Cultural Context

Cultural Context Analysis - India

In order to communicate successfully you have to consider the cultural differences and the predominating communication process in individualistic and collectivistic cultures. It is best to explain these differences in terms of low- and high-context communication. A low context culture is one in which things are fully (though concisely) spelled out. Things are made explicit, and there is considerable dependence on what is actually said or written. A high context culture is one in which the communicators assume a great deal of commonality of knowledge and views, so that less is spelled out explicitly and much more is implicit or communicated in indirect ways. India is a country of high context. India is predominantly Hindu, with 81% of the population practicing that religion. Next is Muslim at 12%, Christian at 2%, and all others within the last 5% of the society.

Legal Information

Though India has a quasi-federal structure, the judiciary is unified. Broadly, there is a three tier structure. First, each administrative district (there are over 600 districts) is headed by a District Court. Then each State has a High Court. Since some States share the same High Court, there are 21 High Courts in India. At the apex is the Supreme Court of India situated at New Delhi, which is the capital of India. The various High Courts can have very diverse characteristics. The Indian judiciary is known for its independence and extensive powers. They can and fairly routinely intervene with executive action as well on the ground of unreasonableness or unfairness or arbitrariness in State action. Courts can even strike down an amendment to the Constitution on the ground that it violates the basic structure of the Constitution. Besides, the High Courts and the Supreme Court have adapted an activist mantle, which goes under the name of Public Interest Litigation, where they can intervene with governmental policies if it may adversely impact the public...