View source for President of India

{{Short description|Head of state of India}} 
{{For|a full list of heads of state|List of heads of state of India}}
{{For|a list of presidents|List of presidents of India}}
{{pp|reason=Persistent [[WP:Disruptive editing|disruptive editing]]|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}{{Infobox official post
| post = President
| body = India
| native_name = {{transliteration|hi|ISO|Bhārata kē Rāṣṭrapati}}
| insignia = [[File:Emblem of India.svg|70px|frameless|upright=0.6|class=skin-invert]]
| insigniasize = 
| insigniacaption = [[State Emblem of India|State emblem]]
| insigniaalt = 
| flag = Flag of India.svg <!--please do not put presidential standard here, as the standard was replaced by the flag of India in 1971-->
| flagsize = 
| flagalt = f
| flagborder = yes
| flagcaption = [[Flag of India]]
| image = Droupadi Murmu POI official portrait.jpg
| imagecaption = Official Portrait, 2025
| term_end = 
| acting = 
| department = [[Politics of India#President of India|Head of state of the Republic of India]]<br/>[[Government of India#Executive|Executive branch of the Indian Government]]
| style = {{unbulleted list|
* Hon'ble President<br />(within India)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=President Approves New Protocol Practice |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=88279|access-date=27 November 2021|website=pib.gov.in|archive-date=25 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125044459/https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=88279|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Her Excellency]]<br />(outside India)<ref name=":0" />
*[[The Honourable]]<br />(within the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]])
}}
| type = {{plainlist|
* [[Head of state]]
* [[Commander-in-chief]]
}}
| status = 
| abbreviation = POI
| member_of = 
| reports_to = 
| residence = [[Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi|Rashtrapati Bhavan]]
| seat = [[New Delhi, Delhi, India]]
| nominator = 
| appointer = [[Electoral College (India)|Electoral College of India]]
| appointer_qualified = 
| termlength = Five years,
| termlength_qualified = no restriction on renewal
| constituting_instrument = [[Constitution of India]] (1950)
| precursor = [[List of heads of state of India#Monarch of India (1947–1950)|Monarch of India]] and his representative the [[Governor-General of India]]
| formation = {{Start date and age|1950|01|26|df=yes}}
| first = [[Rajendra Prasad]]
| last = 
| abolished = 
| superseded_by = 
| succession = 
| unofficial_names = 
| deputy = [[Vice President of India]]
| salary = {{big|•}} {{INRConvert|6000000}} (annually)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/arun-jaitley-budget-speech-2018-president-salary-vice-president-salary/194462|title=President, Vice President, Governors' salaries hiked to Rs 5 lakh, Rs 4 lakh, Rs 3.5 lakh respectively|publisher=Times Now News|agency=Indo-Asian News Service|date=1 February 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202190054/http://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/arun-jaitley-budget-speech-2018-president-salary-vice-president-salary/194462|archive-date=2 February 2018}}</ref>
| website = {{Official URL}}
| footnotes = 
| In Office = 
| incumbentsince = 25 July 2022
| incumbent = [[Droupadi Murmu]]
}}
{{Politics of India}}
The '''president of India''' <!--"president" is uncapitalised here because it is preceded by the modifier "The", as per [[MOS:JOBTITLES]] bullet 3 and table column 2 example 1. Any proposal for modification to the guideline should be posted at its talk page, [[WT:MOSBIO]].--> ([[ISO 15919|ISO]]: {{transliteration|hi|ISO|Bhārata kē Rāṣṭrapati}}) is the [[head of state]] of the [[Republic of India]]. The president is the nominal head of the executive,{{efn|The president is the head of the executive per [https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_India/Part_V#Article_53_{Executive_power_of_the_Union} Article 53] and [https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_India/Part_V#Article_77_{Conduct_of_business_of_the_Government_of_India} 77] of the Constitution. However, in practice, it is the Council of Ministers with the [[prime minister of India|prime minister]] as its head that exercises the powers accorded to this position per [https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_India/Part_V#Article_74_{Council_of_Ministers_to_aid_and_advise_President} Article 74] and [https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_India/Part_V#Article_78_{Duties_of_Prime_Minister_as_respects_the_furnishing_of_information_to_the_President,_etc.} 78] of the Constitution, thus making the prime minister the ''de facto'' head of the executive.}} the first citizen of the country, and the [[commander-in-chief|supreme commander]] of the [[Indian Armed Forces]]. [[Droupadi Murmu]] is the 15th and current president, having taken office on 25 July 2022.

