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 7, 2017IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA IMPLEMENTS NEW ANTI-HIJACKING LAW THAT ENTAILS DEATH PENALTY
India's new anti-hijacking law that entails capital punishment for the perpetrators in case of death of any person, has come into force.
- JUNE 29, 2017IndiaDEATH PENALTY
DELAY IN EXECUTION OF DEATH ROW CONVICT IS DEHUMANISING: DELHI HC
Delay in the execution of a death row convict after his capital punishment has been confirmed by the highest judicial forum, torments the prisoner, has a dehumanising effect on him and violates the law, the Delhi High Court has said.
JUNE 23, 2017IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: ORISSA HC COMMUTES DEATH PENALTY TO 35 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT
Orissa high court provided relief to five persons, who were convicted in rape and murder of a minor girl in Keonjhar, by commuting death penalty of two of the convicts to 35 years of imprisonment and acquitting the remaining three.
JUNE 19, 2017IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: NASHIK MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH IN HONOUR KILLING CASE
In a landmark judgment related to "honour killing", the Nashik district sessions court sentenced a man to death for killing his pregnant daughter in 2013 because she had married outside their caste.
- JUNE 18, 2017IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: PRESIDENT MUKHERJEE REJECTS 2 MORE MERCY PETITIONS; TOTAL 30
The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee has rejected two more mercy petitions filed by the convicts awarded death punishment.
- JUNE 15, 2017IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: MAN GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR DOUBLE MURDER
A court in Rae Bareli (UP) awarded death sentence to a man for murdering a middle-aged couple in 2010.
- JUNE 5, 2017IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: TWO GET CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR TRIPLE MURDER
The Namakkal Additional District Court awarded capital punishment to two persons in connection with a triple murder that took place in 2011.
MAY 25, 2017IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: FIVE MAOISTS SENTENCED TO DEATH BY MUNGER COURT IN BIHAR
A Munger court awarded death sentence to five Maoists after convicting them of murder of two CRPF jawans in an ambush during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in Bihar.
- MAY 23, 2017IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: MAN, SON GET DEATH SENTENCE IN DOUBLE MURDER CASE IN UP
A 60-year-old man and his son were sentenced to death in Uttar Pradesh for murdering two persons over a land dispute.
- MAY 9, 2017IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCES FOR DELHI GANG RAPE
Four men convicted of a gang rape that shocked India and attracted worldwide attention will be executed.
- MAY 9, 2017IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: THREE ACCUSED SENTENCED TO DEATH IN NAYNA PUJARI CASE
A Pune special court sentenced three accused to death sentence in kidnapping, gangrape and murder of software engineer Nayna Pujari.
APRIL 11, 2017IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: 325 DEATH ROW CONVICTS IN THE COUNTRY TILL 2016
As many as 325 death row convicts are lodged in different jails across the country till 2016, the Lok Sabha was informed.