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
- OCTOBER 28, 2002IndiaDEATH PENALTY
Women's rights activists are urging Miss India to give...
Women's rights activists are urging Miss India to give up aspirations of fame and join the boycott of this year's Miss World pageant in Nigeria over the sentencing of a single mother to death by stoning
- OCTOBER 20, 2002IndiaDEATH PENALTY
Lisbon has officially told New Delhi that it would...
Lisbon has officially told New Delhi that it would not interfere in the Portuguese judicial process and India should initiate extradition proceedings against fugitive Mumbai blasts accused Abu Salem instead of trying for the more speedy process of deporta
- OCTOBER 14, 2002IndiaDEATH PENALTY
In a written reply to external affairs minister Yashwant...
In a written reply to external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha's letter to his counterpart in Lisbon, the Portuguese foreign office last week communicated that there was no problem in handing over Abu Salem after the procedural nitty-gritty was completed
- OCTOBER 14, 2002IndiaDEATH PENALTY
The Campaign for Custodial Justice and Abolition of...
The Campaign for Custodial Justice and Abolition of Torture has called for repeal of all detention laws, including the National Security Act, saying preventive arrests are tantamount to torture
- OCTOBER 1, 2002IndiaDEATH PENALTY
A controversial Supreme Court judgement in the Devender...
A controversial Supreme Court judgement in the Devender Pal Singh case- in which several persons were killed when the accused made an attempt on the life of Congress activist M S Bitta - did not enforce the need for corroboration of evidence while convict
- SEPTEMBER 24, 2002IndiaDEATH PENALTY
Three Indians were sentenced to death by a Dubai court...
Three Indians were sentenced to death by a Dubai court for possessing and dealing in drugs
- SEPTEMBER 21, 2002IndiaDEATH PENALTY
India formally sought deportation of underworld don...
India formally sought deportation of underworld don Abu Salem, who was arrested along with his wife Monica Bedi in Lisbon with Pakistani passport, and said it was prepared to guarantee that he would not be given death penalty
- SEPTEMBER 13, 2002IndiaDEATH PENALTY
The Calcutta Eastern Indian Metropolis High Court acquitted...
The Calcutta Eastern Indian Metropolis High Court acquitted ten convicts on the grounds that the prosecution had failed to substantiate charges against them
- SEPTEMBER 13, 2002IndiaDEATH PENALTY
The Calcutta Eastern Indian Metropolis High Court acquitted...
The Calcutta Eastern Indian Metropolis High Court acquitted ten convicts on the grounds that the prosecution had failed to substantiate charges against them
- AUGUST 31, 2002IndiaDEATH PENALTY
Additional sessions judge S
Additional sessions judge S
- AUGUST 17, 2002IndiaDEATH PENALTY
A Thai and an Indian, namely Saelow Praset, 55, and...
A Thai and an Indian, namely Saelow Praset, 55, and Ayodya Praset Combay, 57, both sentenced to death for trying to smuggle heroin into Indonesia, expressed complaints to the press over the long delay concerning the reply to their application for a Presid
- AUGUST 14, 2002IndiaDEATH PENALTY
District and sessions judge (Rajgarh, Rajasthan) PK...
District and sessions judge (Rajgarh, Rajasthan) PK Sharma Rajgarh handed down the death sentence to Jora and Wazir and a life term to Balraj and Laxman on the charge of murdering Mahant Krishan Giri, who was president of Akhil Bhartiya Sadhu Samaj of Bal