Administrative set up in India is perfectly planned into different administrative divisions at central and state level. These administrative units comprises of a nested hierarchy of country sub divisions. Administrative set up can broadly be classified into union and state level.
Union:Executive:The Union executive includes the President, the Vice-President, and the Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister as the head to aid and advice the President.
PresidentExecutive power of the Union is vested in the President, and is exercised by him either directly or through officers subordinates to him in accordance with the Constitution.
The President is elected by members of an electoral college consisting of elected members of both Houses of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies of the states in accordance with the system of proportional representation, by means of single transferable vote.
The President must be a citizen of India, not less than 35 years of age, and qualified for election as member of the Lok Sabha.
He works for the tenure of five years and also eligible for reelection. His removal from office is to be in accordance with procedure prescribed in Article 61 of the Constitution. He may, by writing under his hand addressed to the Vice-President, resign his office.
Supreme command of defense forces of the Union also vests in him. The President summons, prorogues, addresses, sends messages to Parliament and dissolves the Lok Sabha, promulgates Ordinances at any time, except when both Houses of Parliament are in session, makes recommendations for introducing financial and money bills and gives assent to bills, grants pardons, reprieves, respites or remission of punishment or suspends, and remits or commutes sentences in certain cases.
The President can proclaim emergency in the country if he is satisfied that a grave emergency exists, whereby security of India or any part of its territory is threatened, whether by war or external aggression or armed rebellion.
Vice-PresidentThe Vice-President is elected by members of an electoral college consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote.
He must be a citizen of India, not less than 35 years of age, and eligible for election as a member of the Rajya Sabha. His term of office is five years, and he is eligible for re-election. His removal from office is to be in accordance with procedure prescribed in Article 67 b.
The Vice-President is ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and acts as President when the latter is unable to discharge his functions due to absence, illness or any other cause, or till the election of a new President (to be held within six months when a vacancy is caused by death, resignation or removal or otherwise of President). While so acting, he ceases to perform the function of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
Council of MinistersThere is a Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister to aid and advise the President in exercise of his functions. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President and Ministries/Departments of the Government are also created by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.
The Council of Ministers comprises Ministers who are members of Cabinet, Ministers of State (independent charge),
Ministers of State and Deputy MinistersEach of the Ministries is assigned to a Minister by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. Each department is generally under the charge of a Secretary to assist the Minister on policy matters and general administration.
Cabinet SecretariatThe Cabinet Secretariat is under the direct charge of the Prime Minister. The administrative head of the Secretariat is the Cabinet Secretary who is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board.
The Cabinet Secretariat is responsible for the administration of the Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rules, 1961 and the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules 1961, facilitating smooth transaction of business in Ministries/Departments of the Government by ensuring adherence to these rules.
The Secretariat assists in decision-making in Government by ensuring Inter-Ministerial coordination, ironing out differences amongst Ministries/Departments and evolving consensus through the instrumentality of the standing and ad hoc Committees of Secretaries. Through this mechanism, new policy initiatives are also promoted.
The Cabinet Secretariat ensures that the President, the Vice-President and Ministers are kept informed of the major activities of all Ministries/Departments by means of monthly summary of their activities.
Management of major crisis situations in the country and coordinating activities of various Ministries in such a situation is also one of the functions of the Cabinet Secretariat.
Ministries of the GovernmentThe Government consists of a number of Ministries/Departments, number and character varying from time to time on factors such as volume of work importance attached to certain items, changes of orientation, political expediency, etc. On 15 August 1947, the number of Ministries at the Centre was 18.
