The legislature of India is the bicameral parliament, which is composed of the upper house called the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the lower house called the Lok Sabha (House of the People). The Rajya Sabha, a permanent body, has up to 250 members serving staggered six years. Most are elected indirectly by the legislatures of the states and territories in proportion to the state's population. The Lok Sabha of 545 members elected by direct universal suffrage to represent their constituencies for five years.

The executive branch consists of the President, Vice-President and the Council of Ministers (the Cabinet as its Executive Committee) headed by the Prime Minister. Any person holding a portfolio of minister must be a member of each chamber of the parliament. In the Indian parliamentary system, executive power is subject to the Legislature, with the Prime Minister and his Council is directly responsible to the lower house of parliament

India has a judicial system at three levels, composed of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of India, twenty-one high courts, and a large number of courts of first instance. The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over cases involving fundamental rights and on disputes between states and the Center, and appellate jurisdiction over all the higher courts. It is legally independent, and has the power to declare the right to strike and down union or state laws that are contrary to the Constitution. The role of the ultimate interpreter of the Constitution is one of the most important functions of the Supreme Court.