The office of president was created when [[Constitution of India|India's  constitution]] came into force and it became a republic on [[Republic Day (India)|26 January 1950]]. The president is [[indirect election|indirectly elected]] by an [[electoral College (India)|electoral college]] comprising both houses of the [[Parliament of India]] and the [[state Legislative Assembly (India)|legislative assemblies]] of each of [[States and union territories of India|India's states and territories]], who themselves are all [[directly elected]] by the citizens.

The President ranks 1st in the [[Order of precedence in India|Order of Precedence of India]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Order of Precedence of India |url=https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/table_of_precedence.pdf |access-date=23 July 2025 |website=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)]]}}</ref> as per [[s:Constitution of India/Part V#Article 53 %7BExecutive power of the Union%7D|Article 53]] of the [[Constitution of India]] states that the president can exercise their powers directly or by subordinate authority, though all of the executive powers vested in the president are, in practice, exercised by the [[Prime Minister of India|prime minister]] heading the [[Union Council of Ministers|Council of Ministers]].<ref name="[[The Constitution of India]]">{{cite book|url=http://lawmin.nic.in/coi/coiason29july08.pdf|title=Constitution of India|date=1 December 2007|publisher=Ministry of Law and Justice, [[Government of India]]|page=26|access-date=27 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909230437/http://lawmin.nic.in/coi/coiason29july08.pdf|archive-date=9 September 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The president is bound by the constitution to act on the [[advice (constitutional)|advice]] of the council and to enforce the decrees passed by the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] under article 142.

== Origin ==
India achieved independence from the British on [[Independence Day (India)|15 August 1947]], initially as a [[dominion]] within the [[Commonwealth of Nations]] with [[George VI]] as king, represented in the country by a [[Governor-General of India|governor-general]].<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/specials/india/470815independence-day.html "India and Pakistan Become Nations; Clashes Continue" – New York Times] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401064557/http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/specials/india/470815independence-day.html|date=1 April 2013}} Retri2013.</ref> Following independence, the [[Constituent Assembly of India]], under the leadership of [[B. R. Ambedkar]], undertook the process of drafting a completely new constitution for the country. The [[Constitution of India]] was eventually enacted on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950,<ref name="SharmaB.k.2007">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=srDytmFE3KMC|title=Introduction to the Constitution of India|last=Sharma|first=Brij Kishore|publisher=PHI Learning|year=2007|isbn=978-81-203-3246-1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231231217/https://books.google.com/books?id=srDytmFE3KMC|archive-date=31 December 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|26}} making India a [[republic]].<ref name="Jai2003">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r2C2InxI0xAC|title=Presidents of India, 1950–2003|last=Jai|first=Janak Raj|publisher=Regency Publications|year=2003|isbn=978-81-87498-65-0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611044617/https://books.google.com/books?id=r2C2InxI0xAC|archive-date=11 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|9}} The offices of monarch and governor-general were replaced by the new office of President of India, with [[Rajendra Prasad]] as its first incumbent.<ref name=Jai2003 />{{rp|1}} India retained its Commonwealth membership per the [[London Declaration]], recognising The King as "the symbol of the free association of its independent member nations and as such the Head of the Commonwealth."<ref>{{Cite web |title=London Declaration, 1949 |url=https://thecommonwealth.org/london-declaration-1949 |access-date=15 October 2022 |website=Commonwealth |language=en |archive-date=15 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015013714/https://thecommonwealth.org/london-declaration-1949 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Indian constitution accords to the president the responsibility and authority to defend and protect the Constitution of India and its rule of law.<ref name="const">{{cite web|url=http://lawmin.nic.in/olwing/coi/coi-english/coi-indexenglish.htm|title=The Constitution of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402064301/http://lawmin.nic.in/olwing/coi/coi-english/coi-indexenglish.htm|archive-date=2 April 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=21 March 2012}}</ref> Invariably, any action taken by the executive or legislature entities of the constitution shall become law only after the president's assent. The president shall not accept any actions of the executive or legislature which are unconstitutional. The president is the foremost, most empowered and prompt defender of the constitution (Article 60), who has pre-emptive power for ensuring constitutionality in the actions of the executive or legislature. The role of the judiciary in upholding the Constitution of India is the second line of defence in nullifying any unconstitutional actions of the executive and legislative entities of the Indian Union.

