Democracy > Parliamentary Democracy > Representative Parliamentary Democracy > Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic.

Largest democracy in the world, with the longest written constititon in the world. 

Centre - Under Article 52 to 151;     State - Article 168.

Five years, unless resigned, dismissed or removed or fell through due to political reasons like withdrawal of support by allies or failing to gain the confidence of the House concerned.

1. Absolute majority 2. Simple majority 3. Minority government. Based on these three patterns, governments are formed both at the centre and the state legislatures at the invitation of the President or Governor as the case may be.

The political party on its own entity obtained two thirds or more of the total number of seats, be it for the centre or state, it is called so.

Any political party on its own entity obtained more than half but less than two thirds of total seats, it is called so.

Any single party, having the largest number of seats, but less than absolute or simple majority, forms the government with the outside support of the allies, be a part of the Ministry or not, it is called a minority government, like the present government at the centre (2009 and onwards). This type of government formation, generally has to pass through a confidence motion before a given date, unless exempted by the President.

It is the same as the minority governments, with a small change in the pattern. The single largest party invited to form the government, forms the government with the support of the allies taking part in the ministry is called so.

The government in force between 1. the date of expiry of the full term (or) 2. the date of dismissal or removal or resignation of a government to the date of assuming of the new government, is called so.

A person selected/ elected by the political party that is invited to form the government and lead the council of ministers.

Not necessary. However, the person should get elected as a member of either of the houses/assembly, within six months of assuming the post.

State Assemblies - 525 seats. Lok Sabha -- 545 seats. This limit has been pegged down for another twenty five years vide the 84th Amendment of the Constitution in 2001.

President and Governor - centre and state respectively. In their absence, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and High Court would administer the oaths respectively.

Prime Minister.

Oath of Office - III Schedule Part I;

Oath of Secrecy - III Schedule Part II ... of the Constitution.

It is a procedure by which a government, led by the Prime Minister/Chief Minister, establishes that it enjoys the confidence of the majority of the members of the Lok Sabha. A trust vote can take place by way of a "Motion of Confidence" or "No Confidence Motion" as the case may be, to ascertain the confidence enjoyed by the governments.

"Motion of Confidence is proposed by the PM or CM on behalf of his government, while the "No Confidence Motion" is moved by the opposition generally.

 1. The incumbent Government resigns and the President calls another party (single largest) or a group of parties led by a specific party, to form the government. 2. If option one fails, then the President will dissolve the Lok Sabha and calls for fresh mandate/polls. In the case of state governments, similar exercise will be followed, and the only difference is that the decision has to be assented by the President.

A directive issued to the members of a political party by the leadership, to be present in the house and vote in a particular manner. In case a member defies the whip, the political party will take suitable action against the member concerned.

 The power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, enactment of a piece of legislation. There are four types of them:                     ABSOLUTE VETO: Withholding the assent to the bill.                                                                                                                                                     QUALIFIED VETO: Which can be overridden by the Legislature with a higher majority.                                                                                           SUSPENSIVE VETO: Which can be overridden by the Legislature with an ordinary majority.                                                                                           POCKET VETO: Delay in giving assent to the bill.

Jawaharlal Nehru in August 1963, a motion moved by J.B.Kripalani.

 Twenty six.

 Of the twenty six no confidence motions so far moved in the Lok Sabha against the government, twenty five of them got decisively defeated. In the remaining   one, on July 15, 1979, Morarji Desai resigned after inconclusive debate.

Smt.Indira Gandhi - as many as 15 - 12 between 1966-1975 and three between 1981-1982.

Of the six occasions, only once the government in power was able to win the confidence of the House, while in all other occasions, the governments have either failed to win the confidence or resigned by themselves.    

1. August 20, 1979: Let down by the Congress at the last minute, Mr.Charan Singh, then PM resigned, without even moving the motion.2. November 1990: Mr.V.P.Singh, lost the confidence motion by 152 for and 356 against and the government fell.3. May 28, 1996: Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee government resigned following the withdrawal of support by Congress.4. April 11, 1997: Shri. H.D.Deve Gowda, PM resigned when he lost the confidence motion by - for 190 and against 338. The situation arose by the withdrawal of support by Congress to the United Front Government.5. April 17, 1999: Due to the withdrawal of support by AIADMK/T.N, Mr. Vajpayee had to seek a vote of confidence and lost it by one vote for 269 and against 270.

PRESIDENT OF INDIA:  The oath of office for the President of India is as follows:                                               I, ....................... , do swear in the name of God (or solemnly affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President (or discharge the functions of the President) of the Republic of India, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law, and that I will devote myself to the service and well-being of the people of Republic of India.— Article 60, Constitution of India

VICE PRESIDENT OF INDIA:  The oath of office for the Vice-President of India is as follows:

I, ........................, do swear in the name of God (or solemnly affirm) that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, and that I will faithfully discharge the duty upon which I am about to enter.— Article 69, Constitution of India

UNION COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF INDIA: The oath of office for Prime Minister and other members of the Union Council of Ministers:

I, ........................... , do swear in the name of God (or, solemnly affirm) that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India, that I will faithfully and conscientiously discharge my duties as a Minister for the Union and that I will do right to all manner of people in accordance with the Constitution and the law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.— Schedule III, Constitution of India.

The oath of secrecy is as follows:I, .................., do swear in the name of God (or, solemnly affirm) that I will not directly or indirectly communicate or reveal to any person or persons any matter which shall be brought under my consideration or shall become known to me as a Minister for the Union except as may be required for the due discharge of my duties as such Minister.— Schedule III, Constitution of India. 

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or High Court:  The oath of office for Chief Justice of Supreme Court or High Court is as follows:

I, ................................., having been appointed Chief Justice (or a Judge) of the High Court at (or of) (place) do swear (or affirm) that the Constitution of India as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India, that I will duly and faithfully and to the best of my ability, knowledge and judgment perform the duties of my office without fear or favour, affection or ill-will and that I will uphold the Constitution and the laws.— Schedule III, Constitution of India.

Form of oath of office for a Minister for the Union:—“I, .........................., do swear in the name of God that I will bear true faithsolemnly affirmand allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, that Iwill uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India, that I will faithfullyand conscientiously discharge my duties as a Minister for the Union andthat I will do right to all manner of people in accordance with theConstitution and the law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.”

Centre:  1977 (24th March )under the leader ship of Morarji Desai of Janata Party.

State:  In 1957 the CPI defeated Congress in legislative assembly elections in the southern state of Kerala and, under Chief Minister E.M.S. Namboodiripad, formed the first non-Congress government in independent India.