How is Freemasonry organised in India today?
Freemasonry in India operates today through a system where four Masonic constitutions function concurrently: the sovereign Grand Lodge of India alongside the home constitutions of the United Grand Lodge of England, the Grand Lodge of Scotland, and the Grand Lodge of Ireland.
The Grand Lodge of India serves as the sovereign governing body for Freemasonry under the Indian constitution, led by an elected Grand Master serving a three-year term. To manage its governance, the Grand Lodge of India is divided into four distinct geographical regions, each headed by a Regional Grand Master: the Regional Grand Lodge of Northern India headquartered in New Delhi, the Regional Grand Lodge of Eastern India in Kolkata, the Regional Grand Lodge of Western India in Mumbai, and the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India in Chennai. Individual Craft Lodges operate under their respective Regional Grand Lodges and report up to the Grand Lodge of India.
Alongside this national organization, foreign home constitutions maintain regional administrative structures, continuing an overseas administrative model established in the nineteenth century when home jurisdictions designated their overseas administrative groupings in India as Districts 1. At present, the United Grand Lodge of England maintains overseas administrative structures in India through four District Grand Lodges—the District Grand Lodge of Bombay, the District Grand Lodge of Madras, the District Grand Lodge of Bengal, and the District Grand Lodge of Northern India. Meanwhile, the Grand Lodge of Scotland maintains its administrative presence in India through the District Grand Lodge of India.
What do the Regional Grand Lodges do?
Regional Grand Lodges within the Grand Lodge of India are divided into four geographical regions—Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western—to assist the sovereign body with local administration and oversight of constituent lodges in their respective jurisdictions.
As stated by the Regional Grand Lodge of Northern India, each regional body is led by a Regional Grand Master who is appointed by the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of India for a three-year tenure. To assist in governance, the Regional Grand Master annually appoints a Deputy Regional Grand Master, Assistant Regional Grand Masters, and other regional officers.
Administratively, the regional secretariat manages routine filings, such as processing half-yearly returns, and responds to official communications from lodges within its territory. The Regional Grand Lodges also direct region-wide programs and activities, including ritual working competitions, regional publications and newsletters, and regional charitable projects.
How many lodges are there?
Craft lodges under the Grand Lodge of India currently total more than 450 across its four regional divisions.
Alongside the sovereign body, the home constitutions continue to maintain administrative districts. Within the Craft under English jurisdiction, the District Grand Lodge of Bombay administers 23 Craft Lodges in its regional territory. Specific current tallies for the remaining English district grand lodges in India, as well as those operating under the Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Grand Lodge of Ireland, are not fully detailed in the present findings.
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