== Powers and duties ==
{{Blockquote|Under the draft constitution the President occupies the same position as the King under the English Constitution. He is the head of the state but not of the Executive. He represents the Nation but does not rule the Nation. He is the symbol of the Nation. His place in the administration is that of a ceremonial device on a seal by which the nation's decisions are made known.|[[Bhimrao Ambedkar]],{{small| as chairman of the drafting committee of the [[Constituent Assembly of India]] during various debates about the president being constitutional head of the state.}}<ref name=":Indian Political Thought">{{Cite book|title=Indian Political Thought: Themes and Thinkers|last=Singh|first=Mahendra Prasad|publisher=[[Pearson plc|Pearson India Education Services]]|year=2019|isbn=978-93-325-8733-5|editor-last=Roy|editor-first=Himanshu|location=[[Noida]]|pages=354|chapter=Ambedkar: Constitutionalism and State Structure|editor-last2=Singh|editor-first2=Mahendra Prasad}}</ref><ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=veDUJCjr5U4C&lpg=PA236&ots=EGZT2Cyg38&dq=Under%20the%20draft%20constitution%20the%20President%20occupies%20the%20same%20position%20as%20the%20King%20under%20the%20English%20Constitution.%20He%20is%20the%20head%20of%20the%20state%20but%20not%20of%20the%20Executive.%20He%20represents%20the%20Nation%20but%20does%20not%20rule%20the%20Nation.%20He%20is%20the%20symbol%20of%20the%20Nation.%20His%20place%20in%20the%20administration%20is%20that%20of%20a%20ceremonial%20device%20on%20a%20seal%20by%20which%20the%20nation's%20decisions%20are%20made%20known&pg=PA236#v=onepage&q&f=false ''Constitutional Government in India''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418104947/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=veDUJCjr5U4C&lpg=PA236&ots=EGZT2Cyg38&dq=Under%20the%20draft%20constitution%20the%20President%20occupies%20the%20same%20position%20as%20the%20King%20under%20the%20English%20Constitution.%20He%20is%20the%20head%20of%20the%20state%20but%20not%20of%20the%20Executive.%20He%20represents%20the%20Nation%20but%20does%20not%20rule%20the%20Nation.%20He%20is%20the%20symbol%20of%20the%20Nation.%20His%20place%20in%20the%20administration%20is%20that%20of%20a%20ceremonial%20device%20on%20a%20seal%20by%20which%20the%20nation%27s%20decisions%20are%20made%20known&pg=PA236#v=onepage&q&f=false |date=18 April 2021 }}, M.V.Pylee, S. Chand Publishing, 2004, page 236</ref>}}

