President and Vice-President

The President is India's head of state — head of executive, supreme commander of armed forces, signatory to all laws. The post is nominally powerful, practically advisory. NDA tests election method, qualifications, powers, and impeachment.

Qualifications and Election

Qualifications (Article 58):

• Citizen of India.
• 35 years or older.
• Qualified to be elected to Lok Sabha.
• Should not hold any office of profit under the government.

Election (Article 54):

• Indirect election by an electoral college consisting of:
• Elected members of both Houses of Parliament.
• Elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of States and UTs of Delhi and Puducherry.
• Voting by single transferable vote with proportional representation.
• Each MLA's vote weight depends on the state's population (population/MLAs × 1000).
• Each MP's vote weight = total state vote value / number of elected MPs.
• Winner needs more than half of total valid votes (quota system).

Powers of the President

Executive (Article 53): All Union executive action in the President's name. Appoints PM, Council of Ministers, Governors, AG, CAG, judges of SC/HC, EC.

Legislative:

• Summons and prorogues Parliament; dissolves Lok Sabha.
• Addresses Parliament (Article 87) — joint sitting at the start of first session of each year.
• Promulgates ordinances when Parliament not in session (Article 123).
• Signs all bills into law; can return non-money bills for reconsideration (Article 111).
• 12 nominated members of Rajya Sabha (Article 80); 2 Anglo-Indian to LS (now removed by 104th Am).

Judicial: Pardoning power (Article 72) — pardon, commute, reprieve, respite, remit. Can pardon death sentences (only President can).

Financial: Money bills require Presidential recommendation. Annual Budget presented in name of President.

Military: Supreme Commander of Armed Forces. Declares war or peace (subject to Parliament approval).

Emergency (Articles 352, 356, 360): Proclaims National, State (President's Rule) and Financial emergencies on Cabinet's advice.

Article 74: The President shall act in accordance with the advice of the Council of Ministers; can ask CoM to reconsider once but must accept if they reaffirm.

Impeachment (Article 61)

• Only ground: "violation of the Constitution".
• Procedure: Charges in writing supported by 1/4 of total members of the initiating House → 14 days' notice → resolution passed by 2/3 of total members of that House → investigation by other House → 2/3 majority of total members of investigating House.
• Nominated members can vote (unlike VP election); MLAs cannot.
• No Indian President has been impeached. Process is more legal than political.

Vice-President

Election (Article 66): By all members (both elected and nominated) of both Houses of Parliament. MLAs do NOT vote in VP election (unlike President). Single transferable vote.

Qualifications: Citizen, 35+, qualified to be RS member, not holding office of profit.

Role:

• Ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
• Acts as President when the office is vacant (death, resignation, removal) — for max 6 months.
• Discharges President's functions during temporary absence.

Removal: By a Rajya Sabha resolution passed by an effective majority (more than half of members present and voting), agreed to by a simple majority of Lok Sabha. Only the VP among constitutional offices can be removed without specifying a ground.

Quick Facts

• 1st President: Dr. Rajendra Prasad (1950-1962; only President to serve two terms).
• 1st VP: Dr. S. Radhakrishnan.
• 1st woman President: Pratibha Patil (2007-2012).
• 2nd woman President: Draupadi Murmu (2022-present); first tribal President.
• Youngest President: Neelam Sanjiva Reddy (64 at election).
• Term: 5 years. No bar on re-election (constitutional convention is to step down after one term except Rajendra Prasad).
• Salary: Set by Parliament; currently ₹5 lakh/month.

NDA PYQ Examples

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the President bound by Cabinet advice?

Generally yes (Article 74). 42nd Amendment made advice binding; 44th Am added that the President can ask Cabinet to reconsider once, but must accept if they reaffirm. The President has no independent decision-making except for limited 'pocket veto' situations.

What is pocket veto?

Article 111 doesn't specify a time limit for the President to assent to a bill. By indefinitely sitting on a bill (neither signing nor returning), the President can kill it. President Zail Singh used pocket veto on the Postal Bill in 1986.

Can the President be tried in court?

Article 361 grants immunity — the President is not answerable to any court for acts done in the exercise of his powers and duties. Criminal proceedings cannot be instituted during the term.

How is the President's vote value calculated?

Each MLA's vote = (State population / 1000 × number of elected MLAs) × 1. Each MP's vote = total state values / total elected MPs. This ensures parity between state and centre.

Which President was elected unopposed?

Neelam Sanjiva Reddy in 1977 — the only President to be elected without contest.

Related Topics

NDA PolityPM and Cabinet NDA PolityParliament NDA PolityEmergency Provisions NDA PolityJudiciary NDAPolity — Full Syllabus