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Embark on a comprehensive exploration of the intricate responsibilities and functions of the President of India tailored for WBP Constable Exam preparation. Understanding the pivotal role of the President is fundamental for aspirants seeking success in competitive exams. This guide unravels the diverse facets of the President's duties, ranging from constitutional powers to ceremonial functions, providing a holistic view of their role in the governance of the country.

Whether you are a WBP Constable Exam candidate or an individual keen on deepening your knowledge of India's political system, this resource offers invaluable insights to navigate the exam landscape and develop a nuanced understanding of the highest office in the land.

This is the fourth part of our 'Indian Parliament' series. If you haven't read the third blog i.e. <a href="https://www.thedhronas.com/blog/learn-the-types-of-bills-in-parliament-for-wbp-constable-exam" target="_blank">Types of Bills in Parliament</a>, then click on the embedded link and read it first. Now let's move on to The President of India.

<h2 id="content-id-35366-0">President of India</h2>

The President is the head of the Republic of India and is the first citizen of India. Article 53 of the Indian Constitution states that all the executive powers of the Union shall be exercised by him either directly or through officers subordinates to him.

In the Constitution Part V (The Union) under Chapter I (The Executive) details of qualifications, election and impeachment of the President of India are given. That is Articles from 52 to 78 in Part V of the Constitution deals with the Union Executive. The President of India is also the head of the executive, legislature and judiciary of the country. 

The President holds office for a tenure of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office. However, he can resign from his office at any time by addressing the resignation letter to the Vice-President. Further, he can also be removed from the office before completion of his term by the process of impeachment. The President can hold office beyond his term of five years until his successor assumes charge. He is also eligible for re-election to that office.

The Electoral College elects the President of India, which includes the elected members of both the Houses of Parliament, the elected members of the legislative assemblies of the states and the elected members of the legislative assemblies of the Union Territories of Delhi and Pondicherry and the representation of its members is preferential.

The current President of India is Droupadi Murmu. We will discuss this later. First let's understand it from the beginning i.e. the Election of the President.

<img loading="lazy" alt="Droupadi Murmu President of India" src="https://www.thedhronas.com/admin/assets/uploads/ckeditor/Droupadi Murmu President of India.webp" style="height:200px; width:400px">

[Source: Hindustan Times]

<h2 id="content-id-35366-1">Election of the President</h2>

The President is elected not directly by the people but by the members of an electoral college. The electoral college consists of:

<ol>
	<li>Elected members of both houses of the Parliament</li>
	<li>Elected members of the state legislative assemblies</li>
	<li>Elected members of the legislative assemblies of the Union Territories of Delhi and Puducherry</li>
</ol>

Note that only Elected members vote for the Presidential election and nominated members do not participate. 

However the number of elected members are different in each state legislative assembly. The number of elected members in the states as a whole is much more than the number of elected members of both houses of the parliament. If each of these elected members were to have one vote each, the election results would be lopsided. 
The constitution provides a way to bring uniformity in the scale of representation of each state as well as parity between states as a whole and the Union. To achieve this, there are two different formulas to decide the weightage of the votes of MPs and MLAs.

1) Value of the vote of an MLA = [(Total population of State)/(Total number of elected members of state legislative assembly)] × 1/100

2) Value of the vote of an MP = [(Total value of votes of all MLAs all states)/(Total number of elected MPs)] × 1/100

<img loading="lazy" alt="Election of the President" src="https://www.thedhronas.com/admin/assets/uploads/ckeditor/Election of the President.webp" style="height:200px; width:400px">

[Source: Zee Business]

<h3>Method of Election:</h3>

The method followed is proportional representation by means of single transferable vote. To be declared as President, a candidate must secure a fixed quota of votes known as electoral quota.

Electoral Quota = [(Total number of valid votes polled)/2] + 1

Step 1: The voters cast their vote by marking their order of preference (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.) against the names of all candidates.

Step 2: All the 1st preference votes are counted. The candidate who secures the electoral quota wins. If no one secures the quota then we move to step 3.

Step 3: The candidate with least number of first preference votes is eliminated. His second preference votes will now be transferred to the first preference votes of other candidates.

Step 2 and 3 are repeated till any one candidate secures the electoral quota and is elected as the President of India.

Any disputes regarding the President’s elections are handled by the Supreme Court.