=== Duty ===
The primary duty of the president is to preserve, protect and defend the constitution and the law of India as made part of their [[#Oath or affirmation|oath]] (Article 60 of Indian constitution).<ref name="const" /> The president is the common head of all independent constitutional entities. All their actions, [[Three Judges Cases|recommendations]] ([[Part One of the Constitution of India|Article 3]], Article 111, Article 274, etc.) and supervisory powers ([[Article 74 (Constitution of India)|Article 74(2)]], Article 78C, Article 108, Article 111, etc.) over the executive and legislative entities of India shall be used in accordance to uphold the constitution.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/jun/09spec.htm|title=How Kalam asserted presidential power|last=Bhatt|first=Sheela|date=9 June 2006|work=Rediff India|access-date=15 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416182146/http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/jun/09spec.htm|archive-date=16 April 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> There is no bar on the actions of the president to contest in the court of law.<ref name="india times">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/The-Presidents-role/articleshow/20154333.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616231317/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-08-26/education/27323497_1_powers-impeachment-resolution|url-status=live|archive-date=16 June 2012|title=The President's role|last=Gupta|first=V. P.|date=26 August 2002|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=4 January 2012}}</ref>

=== Legislative powers ===
Legislative power is constitutionally vested in the [[Parliament of India]] of which the president is the head, to facilitate the lawmaking process per the constitution (Article 78, Article 86, etc.). The president summons both the houses ([[Lok Sabha]] and [[Rajya Sabha]]) of the [[Parliament of India|parliament]] and prorogues them. They can [[Dissolution of parliament|dissolve the Lok Sabha]].<ref name="SharmaB.k.2007" />{{rp|147}}

The president inaugurates parliament by addressing it after the general elections and also at the beginning of the first session every year per Article 87(1). The presidential address on these occasions is generally meant to outline the new policies of the [[Government of India|government]].<ref name="Chowdhury">{{Cite web|title=Article 87 – Advocatespedia|url=https://advocatespedia.com/Article_87|access-date=22 November 2020|website=advocatespedia.com|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418151453/https://advocatespedia.com/Article_87|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{rp|145}}

All [[Bill (proposed law)|bills]] passed by the parliament can become laws only after receiving the assent of the president per [[s:Constitution of India/Part V|Article 111]]. After a bill is presented to them, the president shall declare either that they assent to the Bill, or that they withhold assent from it.  As a third option, they can return a bill to parliament, if it is not a [[money bill]], for reconsideration. President may be of the view that a particular bill passed under the [[Lawmaking procedure in India|legislative powers]] of parliament is violating the constitution, they can send back the bill with their recommendation to pass the bill under the constituent powers of parliament following the [[s:Constitution of India/Part XX|Article 368]] procedure. When, after reconsideration, the bill is passed accordingly and presented to the president, with or without amendments, the president cannot withhold their assent from it. The president can also withhold their assent to a bill when it is initially presented to them (rather than return it to parliament) thereby exercising a [[pocket veto]] on the advice of the prime minister or council of ministers per [[s:Constitution of India/Part V|Article 74]] if it is inconsistent with the constitution.<ref name="india times" /> Article 143 gives the president the power to consult the [[Supreme Court of India|supreme court]] about the constitutional validity of an issue. The president shall assent to [[Amendment of the Constitution of India|constitutional amendment bills]] without power to withhold the bills per [[s:Constitution of India/Part XX|Article 368 (2)]].

