Recognising political parties are done by the Election Commission of India. As per the latest report of the Election Commission of India on 23 September 202, the total number of parties registered was 2858. Of which 7 are national parties, 54 are state parties and 2797 are unrecognised parties.

Recognition of National Party

A party is recognized as National Party if a full fill any of the following conditions:

• Wins at least 6% of votes polled in a general election held either to the Lok Sabha or Legislative Assembly of the State in 4 or more states and also wins at least 4 seats in Lok Sabha from 1 or more states.
• Wins at least 8% of valid votes polled in a general election held either to the Lok Sabha or Legislative Assembly of a state in 4 or more states.
• Wins at least 2% of the total number of seats in the Lok Sabha from 3 or more states.

List of National Party 

There are 8 l parties that have been recognized as National Party by the Election Commission. They are: 

1. All India Trinamool Congress (AITC)
2. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)
3. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
4. Communist Party of India (CPI)
5. Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPI-M)
6. Indian National Congress (INC)
7. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)
8. National People’s Party (NPP)

The National People’s Party (NPP) has been designated as India’s eighth national party by the Election Commission of India. It is the first regional party from the northeast, that become a National Party. 

Symbols of National Parties 

The Election Commission of India grants recognition to political parties & allot election symbols to them. The Election Commission of India is also responsible for settling disputes related to it. The reserved symbols of national parties in India are: 

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)- Elephant (except in Assam)

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)- Lotus

Communist Party of India (CPI)- Ears of Corn and Sickle

Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM)- Hammer, Sickle and Star

Indian National Congress (INC)- Hand

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)- Clock

All India Trinamool Congress (AITC)- Flowers and Grass

National People’s Party (NPP)- Book