List of the Ministries/Departments1. Ministry of Agriculture (Krishi Mantralaya)
i. Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (Krishi aur Sahkarita Vibhag)
ii. Department of Agricultural Research and Education (Krishi Anusandhan aur Shiksha Vibhag)
iii. Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries (Pashupalan, Dairy aur Matsyapalan Vibhag)
2. Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (Rasayan aur Urvarak Mantralaya)
i. Department of Chemicals and Petro-Chemicals (Rasayan aur Petro-Rasayan Vibhag)
ii. Department of Fertilizers (Urvarak Vibhag)
3. Ministry of Civil Aviation (Nagar Vimanan Mantralaya)
4. Ministry of Coal (Koyala Mantralaya)
5. Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Vanijya aur Udyog Mantralaya)
i. Department of Commerce (Vanijya Vibhag)
ii. Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (Audyogik Niti aur Samvardhan Vibhag)
6. Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (Sanchar aur Soochana Praudyogiki Mantralaya)
i. Department of Telecommunications (Doorsanchar Vibhag)
ii. Department of Post (Dak Vibhag)
iii. Department of Information Technology (Soochana Praudyogiki Vibhag)
7. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Upbhokta Mamle, Khadya aur Sarvajanik Vitaran Mantralaya)
i. Department of Consumer Affairs (Upbhokta Mamle Vibhag)
ii. Department of Food and Public Distribution (Khadya aur Sarvajanik Vitaran Vibhag)
8. Ministry of Corporate Affairs (Korporate Karya Mantralya)
9. Ministry of Culture (Sanskriti Mantralya)
10. Ministry of Defence (Raksha Mantralaya)
i. Department of Defence (Raksha Vibhag)
ii. Department of Defence Production and Supplies (Raksha Utpadan aur Aapoorti Vibhag)
iii. Department of Defence Research and Development (Raksha Anusandhan aur Vikas Vibhag)
11. Ministry of Development of North-Eastern Region (Uttar Poorvi Kshetra Vikas Mantralaya)
12. Ministry of Earth Sciences (Bhoo Vigyan Mantralaya)
13. Ministry of Environment and Forests (Paryavaran aur Van Mantralaya)
14. Ministry of External Affairs (Videsh Mantralaya)
15. Ministry of Finance (Vitta Mantralaya)
i. Department of Economic Affairs (Arthik Karya Vibhag)
ii. Department of Expenditure (Vyaya Vibhag)
iii. Department of Revenue (Rajaswa Vibhag)
iv. Department of Disinvestment (Vinivesh Vibhag)
v. Department of Financial Services (Vittiya Sewayen Vibhag)
16. Ministry of Food Processing Industries (Khadya Prasanskaran Udyog Mantralaya)
17. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Swasthya aur Parivar Kalyan Mantralaya)
i. Department of Health and family welfare (Swasthya aur Parivar Kalyan Mantralaya)
ii. Department of Ayurveda, Yoga-Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) (Ayurveda, Yoga-Prakritik Chikitsa Paddhati, Unani, Siddha aur Homoeopathy Vibhag)
18. Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises (Bhari Udyog aur Lok Udyam Mantralaya)
i. Department of Heavy Industries (Bhari Udyog Vibhag)
ii. Department of Public Enterprises (Lok Udyam Vibhag)
19. Ministry of Home Affairs (Grih Mantralaya)
i. Department of Internal Security (Antarik Suraksha Vibhag)
ii. Department of States (Rajya Vibhag)
iii. Department of Official Language (Raj Bhasha Vibhag)
iv. Department of Home (Grih Vibhag)
v. Department of Jammu and Kashmir Affairs (Jammu tatha Kashmir Vibhag)
vi. Department of Border Management (Seema Prabandhan Vibhag)
20. Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (Aawas aur Shahari Garibi Upshaman Mantralaya)
21. Ministry of Human Resource Development (Manav Sansadhan Vikas Mantralaya)
i. Department of School Education and Literacy (School Shiksha aur Saksharta Vibhag)
ii. Department of Higher Education (Uchchatar Shiksha Vibhag)
22. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (Soochana aur Prasaran Mantralaya)
23. Ministry of Labour and Employment (Shram aur Rozgar Mantralaya)
24. Ministry of Law and Justice (Vidhi aur Nyaya Mantralaya)
i. Department of Legal Affairs (Vidhi Karya Vibhag)
