President & VP
Indian Polity · राष्ट्रपति और उपराष्ट्रपति
📋Quick Overview
The President of India is the Head of State and the Supreme Commander of Armed Forces. The President is elected indirectly by an Electoral College (elected MPs of both houses + elected MLAs of states + elected MLAs of Delhi & Puducherry). The Vice President is the ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha. The President acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the PM (Article 74). The real executive power lies with the PM and the Cabinet.
📖President — Key Details
| Detail | Answer |
|---|---|
| Articles | 52-62 (Part V) |
| Qualifications | Indian citizen, 35+ years, eligible for Lok Sabha membership |
| Term | 5 years (can be re-elected) |
| Elected by | Electoral College (elected MPs + elected MLAs of states & Delhi/Puducherry) |
| Election method | Single Transferable Vote + Proportional Representation |
| Oath administered by | Chief Justice of India |
| Impeachment | Article 61 — by Parliament on grounds of 'violation of Constitution' (2/3 majority in both houses) |
| Resignation submitted to | Vice President |
| Salary | Rs 5 lakh/month (tax-free) |
📖President's Powers
| Power | Article | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinance Power | 123 | Can issue ordinance when Parliament is not in session. Valid for 6 weeks after Parliament reconvenes |
| Pardoning Power | 72 | Can grant Pardon, Reprieve, Respite, Remission, Commutation — even in death sentence and court martial cases |
| Veto Powers | 111 | 3 types: Absolute (withhold assent), Suspensive (return for reconsideration), Pocket (no action) |
| Emergency Powers | 352, 356, 360 | National Emergency(352), State Emergency/President's Rule(356), Financial Emergency(360) |
| Appointment Power | Various | Appoints PM, Governors, Supreme Court & High Court judges, CAG, Attorney General, Election Commissioners |
📖Vice President — Key Details
| Detail | Answer |
|---|---|
| Articles | 63-71 (Part V) |
| Qualifications | Indian citizen, 35+ years, eligible for Rajya Sabha membership |
| Term | 5 years |
| Elected by | Members of BOTH houses of Parliament (MPs only — MLAs don't vote!) |
| Ex-officio post | Chairman of Rajya Sabha |
| Removal | Resolution in Rajya Sabha (simple majority) + agreed by Lok Sabha |
| Resignation to | President |
| Acts as President when | President dies, resigns, removed, or absent (maximum 6 months) |
📝"First / Only" — Presidents & VPs
- •FIRST President → Dr. Rajendra Prasad (1950-1962, ONLY one to serve 2 terms)
- •FIRST woman President → Pratibha Patil (2007-2012)
- •FIRST Dalit President → K.R. Narayanan (1997-2002)
- •FIRST Muslim President → Dr. Zakir Husain (1967-1969, also first to die in office)
- •Scientist President → Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam (2002-2007, 'Missile Man')
- •FIRST tribal woman President → Droupadi Murmu (2022-present)
- •FIRST VP → Dr. S. Radhakrishnan (later became President)
- •VP who became President twice through election → None. Only Radhakrishnan served as VP then President.
- •VV Giri acted as President (1969) after Zakir Husain's death, then won Presidential election
📖3 Types of Emergencies
| Type | Article | Grounds | Declared So Far |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Emergency | 352 | War, External aggression, Armed rebellion | 3 times: 1962 (China war), 1971 (Pak war), 1975 (internal disturbance) |
| State Emergency (President's Rule) | 356 | Failure of constitutional machinery in a state | Most used — 100+ times. First in Punjab (1951) |
| Financial Emergency | 360 | Threat to financial stability of India | NEVER declared so far |