The President is the constitutional head of India, the first citizen of the country, and the symbol of the nation's unity who represents India across the world. Because the President is elected and not hereditary, India is a republic. These notes move from the constitutional office and its articles (Article 52 to Article 78), through the electoral college and the manner of election, the qualifications, term, oath and conditions of office, the full range of presidential powers — executive, legislative, financial, judicial, diplomatic, military and emergency — and finally the ordinance power, the pardoning power, the veto types, impeachment and the filling of a vacancy.
The President sits at the head of the Union Executive and is the highest constitutional authority in the country.
| President | Distinction |
|---|---|
| Rajendra Prasad | First President of India (served 1950 to 1962) |
| Neelam Sanjiva Reddy | First to be elected unopposed; youngest President |
| V. V. Giri | Won the election as an independent candidate |
| Pratibha Patil | First Woman President |
| K. R. Narayanan | First Dalit President; first President born after independence |
| Draupadi Murmu | First tribal President |
Mnemonic — PEMTRQCOVI (key aspects of the President)
The method of election of the President of India is borrowed from the constitution of which country?
On which date was the office of the President of India created?
The provisions relating to the President run from Article 52 to Article in Part V.
The first President of India was Prasad.
The opening articles of Part V establish the office, vest executive power, and set up the machinery for electing the President.
Which Article states that there shall be a President of India?
Under which Article does the executive power of the Union vest in the President?
Article deals with the electoral college of the President.
Article 55 deals with the manner of of the President.
The President is chosen by an electoral college made up of elected representatives at both the Union and State levels.
The elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of Delhi and Puducherry were added to the electoral college by which amendment?
Who among the following cannot participate in the election of the President?
The President is chosen by an college, not directly by the people.
Nominated members participate in the election of the President.
The election is designed so that the President commands broad support across Parliament and the States, with each vote carefully weighted.
The President is elected by which system?
To be declared elected, a presidential candidate must secure what share of the total vote value?
Every MLA and MP has a fixed vote in the presidential election.
The election is held by proportional representation by means of the single vote.
The President holds office for a fixed term but enjoys security of tenure and continuity until a successor takes over.
What is the term of office of the President under Article 56?
The President submits the resignation letter to whom?
The term of the President is years from the date of entering office.
The President may be impeached under Article for violation of the Constitution.
There is no constitutional bar on a President serving more than once.
Under Article 57, how many times can a person be re-elected as President?
Which Article deals with the re-election of the President?
A person is eligible for re-election as President any number of .
Re-election of the President is dealt with under Article .
To be eligible for the highest office, a candidate must meet four basic constitutional requirements.
| # | Qualification |
|---|---|
| 1 | Should be a citizen of India |
| 2 | Should have completed 35 years of age |
| 3 | Should be qualified for election as a member of the Lok Sabha (House of the People) |
| 4 | Should not hold any office of profit under the Union, State Government, or any local or public authority |
What is the minimum age required to become the President of India?
To be President, a candidate must be qualified for election as a member of which House?
A presidential candidate should have completed years of age.
A candidate for President should not hold any office of .
Once in office, the President is bound by conditions that safeguard the independence and dignity of the post.
Under Article 59, the President shall not be a member of which body?
The President's emoluments and allowances can be reduced during his tenure. This statement is:
The conditions of the President's office are laid down in Article .
The President is entitled to the official residence -free.
Before taking up the duties of the office, the President must swear or affirm before the highest judicial authority available.
Who administers the oath of office to the President under Article 60?
In the absence of the CJI, who administers the oath to the President?
The oath of the President is administered by the Chief Justice of .
The President's oath is dealt with under Article .
The President can be removed only by a quasi-judicial impeachment process, and only on the ground of violating the Constitution.
| Step | Stage | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Initiation of charges | Charge introduced in either House, signed by at least one-fourth (1/4) of the total members of that House; 14 days' notice given to the President |
| 2 | First House passes the motion | Resolution passed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the total membership of the initiating House |
| 3 | Investigation by the other House | The other House investigates the charges (itself or via a judicial committee); the President may appear and be represented by a lawyer |
| 4 | Final resolution | If the other House also passes it by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the total membership, the President is removed from office from the date the resolution is passed |
What is the sole ground for impeachment of the President under Article 61?
An impeachment charge must be signed by at least what fraction of the total members of the initiating House?
Impeachment of the President is a -judicial process.
Before initiating impeachment, days' notice must be given to the President.
The Constitution ensures the office is never left unfilled, with a clear line of succession and strict deadlines for fresh elections.
| Order | Acting President |
|---|---|
| 1 | Vice-President (VP) |
| 2 | Chief Justice of India (CJI) |
| 3 | Senior-most Judge of the Supreme Court |
A vacancy in the office of President caused by death, resignation or removal must be filled within what period?
Who is first in the order of acting as President when a vacancy arises?
A vacancy in the office of President must be filled within months.
The order of acting as President is Vice-President, then CJI, then senior-most Court judge.
