in 2000.
APRIL 27, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTYUTTARAKHAND (INDIA): SOLITARY CONFINEMENT UNCONSTITUTIONAL
The Uttarakhand High Court declared the practice of solitary confinement unconstitutional.
- APRIL 22, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: PRESIDENT SIGNS ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE DEATH PENALTY TO RAPISTS OF GIRLS BELOW 12 YEARS
President Ram Nath Kovind promulgated an ordinance that provides for stringent punishment, including death penalty, for those convicted of raping girls below the age of 12 years.