🏛 India's #1 Politics & Government Guide · Updated June 2026
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🏛 Updated June 2026

Government of India — lok sabha, Parliament & Political Guide

A complete reference to India's political system: the Prime Minister and Union Cabinet, President of India, Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha, Chief Ministers and Governors of every state, and the political parties that shape the world's largest democracy.

🇮🇳 PM Profile 🚩 Political Parties
543Lok Sabha Seats
245Rajya Sabha Seats
28States
8Union Territories
36+Cabinet Ministers
900M+Registered Voters
🔥 LATEST
PM Modi chairs Union Cabinet meeting — new infrastructure push approved Monsoon Session of Parliament begins — key bills listed President Droupadi Murmu addresses joint sitting of Parliament Rajya Sabha biennial elections — seats up for retirement this cycle Cabinet reshuffle speculation grows ahead of mid-term review State Assembly elections schedule announced by Election Commission PM Modi chairs Union Cabinet meeting — new infrastructure push approved Monsoon Session of Parliament begins — key bills listed

Prime Minister of India — Profile & Powers

Full Biography →
🇮🇳

Narendra Modi — 14th Prime Minister of India

🎂 Born: Sep 17, 1950 · Vadnagar, Gujarat  |  🏛 In Office Since: May 26, 2014

3rd Consecutive Term BJP / NDA MP from Varanasi Former CM of Gujarat
12+ YrsIn Office
3Terms as PM
13 YrsCM of Gujarat
7, Lok Kalyan MargOfficial Residence

The Prime Minister of India is the head of government and chief executive authority of the Republic of India, exercising real executive power on behalf of the President. The PM is appointed by the President and is typically the leader of the political party or coalition commanding a majority in the Lok Sabha.

Narendra Damodardas Modi took office as the 14th Prime Minister of India on May 26, 2014, leading the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition. He previously served as Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014. He won a historic third consecutive term in June 2024, becoming only the second PM after Jawaharlal Nehru to do so.

The Prime Minister chairs the Union Cabinet, the apex decision-making body of the Indian government, and represents India at international forums including the G20, UN General Assembly and BRICS. Key constitutional powers include appointing and removing Cabinet Ministers, recommending the dissolution of the Lok Sabha to the President, and acting as the principal channel of communication between the President and the Council of Ministers.

🏛 Residence: 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi · Party: BJP
Read Full Profile →

📜 Recent Prime Ministers of India

2014–
Now

Narendra Modi (BJP/NDA)

14th PM. Won three consecutive terms (2014, 2019, 2024). Known for GST implementation, Digital India and foreign policy expansion.

2004–
2014

Manmohan Singh (INC/UPA)

13th PM. Architect of India's 1991 economic liberalisation as Finance Minister; led two UPA coalition terms as PM.

1999–
2004

Atal Bihari Vajpayee (BJP/NDA)

10th PM (non-consecutive terms). Led India's Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998 and the Golden Quadrilateral highway project.

President of India — Head of State

Full Profile →
🎖

Droupadi Murmu — 15th President of India

🎂 Born: Jun 20, 1958 · Odisha  |  🏛 In Office Since: Jul 25, 2022

First Tribal President Former Governor of Jharkhand Supreme Commander of Armed Forces

The President of India is the ceremonial Head of State and the formal head of the executive, legislature and judiciary, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. The President is elected indirectly by an electoral college comprising elected members of Parliament and state legislatures, serving a 5-year term.

Droupadi Murmu became the 15th President of India on July 25, 2022 — the first person from a tribal (Santhal) community and only the second woman to hold the office, after Pratibha Patil. She previously served as Governor of Jharkhand (2015–2021).

While most presidential powers are exercised on the advice of the Council of Ministers, the President retains key discretionary powers including appointing the Prime Minister, dissolving the Lok Sabha on the PM's advice, granting pardons, and acting in situations of constitutional crisis such as imposing President's Rule in a state.

🏛 Residence: Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi
Read Full Profile →

Union Cabinet Ministers — Key Portfolios

Full Cabinet List →

The Union Council of Ministers has three tiers: Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State (Independent Charge), and Ministers of State. Below are select key Cabinet portfolios.

