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Should one use "the" before government?

Bringing change in government and its policies"

For a country's government's policies, should one use "the" before country name only for US and not India?

"Studying Indian government's approach and the US government's approach"

Typically there is no article used before the noun "India" (e.g. he went to India) but it is used before "US" (e.g. "the US").

Should "the" be used before "India's government" or "india's policy?"

It seems that the answer will depend on whether the definite article is modifying the definiteness of "India" or the "government/policy." For the former, there will be no "the," unlike the latter.

Thoughts?

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    Depends on whether you're talking about a specific government or the general concept of government.
    – Hot Licks
    Commented Dec 14, 2014 at 4:10
  • Can you please elaborate about the above cases? It seems that "bringing change in government" relates to the general notion of government. Does the same apply to using the before public e.g. "choosing to serve public" over "choosing to serve the public?"
    – Joe Black
    Commented Dec 14, 2014 at 20:57
  • English is consistent in it's inconsistencies -- "public" is different from "government". (Although actually there is some consistency -- "public" without "the" implies the individual person on the street, whereas "the public" implies the body of people as a whole.)
    – Hot Licks
    Commented Dec 14, 2014 at 21:09
  • Does Indian government need a "the?"
    – Joe Black
    Commented Dec 15, 2014 at 6:12
  • 1
    Normal US usage would be to say "the Indian government" or "the government of India" when speaking of the organization headed by Pranab Mukherjee.
    – Hot Licks
    Commented Dec 15, 2014 at 12:14

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You should put the before governement if you are talking about a specific government (i.e.: the United States government, the government of India).

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  • Should "the" be used before "India's government" or "india's policy?"
    – Joe Black
    Commented Dec 26, 2014 at 19:51
  • No, in that case you would not.
    – BananasGoMoo
    Commented Jan 12, 2015 at 20:04

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