President & VP

Indian Polity · राष्ट्रपति और उपराष्ट्रपति · 22 facts

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)

VV Giri acted as President (1969) after Zakir Husain's death, then won Presidential election

President = Head of State, Supreme Commander of Armed Forces

Elected by Electoral College (elected MPs + elected MLAs)

Minimum age: President 35, VP 35

Rajendra Prasad = First President, only one with 2 terms

Droupadi Murmu = Current President (2022), first tribal woman

Article 72 = Pardoning power, Article 123 = Ordinance power

3 Veto powers: Absolute, Suspensive, Pocket

3 Emergencies: National (352), State (356), Financial (360)

Financial Emergency never declared in India

National Emergency declared 3 times: 1962, 1971, 1975

VP = ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha

VP elected by MPs of both houses only (no MLAs)

President resigns to VP, VP resigns to President

Impeachment = violation of Constitution, needs 2/3 majority in both houses