🛡

Minister of Defence

Ministry of Defence
Senior Cabinet Rank · NDA
🏦

Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs

Ministry of Finance
Senior Cabinet Rank · NDA
🌐

Minister of External Affairs

Ministry of External Affairs
Senior Cabinet Rank · NDA
🚓

Minister of Home Affairs

Ministry of Home Affairs
Senior Cabinet Rank · NDA
🛤

Minister of Railways

Ministry of Railways
Cabinet Rank · NDA
🛣

Minister of Road Transport & Highways

Ministry of Road Transport
Cabinet Rank · NDA
🌾

Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare

Ministry of Agriculture
Cabinet Rank · NDA
💻

Minister of Electronics & IT

MeitY
Cabinet Rank · NDA

💡 Note: Cabinet composition changes with reshuffles and election cycles. For the current, fully updated minister-by-minister list with names and full portfolios, see our complete Union Cabinet page.

Parliament of India — Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha

Full Seat Breakdown →
FeatureLok Sabha (Lower House)Rajya Sabha (Upper House)
Total Seats543245
Election MethodDirect election by citizensElected by State Legislative Assemblies + 12 nominated
Term5 years (can dissolve earlier)Permanent body; 1/3 members retire every 2 years
Presiding OfficerSpeaker of Lok SabhaVice President of India (Chairman)
Minimum Age to Contest25 years30 years
Money BillsCan introduce & primary powerCannot introduce; can only suggest amendments
Current Ruling AllianceNDA (majority coalition)NDA (largest bloc)

📊 Lok Sabha 2024 — Major Party-wise Seats (Illustrative)

#PartyAllianceSeats WonVote Share
1Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)NDA24036.6%
2Indian National Congress (INC)INDIA Bloc9921.2%
3Samajwadi Party (SP)INDIA Bloc374.9%
4All India Trinamool Congress (TMC)INDIA Bloc292.9%
5Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)INDIA Bloc222.4%
6Telugu Desam Party (TDP)NDA162.0%
7Janata Dal (United) (JD-U)NDA121.6%

Figures reflect the 2024 Lok Sabha general election. For live MP-by-constituency data, visit our full Lok Sabha results page.

Chief Ministers of India — Major States

All 28 States →
Uttar Pradesh
Yogi Adityanath
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
Largest state by population & Lok Sabha seats (80)
Maharashtra
Devendra Fadnavis
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
India's financial capital, Mumbai
West Bengal
Mamata Banerjee
All India Trinamool Congress (TMC)
Longest-serving woman CM in India
Tamil Nadu
M. K. Stalin
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)
Strong Dravidian regional politics
Karnataka
Siddaramaiah
Indian National Congress (INC)
Home to India's tech capital, Bengaluru
Delhi (NCT)
Rekha Gupta
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
National capital territory; special governance status
Bihar
Nitish Kumar
Janata Dal (United) (JD-U)
Longest-serving CM of Bihar across multiple terms
Gujarat
Bhupendra Patel
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
PM Modi's home state; major industrial hub
Andhra Pradesh
N. Chandrababu Naidu
Telugu Desam Party (TDP)
Key NDA coalition partner at the centre

Names and parties reflect positions as of mid-2026 and are subject to change with state elections and political developments. See the full Chief Ministers list for all 28 states and 8 union territories.

Governors of India — Role & Selected States

All States →

💡 What does a Governor do? The Governor is the constitutional head of a state, appointed by the President for a 5-year term (serving "at the pleasure of the President"). Governors give assent to state bills, appoint the Chief Minister (typically the leader of the majority party), and can recommend President's Rule under Article 356 if constitutional machinery breaks down.

Uttar Pradesh
Governor's Office
Appointed by the President
Maharashtra
Governor's Office
Appointed by the President
Tamil Nadu
Governor's Office
Appointed by the President

For up-to-date names of all sitting Governors across India's 28 states, see our complete Governors directory — updated as appointments change.

Major Political Parties in India

All Parties →
🪷

Bharatiya Janata Party

BJP · Founded 1980

India's largest political party by membership and the lead party in the ruling NDA coalition. Espouses Hindutva and right-of-centre economic nationalism. Symbol: Lotus.

Lok Sabha Seats: 240Ideology: National Conservatism
✋

Indian National Congress

INC · Founded 1885

India's oldest political party and leader of the opposition INDIA bloc. Historically associated with the independence movement and centrist/centre-left policies. Symbol: Hand.

