Elections are a democratic process where citizens aged 18 and over elect candidates to represent them and their interests locally, nationally or internationally.
The process is determined by a voting system, where citizens vote for one candidate. The candidate with the majority of votes is elected.
Anyone who is enrolled on the Electoral Register is able to vote.
Government Type: Federal republic, Constitutional republic, Parliamentary system
Upper House total number of seats: 245
Lower House total number of seats: 545
Electoral Constituencies
Directly elected (543 seats): Single-member constituencies are divided among the states and the Union Territories on the basis of population.
Appointed (2 seats): No constituencies.
Electoral System: Plurality (First-past-the-post) • President: Indirectly elected by the People’s Assembly, the Council of States and the state legislatures for a term of 5 years. • Prime Minister: Indirectly elected by Members of Parliament from the majority party following general elections. • Parliament: People’s Assembly: • Appointed (2 seats): Appointed by the President for a term of 5 years. • Directly elected (543 seats): Elected in a single member district plurality system for a term of 5 years.
Election Management Body: The Election Commission of India consists of a Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. The President appoints commissioners for a term of 6 years, and can be removed only through impeachment in Parliament.