A consolidated map of the articles dealing with the President and the closely connected offices.
| Article | Topic | Key Point |
|---|---|---|
| Article 52 | The President of India | There shall be a President of India |
| Article 53 | Executive power of the Union | Executive power of the Union vests in the President |
| Article 54 | Election of President | Deals with the electoral college |
| Article 55 | Manner of election | Provisions for the manner of election |
| Article 56 | Term of office | The President holds office for 5 years |
| Article 57 | Re-election | Eligible for re-election any number of times |
| Article 58 | Qualifications | Lays down the qualifications |
| Article 59 | Conditions of office | Lays down the conditions of office |
| Article 60 | Oath or affirmation | President to make and subscribe the oath |
| Article 61 | Procedure for impeachment | Provides the impeachment procedure |
| Article 62 | Vacancy in office | Election to fill vacancy before expiry of term |
| Article 63 | The Vice-President of India | There shall be a Vice-President of India |
| Article 64 | VP as ex-officio Chairman | VP is ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) |
| Article 65 | VP to act as President | VP acts as President or discharges his functions |
| Article 71 | Election disputes | Matters relating to the election of a President |
| Article 72 | Pardoning power | President's power to grant pardons, suspend, remit or commute sentences |
| Article 74 | Aid and advice | Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President |
| Article 75 | Provisions as to Ministers | Appointment, salaries, etc., of Ministers |
| Article 78 | Duties of the PM | PM to furnish information to the President |
Which Article deals with the pardoning power of the President?
Under which Article does the Council of Ministers aid and advise the President?
Article deals with matters relating to disputes over the election of a President.
Article 78 lays down the duty of the to furnish information to the President.
All executive action of the Union is formally taken in the President's name, including the major constitutional appointments.
Every executive action of the Indian government is taken in whose name?
Executive appointments made by the President are made on the aid and advice of whom?
The President appoints the Prime Minister, Attorney General, CAG and the (Chief Election Commissioner).
The President appoints the CJI and other judges of the Supreme Court and the Courts.
The President is an integral part of Parliament and performs key functions in its summoning, addressing and law-making.
| # | Power | Article |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The President is an integral part of the Parliament of India | — |
| 2 | Address and send messages to the Houses of Parliament | Article 86 |
| 3 | Promulgate ordinances when Parliament is not in session | Article 123 |
| 4 | Summons or prorogues Parliament and dissolves the Lok Sabha | — |
| 5 | Summons a joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in a deadlock | Article 108 |
| 6 | Addresses Parliament at the start of the first session after every general election (Special Address) | Article 87 |
| 7 | Appoints Speaker / Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha and Chairman / Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha when seats fall vacant | — |
| 8 | Nominates 12 members of the Rajya Sabha | — |
How many members of the Rajya Sabha does the President nominate?
Under which Article does the President summon a joint sitting of both Houses in a deadlock?
The President addresses Parliament at the start of the first session after every general election under Article .
The President is an integral part of the of India.
When Parliament is not in session, the President can make law-like ordinances to deal with urgent situations.
Under which Article can the President promulgate ordinances when Parliament is not in session?
An ordinance issued by the President has:
The ordinance power of the President is provided under Article .
An ordinance can be promulgated only when Parliament is not in .
No money matter can move in Parliament without the President's prior sanction, and the President controls key financial bodies.
Under which Article is a Money Bill introduced only with the President's prior recommendation?
The Finance Commission is constituted by the President under which Article, every 5 years?
The Contingency Fund of India (Article ) is under the President's control.
A demand for requires the President's recommendation.
The President appoints the higher judiciary, can seek the Supreme Court's opinion, and holds the clemency power.
| Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pardon | Both the conviction and the sentence are completely absolved |
| Commutation | The nature of the punishment is changed (e.g. death to life imprisonment) |
| Remission | The term of imprisonment is reduced, without changing its nature |
| Respite | Awards a lesser punishment in view of the convict's special condition |
| Reprieve | Stays the execution of the sentence for a temporary period |
Under which Article can the President seek the advice of the Supreme Court?
Under Article 72, which type of clemency completely absolves both the conviction and the sentence?
The advice of the Supreme Court sought under Article 143 is binding on the President.
under Article 72 changes the nature of punishment, e.g. death to life imprisonment.
The President is the face of India in its dealings with other nations.
Which of the following is a diplomatic power of the President?
The President's diplomatic powers are exercised:
The President sends and receives ambassadors and other diplomatic .
The President makes with other countries.
As Supreme Commander, the President is the formal head of all three armed forces.
What is the President's role in relation to the armed forces?
As Supreme Commander, the President is the formal Chief of which forces?
The President is the Chief or Supreme of the Armed Forces.
The President is Chief of the Army, the Navy and the Force.
The Constitution gives the President extraordinary powers to deal with three kinds of emergency.
| # | Type of Emergency | Article |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Emergency | Article 352 |
| 2 | President's Rule (State Emergency) | Article 356 & Article 365 |
| 3 | Financial Emergency | Article 360 |
Under which Article is a National Emergency declared?
A Financial Emergency is proclaimed under which Article?
President's Rule (State Emergency) is imposed under Article 356 and Article .
The Constitution provides for types of emergency.
When a bill passed by Parliament reaches the President, the power to reject, return or withhold assent is the veto power.
| # | Type of Veto | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Absolute Veto | Withholding assent to a bill passed by the legislature |
| 2 | Qualified Veto | Can be overridden by a higher majority — not in India, exists in the US |
| 3 | Suspensive Veto | Can be overridden by the legislature with an ordinary majority |
| 4 | Pocket Veto | Taking no action at all on a bill passed by the legislature |
The veto power of the President is provided under which Article?
Which type of veto exists in the US but not in India?
Taking no action at all on a bill is called the Veto.
The veto power of the President is provided under Article .
Take 5 questions at a time — tap an option to check. After each round, revise the notes above and take the retest for 5 fresh questions, until you've mastered the whole chapter.