Lok Sabha Seats: 99Ideology: Social Liberalism
🧹

Aam Aadmi Party

AAP · Founded 2012

Formed out of the India Against Corruption movement. Governs/has governed Delhi and Punjab, focusing on education, healthcare and anti-corruption governance. Symbol: Broom.

States: PunjabIdeology: Populism
🌸

All India Trinamool Congress

TMC · Founded 1998

Regional party dominant in West Bengal, led by Mamata Banerjee. Part of the opposition INDIA bloc at the national level. Symbol: Flowers and Grass.

Lok Sabha Seats: 29Base: West Bengal
☀️

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

DMK · Founded 1949

Tamil Nadu's dominant regional party, rooted in the Dravidian movement and social justice politics. Currently governs Tamil Nadu under CM M. K. Stalin. Symbol: Rising Sun.

Lok Sabha Seats: 22Base: Tamil Nadu
🚲

Janata Dal (United)

JD(U) · Founded 2003

Led by Nitish Kumar, a key NDA coalition partner with significant influence in Bihar politics and national coalition arithmetic. Symbol: Arrow.

Lok Sabha Seats: 12Base: Bihar

🏛 How India's Government is Structured — Quick Reference

  • President — ceremonial Head of State, elected by an electoral college
  • Prime Minister — real executive head, leads the majority party/coalition
  • Union Cabinet — senior decision-making body chaired by the PM
  • Lok Sabha — directly elected lower house, 543 seats, 5-year term
  • Rajya Sabha — indirectly elected upper house, 245 seats, permanent body
  • Chief Minister — elected executive head of a state government
  • Governor — President-appointed constitutional head of a state
  • Supreme Court — apex judiciary, interprets the Constitution

❓ Indian Politics & Government — FAQs

Who is the current Prime Minister of India?▾
Narendra Modi is the current Prime Minister of India, serving his third consecutive term since June 2024. He leads the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government and is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
What is the difference between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha?▾
The Lok Sabha (House of the People) is the lower house of Parliament with 543 directly elected members serving 5-year terms. The Rajya Sabha (Council of States) is the upper house with up to 245 members, mostly elected by state legislatures, and is a permanent body where one-third of members retire every two years.
Who is the current President of India?▾
Droupadi Murmu has served as the President of India since July 2022. She is the first person from a tribal community and the second woman to hold the office, after Pratibha Patil.
How many members are in the Union Cabinet of India?▾
The Union Council of Ministers typically includes Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State (Independent Charge) and Ministers of State, totaling around 70–80 members depending on the government. The Cabinet itself (the senior tier) usually has 25–30 ministers.
What is the difference between a Chief Minister and a Governor?▾
A Chief Minister is the elected head of a state government and holds real executive power, similar to the Prime Minister at the national level. A Governor is the constitutional and ceremonial head of a state, appointed by the President of India, with limited discretionary powers.
Which are the major political parties in India?▾
Major national parties include the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National Congress (INC), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Communist Party of India (Marxist). Strong regional parties such as DMK, TMC, YSRCP, Shiv Sena and JD(U) also hold significant influence in state and national politics.

Understanding India's Parliamentary Democracy

India operates a federal parliamentary system of government inspired in part by the Westminster model, combined with a written Constitution and an independent judiciary. Executive power is split between a ceremonial Head of State (the President) and a real executive head of government (the Prime Minister), a structure designed to separate symbolic continuity from day-to-day political accountability.

Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Lok Sabha are elected every five years through India's first-past-the-post electoral system across 543 constituencies, while Rajya Sabha members are chosen by state legislatures, ensuring federal representation of state interests at the national level.

State Governments — Chief Ministers, Governors & Legislatures

Each of India's 28 states has its own elected government headed by a Chief Minister, accountable to the state legislative assembly (Vidhan Sabha). A Governor, appointed by the President, serves as the constitutional head of each state — a position separate from, but constitutionally linked to, the central government.

India's multi-party system features both national parties and powerful regional parties, reflecting the country's vast linguistic, cultural and regional diversity. Coalition politics has become the norm at the national level since the 1990s, with alliances like the NDA and INDIA bloc shaping governance.