When either of the two Houses of the [[Parliament of India]] is not in session, and if the government feels the need for an immediate procedure, the president can promulgate ordinances that have the same force and effect as an act passed by parliament under its legislative powers. These are in the nature of interim or temporary legislation and their continuance is subject to parliamentary approval. Ordinances remain valid for no more than six weeks from the date the parliament is convened unless approved by it earlier.<ref name="Association1956">{{cite journal|last=Bakshi|first=P.M.|date=June 1956|title=Comparative Law: Separation of Powers in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1mvOn6ZnieIC&pg=PA554|url-status=live|journal=[[ABA Journal]]|publisher=[[American Bar Association]]|volume=42|page=554|issn=0747-0088|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517040623/https://books.google.com/books?id=1mvOn6ZnieIC&pg=PA554|archive-date=17 May 2016}}</ref> Under [[s:Constitution of India/Part V|Article 123]], the president as the upholder of the constitution shall be satisfied that immediate action is mandatory as advised by the union cabinet and they are confident that the government commands majority support in the parliament needed for the passing of the ordinance into an act and parliament can be summoned to deliberate on the passing of the ordinance as soon as possible. The promulgated ordinance is treated as an act of parliament when in force and it is the responsibility of the president to withdraw the ordinance as soon as the reasons for the promulgation of the ordinance are no longer applicable. Bringing laws in the form of ordinances has become a routine matter by the government and president, but the provisions made in Article 123 are meant for mitigating unusual circumstances where immediate action is inevitable when the extant provisions of the law are inadequate. Re-promulgation of an ordinance after failing to get approval within the stipulated time of both houses of parliament is an unconstitutional act by the president.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toi-edit-page/repeated-promulgation-of-ordinances-because-a-bill-is-held-up-in-the-rajya-sabha-is-a-violation-of-constitutional-principles/|title=Repeated promulgation of ordinances because a bill is held up in the Rajya Sabha is a violation of constitutional principles|newspaper=The Times of India |date=27 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927134804/http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toi-edit-page/repeated-promulgation-of-ordinances-because-a-bill-is-held-up-in-the-rajya-sabha-is-a-violation-of-constitutional-principles/|archive-date=27 September 2016|url-status=live |last1=Kamat |first1=Devadatt }}</ref> The president should not incorporate any matter in an ordinance which violates the constitution or requires an amendment to the constitution. The president should take moral responsibility when an ordinance elapses automatically or is not approved by the parliament or violates the constitution.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/re-promulgation-of-ordinances-fraud-on-constitution-sc-4456354/|title=Re-promulgation of ordinances fraud on Constitution: SC|date=3 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103133724/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/re-promulgation-of-ordinances-fraud-on-constitution-sc-4456354/|archive-date=3 January 2017|url-status=live|access-date=3 January 2017}}</ref> Thus, it is believed that the POI is the [[de jure]] head of the state, whereas [[Prime Minister of India|PM]] is the [[de facto]] head.

=== Executive powers ===
{{Blockquote|The President of the Indian Union will be generally bound by the advice of his Ministers. ... He can do nothing contrary to their advice nor can do anything without their advice. The [[President of the United States]] can dismiss any Secretary at any time. The President of the Indian Union has no power to do so, so long as his Ministers command a majority in [[Parliament of India|Parliament]]|[[Bhimrao Ambedkar]]{{small|, chairperson of the drafting committee of the [[Constituent Assembly of India]]}}<ref name=":Indian Political Thought" />}}
[[File:Flag of the President of India (1950–1971).svg|thumb|200px|[[Presidential Standard of India]] (1950–1971)]]
As per [[s:Constitution of India/Part V|Article 53]], the [[Executive (government)|executive power]] of the country is vested in the president and is exercised by the president either directly or through officers subordinate to him in accordance with the constitution. When parliament thinks fit it may accord additional executive powers to the president per [[s:Constitution of India/Part V|Article 70]] which may be further delegated by the president to the [[Governors of states of India|governors of states]] per [[s:Constitution of India/Part VI|Article 160]]. [[Union Council of Ministers|Union cabinet]] with [[Prime Minister of India|prime minister]] as its head, should aid and advise the president in performing their functions. Per [[Article 74 of the Constitution of India|Article 74 (2)]], the council of ministers or prime minister are not accountable legally to the advice tendered to the president but it is the sole responsibility of the president to ensure compliance with the constitution in performing their duties. President or their subordinate officers is bound by the provisions of the constitution notwithstanding any advice by the union cabinet.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indiankanoon.org/docfragment/494666/?formInput=article%2075%20%283%29%20%20doctypes%3A%20supremecourt|title=U.N. R. Rao vs Smt. Indira Gandhi on 17 March, 1971, SC verdict|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208182943/https://indiankanoon.org/docfragment/494666/?formInput=article%2075%20%283%29%20%20doctypes%3A%20supremecourt|archive-date=8 February 2018|url-status=live|access-date=3 January 2017}}</ref>

As per [[s:Constitution of India/Part V|Article 142]], it is the duty of the president to enforce the decrees of the supreme court.