<h3>Qualifications:</h3>

A candidate has to meet some qualifications to be elected as the president. Those qualifications of the President are:

<ol>
	<li>He should be an Indian Citizen</li>
	<li>His age should be a minimum of 35 years</li>
	<li>He should qualify the conditions to be elected as a member of the Lok Sabha</li>
	<li>He should not hold any office of profit under the central government, state government, or any public authority</li>
</ol>

<h3>Oath:</h3>

The president is required to make and subscribe in the presence of the Chief Justice of India — or in his absence, the senior-most judge of the supreme court — an oath or affirmation that he/she shall protect, preserve and defend the constitution as follows:

I, (name), do swear in the name of God (or solemnly affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President (or discharge the functions of the President) of the Republic of India, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law, and that I will devote myself to the service and well-being of the people of the Republic of India.

— Article 60, Constitution of India

<img loading="lazy" alt="Oath of the President of India" src="https://www.thedhronas.com/admin/assets/uploads/ckeditor/Oath of the President of India.webp" style="height:200px; width:400px">

[Source: Jagran Josh]

<h3>Conditions:</h3>

The following conditions have been laid down for the President’s office:

<ul>
	<li>He should not be a member of either House of Parliament or a House of the state legislature. If any such member is elected as President, he is considered to have vacated that seat on joining the office of the President.</li>
	<li>He should not hold any office of profit.</li>
	<li>He is entitled to stay at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, without paying rent.</li>
	<li>He gets emoluments and allowances and privileges as determined by the Parliament.</li>
	<li>These allowances and emoluments cannot be reduced during his tenure.</li>
</ul>

Now, let's look at the most important topic which is asked in almost every exam.

<h2 id="content-id-35366-2">Impeachment of the Indian President (Article 61)</h2>

Article 61: Procedure for Impeachment of the President.

The only condition for the initiation of impeachment of the Indian president is the ‘violation of the constitution.’ Although, the Indian Constitution does not contain any definition of ‘violation of the constitution.’

This feature of the Indian Constitution is borrowed from the constitution of the United States of America (USA). 

<h3>The Procedure:</h3>

(1) When a President is to be impeached for violation of the Constitution, the charge shall be preferred by either House of Parliament.

(2) No such charge shall be preferred unless –

<ol>
	<li>the proposal to prefer such charge is contained in a resolution which has been moved after at least fourteen days’ notice in writing signed by not less than one-fourth of the total number of members of the House has been given of their intention to move the resolution, and</li>
	<li>such a resolution has been passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the total membership of the House.</li>
</ol>

(3) When a charge has been so preferred by either House of Parliament, the other House shall investigate the charge or cause the charge to be investigated and the President shall have the right to appear and to be represented at such investigation.

(4) If as a result of the investigation a resolution is passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the total membership of the House by which the charge was investigated or caused to be investigated, declaring that the charge preferred against the President has been sustained, such resolution shall have the effect of removing the President from his office as from the date on which the resolution is so passed.

<ol>
	<li>Any of the two houses initiate the impeachment charge</li>
	<li>The house passes the charges with 2/3rd majority and sends it to another house</li>
	<li>The other house investigates the charges</li>
	<li>The other house also agrees and passes the charges with 2/3rd majority</li>
	<li>The president stands removed</li>
</ol>

After the President is removed from the office the Vice-President discharges the duties as President;

As per the President’s Act 1969; if the Vice-President office is vacant too, Chief Justice of India (CJI) (or in his absence); Supreme Court’s senior-most judge, discharges the functions of the President (till new President is elected.)

<h2 id="content-id-35366-3">Vacancy in the office for the President</h2>

Let's first understand the conditions for the vacancy in the office of the President. The office of the President falls vacant under the following conditions:

<ol>
	<li>Expiry of his tenure of five years.</li>
	<li>By reason of his resignation.</li>
	<li>His removal by the process of impeachment.</li>
	<li>By reason of his death.</li>
	<li>Other reasons. e.g., when he becomes disqualified to hold office or when his election is declared void.</li>
</ol>

Article 65 of the Indian constitution says that the Vice-President of India will have to discharge the duties, if the office falls vacant due to any reason other than the expiry of the term. The Vice-President reverts to their office when a new president is elected and enters office. When the president is unable to act because of absence, illness or any other cause, the vice-president discharges the president's functions until the president resumes the duties.

