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
- JUNE 5, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: DEATH PENALTY TO MAN FOR KILLING WIFE OVER DOWRY
a local court in Kushinagar, India, awarded the death penalty to a husband and life imprisonment to a father in law for murdering a woman for her dowry in the Kotwali area.
- JUNE 3, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: DEATH TO 8 SINCE JAN
as many as eight people were awarded capital punishment by different courts in Bihar...
- JUNE 2, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: SC CHIDES NHRC FOR EXCEEDING ITS POWERS IN DEATH SENTENCE CASE
the Indian Supreme Court set aside an order of the Assam Governor who, on the direction of the NHRC, commuted the death sentence of a man who massacred four members of family.
JUNE 1, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: THOSE WHO BURN BRIDES NEED TO BE HANGED - SC
the Indian Supreme Court said people convicted of burning their wives for bringing
- MAY 28, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: HC CONFIRMS DEATH SENTENCE OF MURDER ACCUSED
the Allahabad High Court in India confirmed the death sentence given to Sandeep of New Delhi for a murder that took place on November 17, 2004. Sandeep’s pregnant lover Jyoti, refused to abort the child and threatened to tell her family, so he and Shashi
- MAY 26, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: FOUR GET DEATH FOR NANDOS KILLINGS
in India, Sindhudurg District Principal and Sessions judge JN Shanbaug sentenced four Mumbai youths to death for their involvement in the infamous 2003 Nandos killings.
- MAY 25, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: SC REFUSES TO SEE MERIT IN DEATH TERM
the Indian Supreme Court reduced the death sentence of a murder convict to life imprisonment.
- MAY 21, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR MURDER OF FRIEND
Rabin Malick, 19, was sentenced to death by Partha Sarathi Mukherjee, the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate of the Barrackpore First Track Third Court in India, for the murder of his friend Abhishek
- MAY 18, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: 3 GET DEATH FOR KILLING FRIEND
a fast-track court in Bhagalpur, India, awarded capital punishment to Gulab, Asmat and Pipiya for murdering their friend, Mohd Illias, out of jealousy as he planned to marry a girl they fancied.
- MAY 14, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: SC REMITS DEATH PENALTY TO LIFE FOR RANSOM MURDER
the Indian Supreme Court reduced the death sentence on a man who kidnapped and murdered a railway clerk for a ransom of Rs 10 lakh in 2001 to life imprisonment.
- MAY 14, 2009MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: HOUSEWIFE SENT TO THE GALLOWS FOR HUSBAND'S DEATH
a housewife and her cousin were sentenced to death by the Malaysian High Court after they were found guilty of murdering her husband in 2004.
- MAY 13, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT LAW UNCONSTITUTIONAL - SC
the Indian Supreme Court termed the capital punishment law "uncertain" and "falling