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 20, 2014IndiaDEATH PENALTY
the Supreme Court commuted the death sentence of a death row convict, Ajay Kumar Pal, to life
the Supreme Court commuted the death sentence of a death row convict, Ajay Kumar Pal, to life
DECEMBER 12, 2014IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR MAN CONVICTED FOR MURDEROUS ACID ATTACK
The Gwalior bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court upheld the capital punishment awarded to a man by the
DECEMBER 2, 2014IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: CABINET GRANTS APPROVAL FOR ANTI-HIJACKING BILL 2014
A Bill seeking stringent punishment including death penalty for hijackers was approved by the Union
NOVEMBER 26, 2014IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: SC AWARDS DEATH PENALTY TO MAN FOR RAPING 4-YR-OLD GIRL, STONING HER TO DEATH
SC has awarded death sentence to a 47-year-old man from Maharashtra after finding him guilty of raping a
- NOVEMBER 19, 2014IndiaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA PARDONS INDIAN FISHERMEN ON DEATH ROW
Five Indian fishermen condemned to death for smuggling drugs into Sri Lanka will walk free after President
NOVEMBER 4, 2014IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: 56-YEAR-OLD'S DEATH PENALTY COMMUTED TO LIFE TERM FOR CHILD RAPE, MURDER
A 56-year-old man, facing gallows for raping and murdering a three-year-old girl, has been spared death
OCTOBER 30, 2014IndiaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: DEATH FOR FIVE INDIAN FISHERMEN
The Colombo High Court awarded the death sentence to five Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by the Sri
OCTOBER 16, 2014IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: WOMAN'S FATHER, UNCLE GET DEATH SENTENCE IN HONOUR KILLING CASE
In a 2012 case of honour killing, a court in Punjab awarded death sentence to the victim woman's father,
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2014MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: 'CURRY MURDER' CASE ENDS IN DEATH SENTENCE FOR COUSINS
A housewife and her cousin had their murder conviction upheld and were sentenced to death in Malaysia, in
SEPTEMBER 29, 2014IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: HC CONFIRMS DEATH SENTENCE GIVEN TO 25-YR-OLD GIRL, TWO OTHERS
The Madhya Pradesh High Court confirmed the death sentence awarded to three people, including a 25-
- SEPTEMBER 26, 2014IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: DEATH WITHOUT THE RIGHT TO APPEAL
In its report, “India: Death Without the Right to Appeal”, Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) stated
SEPTEMBER 2, 2014IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: REVIEW PLEA OF DEATH ROW CONVICTS TO BE HEARD IN OPEN COURT BY THREE-JUDGE BENCH
The Supreme Court of India ruled that review petitions against verdicts upholding death sentences will now