Process for filling the vacancy in President’s Office:

1. In case of expiry of his tenure of five years

<ul>
	<li>An election to fill the vacancy must be held before the expiration of the term i.e 5 years.</li>
	<li>In case of any delay in conducting the election for the new President by any reason, the outgoing President continues to hold office (beyond his term of five years) until his successor assumes charge.</li>
	<li>This is provided in the Constitution to prevent an interregnum i.e., void or gap or break.</li>
	<li>In this scenario, the Vice-President does not act as President.</li>
</ul>

 2. In case of his resignation, removal, death or other reason

<ul>
	<li>If the office falls vacant due to resignation, removal, death or otherwise, then the election to fill the vacancy should be held within 6 months from the date of the occurrence of such vacancy.</li>
	<li>The newly elected President will remain in office for a full term of 5 years from the date he assumes charge.</li>
	<li>In this scenario, the Vice-President acts as the President until a new President is elected.</li>
	<li>Also, if the sitting President is unable to discharge his functions due to absence, illness etc. the Vice-President discharges his functions until the President resumes his office.</li>
	<li>In case the office of Vice-President is vacant, the Chief Justice of India acts as President.</li>
	<li>If his office too is vacant, the senior most judge of the Supreme Court (who is available) acts as the President or discharges the functions of the President.</li>
	<li>When any other person like the VP, CJI, or the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court acts as the President, they enjoy all the powers and immunities of the President and are entitled to such emoluments, allowances and privileges as are determined by the Parliament.</li>
</ul>

<h2 id="content-id-35366-4">List of all Presidents of India</h2>

The Indian President is the head of the state. He is the first citizen of India and is a symbol of solidarity, unity, and integrity of the nation. He is a part of the Union Executive along with the Vice-President, Prime Minister, Council of Ministers, and Attorney-General of India. Let us look at the honorable citizens who have held this post:

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:400px">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Name
			</td>
			<td>
			Tenure
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Dr Rajendra Prasad
			</td>
			<td>
			January 26, 1950 - May 13, 1962
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
			</td>
			<td>
			May 13, 1962 - May 13, 1967
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Dr Zakir Hussain
			</td>
			<td>
			May 13, 1967 - May 03, 1969
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Varahagiri Venkatagiri (Acting)
			</td>
			<td>
			May 03, 1969 - July 20, 1969
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Justice Mohammad Hidayatullah (Acting)
			</td>
			<td>
			July 20, 1969 - August 24, 1969
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Varahagiri Venkatagiri
			</td>
			<td>
			August 24, 1969 - August 24, 1974
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed
			</td>
			<td>
			August 24, 1974 - February 11, 1977
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			B.D. Jatti (Acting)
			</td>
			<td>
			February 11, 1977 - July 25, 1977
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
			</td>
			<td>
			July 25, 1977 - July 25, 1982
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Giani Zail Singh
			</td>
			<td>
			July 25, 1982 - July 25, 1987
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			R. Venkataraman
			</td>
			<td>
			July 25, 1987 - July 25, 1992
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma
			</td>
			<td>
			July 25, 1992 - July 25, 1997
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			K.R. Narayanan
			</td>
			<td>
			July 25, 1997 - July 25, 2002
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
			</td>
			<td>
			July 25, 2002 - July 25, 2007
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil
			</td>
			<td>
			July 25, 2007 - July 25, 2012
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Shri Pranab Mukherjee
			</td>
			<td>
			July 25, 2012 - July 25, 2017
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Shri Ram Nath Kovind
			</td>
			<td>
			July 25, 2017 - July 21, 2022
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Smt. Droupadi Murmu
			</td>
			<td>
			July 21, 2022 - Incumbent
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

 

<img loading="lazy" alt="Rajendra Prasad the First President of India" src="https://www.thedhronas.com/admin/assets/uploads/ckeditor/Rajendra Prasad the First President of India.webp" style="height:200px; width:400px">

[Source: Zee News - India]

In conclusion, mastering the intricate work and functions of the President of India is an indispensable asset for WBP Constable Exam aspirants. This exploration has equipped you with a profound understanding of the President's role, encompassing constitutional duties and ceremonial obligations. As you venture into the exam, carry this comprehensive knowledge, knowing that it not only enhances your exam readiness but also contributes to a broader comprehension of India's democratic framework.

So, this is all for today. We will discuss the <a href="https://www.thedhronas.com/blog/some-basic-terminology-used-in-the-parliament-of-india">Some concepts and terminologies of the Parliament</a> in the last blog of the 'Indian Parliament' Series. It's a very interesting topic and will clear most of your queries regarding the work and functions of the Parliament. So, stay tuned with our 'Indian Parliament' Series!

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