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 31, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: BOMBAY HC UPHOLDS DEATH PENALTY OF WOMAN TECHIE KILLER
The Bombay High Court on 20 December 2018 upheld a trial court verdict awarding the death penalty to a man convicted of raping and killing a 23-year-old woman techie from Andhra Pradesh in 2014, describing him as a "menace to the society".
DECEMBER 31, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: IN 2018 COURTS HANDED OUT MOST DEATH PENALTIES SINCE 2000
A legislative intervention to extend capital punishment to non-homicide crimes may be the reason for a higher number of death penalties handed out in 2018.
DECEMBER 20, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: MAN AWARDED DEATH PENALTY FOR 'WAGING WAR AGAINST COUNTRY'
A district court on 15 December 2018 sentenced Sheikh Abdullah Nayeem alias Sk Samir, who had links with terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, to death for "waging war against the country".
DECEMBER 17, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: HC ABOLISHES SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR PRISONERS FACING DEATH PENALTY
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on 14 December 2018 abolished the practice adopted by the jail authorities in Punjab to segregate convicts immediately after the pronouncement of death sentence by the trial court and its confirmation by the High Court.
- DECEMBER 14, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: SC COMMUTES TO LIFE DEATH SENTENCE OF A MAN WHO KILLED SIX PEOPLE
The Supreme Court on 12 December 2018 commuted to life imprisonment the death penalty awarded to a man for hacking to death six members of a family in Kerala in 2001.
DECEMBER 13, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: SC COMMUTES DEATH PENALTY OF MAN WHO RAPED, KILLED 3-YR-OLD GIRL
The Supreme Court on 12 December 2018 commuted the death sentence awarded to a man for raping and murdering a three-year-old girl in 2007 and directed that he be not released from jail for the "rest of his normal life".
- DECEMBER 7, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTY
1984 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 7, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: 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 6, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: 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.