India is a democratic republic The country is also structured with a federal system of government. In addition to the national or central government, India is comprised of individual states.
The president is the head of state of India. The prime minister is the head of government. The president performs a largely ceremonial role in India ,while real governing authority rests with the prime minister. Technically, the president appoints the prime minister. The appointment is based on a designation made by the legislators in the lower house of the Indian Parliament, called the Lok Sabha, or House of the People. The prime minister is the leader of the majority party within the House of the People.