The central government in a unitary state is the government that exercises control over the state. Central governments come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Maintaining national security and conducting foreign diplomacy, including the authority to sign binding treaties, are common responsibilities of this level of government that are not afforded to lower levels. In contrast to local administrations, the central government has the power to establish laws that affect the entire country.

 The Central Government of India

The Union Government of India is the official name for the country’s government. The Central Government is another name for it. In 1950, the Indian Constitution established it. The Republic of India, which consists of 29 states and seven union territories, is governed by the Central Government. The Indian Central Government is based in New Delhi, the country’s capital.

Our constitution establishes a federal framework in which the federal government and state governments operate independently. However, certain unanimous decisions are made in order to fulfil particular emergency situations or exigencies, which are regulated or directed by the Central Government for the country’s national interest.

The basic structure of central government in India

According to the Constitution, India’s central government is divided into three divisions. Each department of the government has its own set of powers. Each department is given certain functions and responsibilities in order for the country to run smoothly.

1. Executive: President, Vice President, and Cabinet Ministers

2. Legislative: Parliament, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha 

3. Judiciary: Supreme Court of India, High Courts of India at the state level, and District Courts and Sessions Courts at the district level

Roles and responsibilities of:

The Executive

The President, the Vice President, Cabinet Ministers, and the Independent Executive Agencies make up the executive branch of the Central Government. The President of the United States is the country’s leader. The President is in charge of carrying out the department’s duties. It is in charge of carrying out and enforcing legislation. To put it another way, the executive branch does not make or interpret laws. However, it is responsible for enforcing the laws enacted by the legislature and interpreted by the courts. Certain types of laws in the country can come from the Central Government’s executive branch. This department of government has sole authority and responsibility for the state bureaucracy’s everyday administration and operation.

The Legislature

The legislative branch is also known as Parliament. The Indian Parliament, which is the most important part of the legislative branch, is made up of two houses: the Lok Sabha (House of People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), with the President of India at its head.

This branch creates laws and policies that affect the entire country. Parliamentary supremacy, but not complete sovereignty, is enjoyed by the legislative branch. It does, however, have some influence over the executive branch. Its responsibilities are as follows:

• Drafting of all principal legislation for the Central Government

• Ordinances to be announced by the President

• Regulations to be made by the President for Union Territories

• Framing of election laws

• To decide on bills to be introduced in the Parliament

• Measures to be taken for states under the President’s rule and

• Deals with certain matters like personal law, contracts, evidence, etc.

The legislature does not have absolute power. The reason for this is that its laws are open to judicial scrutiny by the Indian judiciary or the Supreme Court.

The Judicial system

It is the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court of India is the country’s highest judicial authority. The judiciary is responsible for upholding and propagating the country’s law and order. Its responsibilities are as follows:

• It interprets the laws and carries out judicial reviews, sentences verdicts in complying with laws as per the constitution, and ensures equality of everyone in front of the law.

• It also solves conflicts between the Executive and Legislature and other public related matters or conflicts.

• It solves disputes between the Government of India and one or more states.

• It solves disputes between two or more states.

Powers of the central government of India

• The central government has the power to do the decision-making for the state in matters related to national security (Articles 352 to 360).

• States must exercise their executive power in abidance with the laws made by the Central government (Article 356).

• No state government can impede the executive power of the Central government within the states (Article 357).

• It has the power to declare war, raise, and maintain the armed forces.

• The Central Government regulates trade and trade affairs between states and foreign trade.

• The Central Government of India possesses special powers to reduce oppression and mismanagement in a company (under Sec. 408 of the Companies Act, 1956).

• It can also conduct diplomacy and authorise treaties with foreign countries.

The Central Government has the power to take all measures as it seems necessary for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the environment and preventing and controlling pollution (1986 Environment Protection Act, etc.

Conclusion

Part V of the Indian constitution deals with the union government and its functions. There are five chapters inside. Chapter 1 deals with the structure and functions of the executive. Chapter 2 deals with the structure and the functions of the Parliament. Chapter 3 deals with the legislative powers of the President. Chapter 4 deals with the union judiciary. Chapter 5 deals with the powers of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India. All in all, part V of the Indian constitution forms a very crucial part of governance in India.