ii. Legislative Department (Vidhayee Vibhag)
iii. Department of Justice (Nyaya Vibhag)
25. Ministry of Mines (Khan Mantralaya)
26. Ministry of Minority Affairs (Alpasankhyak Karya Mantralya)
27. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (Naveen Aur Navikarniya Oorja Mantralaya)
28. Ministry of Overseas Indians Affairs (Apravasi Bharatiyon Ke Mamalon Ka Mantralya)
29. Ministry of Panchayati Raj (Panchayati Raj Mantralaya)
30. Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (Sansadiya Karya Mantralaya)
31. Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Karmik Lok Shikayat tatha Pension Mantralaya)
i. Department of Personnel and Training (Karmik aur Prashikshan Vibhag)
ii. Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (Prashasanik Sudhar aur Lok Shikayat Vibhag)
iii. Department of Pensions and Pensioners' Welfare (Pension aur Pension Bhogi Kalyan Vibhag)
32. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (Petroleum aur Prakritik Gas Mantralaya)
33. Ministry of Planning (Yojana Mantralaya)
34. Ministry of Power (Oorja Mantralaya)
35. Ministry of Railways (Rail Mantralaya)
36. Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways (Pot Parivahan, Sarak Parivahan aur Raj Marg Mantralaya)
i. Department of Shipping (Pot Parivahan Vibhag)
ii. Department of Road Transport and Highways (Sadak Parivahan Aur Raj Marg Vibhag)
37. Ministry of Rural Development (Gramin Vikas Mantralaya)
i. Department of Rural Development (Gramin Vikas Vibhag)
ii. Department of Land Resources (Bhumi Sansadhan Vibhag)
iii. Department of Drinking Water Supply (Peya Jal Poorti Vibhag)
38. Ministry of Science and Technology (Vigyan aur Praudyogiki Mantralaya)
i. Department of Science and Technology (Vigyan aur Praudyogiki Vibhag)
ii. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (Vigyan aur Audyogik Anusandhan Vibhag)
iii. Department of Bio-Technology (Biotechnology Vibhag)
39. Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Sukshma Laghu Aur Madhyam Udyam Mantralya)
40. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (Samajik Nyaya aur Adhikarita Mantralaya)
41. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (Sankhyiki aur Karyakram Kiryanvayan Mantralaya)
42. Ministry of Steel (Ispat Mantralaya)
43. Ministry of Textiles (Vastra Mantralaya)
44. Ministry of Tourism (Paryatan Mantralaya)
45. Ministry of Tribal Affairs (Janjatiya Karya Mantralaya)
46. Ministry of Urban Development (Shahari Vikas Mantralaya)
47. Ministry of Water Resources (Jal Sansadhan Mantralaya)
48. Ministry of Woman and Child Development (Mahila Aur Bal Vikas Mantralaya)
49. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (Yuva Karyakram aur Khel Mantralaya)
50. Department of Atomic Energy (Parmanu Oorja Vibhag)
51. Department of Space (Antariksh Vibhag)
52. Cabinet Secretariat (Mantrimandal Sachivalaya)
53. President's Secretariat (Rashtrapati Sachivalaya)
54. Prime Minister's Office (Pradhan Mantri Karyalaya)
55. Planning Commission (Yojana Ayog)
LegislatureParliament forms the union legislature and comprises of two houses, known as Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and House of the People (Lok Sabha). Each House has to meet within six months of its previous sitting. A joint sitting of two Houses can be held in certain cases.
Rajya SabhaLok SabhaPublic ServicesUnion Public Service Commission (UPSC) recruits officers for the most important three kinds of public services in the country. The three main public services are:
• Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
• Indian Police Service (IPS)
• Indian Forest Service (IFS)
These officers are recruited and trained by the Central Government, and then allotted to different State cadres. There are now 24 State cadres including three Joint cadres, namely, (i) Assam and Meghalaya, (ii) Manipur and Tripura, and (iii) Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and the Union Territories (AGMUT).
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