The Constitution of India is republican because it—

The term 'Republic' in the Indian context signifies that the head of state is an elected official rather than a hereditary monarch. Unlike the British system, which features a hereditary head, the Indian Constitution ensures that the President of India is elected for a fixed term through an electoral college. This republican character fundamentally means that political sovereignty is vested in the people and there are no hereditary elements in the governance structure. While the Constitution also provides for an elected Parliament and universal adult franchise to ensure democratic legitimacy, the specific definition of a republic rests on the absence of a hereditary ruler and the opening of all public offices to every citizen without discrimination. Thus, the lack of hereditary elements is the defining feature of India's republican status.