India is a federal
republic with a very strong centre. The world’s largest democracy, it has universal
adult suffrage above 18 years. General elections are scheduled every 5 years when the
entire country participates in electing members to the Lower House of Parliament called
the Lok Sabha. Members to the upper house are elected indirectly.
The head of state is the President. The head of government is the Prime
Minister. After almost 50 years of governance by a single dominant political party, the
Congress, an era of coalition politics seems to have begun. Regional parties are gaining
prominence and have increasing clout at the central level. They form a large part of the
current ruling coalition where the Bharatiya Janata Party is the largest group. The Prime
Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is from the BJP.
