Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir,
Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Pondicherry*, Punjab,
Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal

Independence: 15 August 1947 (from UK)

National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the
Republic, 26 January (1950)

Constitution: 26 January 1950

Legal system: based on English common law; limited judicial
review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Kicheril Raman NARAYANAN (since 25 July
1997); Vice President Krishnan KANT (since 21 August 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Atal Behari VAJPAYEE (since 19
March 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of
elected members of both houses of Parliament and the legislatures of
the states for a five-year term; election last held 14 July 1997
(next to be held NA July 2002); vice president elected by both
houses of Parliament; election last held 16 August 1997 (next to be
held NA August 2002); prime minister elected by parliamentary
members of the majority party following legislative elections;
election last held NA March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2003)
election results: Kicheril Raman NARAYANAN elected president;
percent of electoral college vote--NA; Krishnan KANT elected vice
president; percent of Parliament vote--NA; Atal Behari VAJPAYEE
elected prime minister; percent of vote--NA

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Sansad consists of
the Council of States or Rajya Sabha (a body consisting of not more
than 250 members, up to 12 of which are appointed by the president,
the remainder are chosen by the elected members of the state and
territorial assemblies; members serve six-year terms) and the
People's Assembly or Lok Sabha (545 seats; 543 elected by popular
vote, 2 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
elections: People's Assembly--last held 16 February through 7 March
1998 (next to be held NA March 2003)
election results: People's Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--BJP 178, Congress (I) Party 141, CPI/M 32, SP 20,
ADMK