=== Judicial powers ===
The primary duty of the president is to preserve, protect and defend the constitution and the law of India per [[s:Constitution of India/Part V|Article 60]]. The president appoints the [[Chief Justice of India|chief justice of India]] and other judges on the advice of the chief justice. The president may dismiss a judge with a two-thirds vote of the two Houses of the parliament.<ref name="Woods2008">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hx0MbH0r8zQC&pg=PA185|title=Judicial Power and National Politics: Courts and Gender in the Religious-Secular Conflict in Israel|last=Woods|first=Patricia J.|publisher=SUNY Press|year=2008|isbn=978-0-7914-7400-6|page=185|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427022339/https://books.google.com/books?id=hx0MbH0r8zQC&pg=PA185|archive-date=27 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Government of India|Indian government's]] chief legal adviser, the [[Attorney-General for India|attorney-general for India]], is appointed by the president of India under Article 76(1) and holds office during the pleasure of the president. If the president considers a question of law or a matter of public importance has arisen, they can also ask for the [[advisory opinion#India|advisory opinion]] of the [[Supreme Court of India|supreme court]] per [[s:Constitution of India/Part V#Article 143 %7BPower of President to consult Supreme Court%7D|Article 143]]. Per [[s:Constitution of India/Part V|Article 88]], the president can ask the attorney general to attend the parliamentary proceedings and report to him any unlawful functioning if any.<ref name="Supreme Court of India – constitution">{{cite web|url=http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/constitution.htm|title=Supreme Court of India – constitution|publisher=Supreme Court of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830234213/http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/constitution.htm|archive-date=30 August 2016|url-status=dead|access-date=28 August 2016}}</ref>

=== Appointment powers ===
The president appoints as [[Prime Minister of India|prime minister]], the person most likely to command the support of the majority in the [[Lok Sabha]] (usually the leader of the majority party or coalition). The president then appoints the other members of the Council of Ministers, distributing portfolios to them on the advice of the prime minister.<ref name="Kumar">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=an78gq3JwzYC|title=Universal's Guide to the Constitution of India|last=Kumar|first=Rajesh|publisher=Universal Law Publishing|year=2011|isbn=978-93-5035-011-9|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610013332/https://books.google.com/books?id=an78gq3JwzYC|archive-date=10 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|72}} The Council of Ministers remains in power at the 'pleasure' of the president.

The president appoints 12 members of the [[Rajya Sabha]] from amongst persons who have special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as literature, science, art and social service. The president may nominate not more than two members of [[Anglo Indian]] community as [[Lok Sabha]] members per [[s:Constitution of India/Part XVI|Article 331]], which was removed in 2019.

[[Governors of states of India|Governors]] of [[States and territories of India|states]] are also appointed by the president who shall work at the pleasure of the president. Per [[s:Constitution of India/Part VI|Article 156]], the president is empowered to dismiss a governor who has violated the constitution in their acts.

The president is responsible for making a wide variety of appointments. These include:<ref name=Kumar />{{rp|72}}
* The [[Chief Justice of India]] and other judges of the [[Supreme Court of India]] and state/union territory [[List of high courts in India|high courts]].
* The [[List of Chief Ministers of Delhi|Chief Minister of the National Capital Territory of Delhi]] (Article 239 AA 5 of the constitution).
* The [[Comptroller and Auditor General of India|Comptroller and Auditor General Of India]].
* The [[Chief Election Commissioner of India|Chief Election Commissioner]] and other [[Election Commissioner of India|Election Commissioners]].
* The chairman and other members of the [[Union Public Service Commission]].
* The [[Attorney General of India|Attorney General Of India]].
*[[Ambassador]]s and [[High Commissioner]]s to other countries (only through the list of names given by the prime minister).<ref name="Darpan2007">{{cite book|author=Pratiyogita Darpan|date=March 2007|title=Pratiyogita Darpan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5ugDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT60|url-status=live|publisher=Pratiyogita Darpan|issue=9|page=60|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508131527/http://books.google.com/books?id=5ugDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT60|archive-date=8 May 2013|access-date=10 May 2012}}</ref><ref name="BakshiM2010">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rA39_9XtbBkC|title=The Constitution of India|last=Bakshi|first=P. M.|publisher=Universal Law Publishing Company|year=2010|isbn=978-81-7534-840-0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503184958/https://books.google.com/books?id=rA39_9XtbBkC|archive-date=3 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|48}}
* Officers of the [[All India Services]] ([[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]], [[Indian Police Service|IPS]] and [[Indian Forest Service|IFoS]]), and other [[Central Civil Services]] in Group 'A'.

=== Financial powers ===
* A financial bill can be introduced in the parliament only with the president's recommendation.
* The president lays the Annual Financial Statement, i.e. the Union budget, before the parliament.
* The president can take advances out of the Contingency Fund of India to meet unforeseen expenses.
* The president constitutes a [[Finance Commission]] every five years to recommend the distribution of the taxes between the centre and the States. The [[Fifteenth Finance Commission|most recent]] was constituted in 2017.<ref name="Parliamentary System in India">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gcoemzvt97AC&pg=PA25|title=Parliamentary System in India|last=Deogaonkar|first=S.G.|publisher=Concept Publishing|year=1997|isbn=978-81-7022-651-2|page=25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516185543/https://books.google.com/books?id=gcoemzvt97AC&pg=PA25|archive-date=16 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/nk-singh-appointed-chairman-of-15th-finance-commission/article9974029.ece|title=NK Singh appointed Chairman of 15th Finance Commission|date=27 November 2017|newspaper=[[The Hindu]] Business Line|publication-place=[[New Delhi]]|access-date=15 January 2018|archive-date=16 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416234212/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/nk-singh-appointed-chairman-of-15th-finance-commission/article9974029.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/rWfJyCZBIkttQMKHXoZBHO/NK-Singh-appointed-chairman-of-15th-Finance-Commission.html|title=N.K. Singh appointed chairman of 15th Finance Commission|date=27 November 2017|website=Livemint|publisher=[[HT Media Ltd]]|publication-place=[[New Delhi]]|access-date=15 January 2018|archive-date=19 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219092950/http://www.livemint.com/Politics/rWfJyCZBIkttQMKHXoZBHO/NK-Singh-appointed-chairman-of-15th-Finance-Commission.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Diplomatic powers ===
All international treaties and agreements are negotiated and concluded on behalf of the president.<ref name="Laxmikanth2010">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EAunh90l44IC|title=Indian Polity for Civil Services Examinations|last=Laxmikanth|first=M|publisher=Tata McGraw-Hill Education|year=2010|isbn=978-0-07-015316-5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424071355/https://books.google.com/books?id=EAunh90l44IC|archive-date=24 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|18}} However, in practice, such negotiations are usually carried out by the prime minister along with their Cabinet (especially the [[Minister of External Affairs (India)|Minister of External Affairs]]). Also, such treaties are subject to the approval of the parliament. The president represents India in international forums and affairs where such a function is chiefly ceremonial. The president may also send and receive diplomats, i.e. the officers from the [[Indian Foreign Service]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Power and functions of President – Advocatespedia|url=https://advocatespedia.com/Power_and_functions_of_President|access-date=22 November 2020|website=advocatespedia.com|archive-date=19 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519162803/https://advocatespedia.com/Power_and_functions_of_President|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{rp|143}} The president is the first citizen of the country.<ref name="Darpan2007" />

=== Military powers ===
The president is the supreme commander of the [[Indian Armed Forces]]. Only the president can declare war or conclude peace,<ref name="Darpan2007" /> on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers headed by the prime minister. All important treaties and contracts are made in the president's name.<ref name="Pearson">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UbdgaWR_xsUC&pg=SA12-PA6|title=The Pearson Guide To Bank Probationary Officer Recruitment Examinations|last=Thorpe|first=Vandana|publisher=Pearson Education India|year=2008|isbn=978-81-317-1568-0|page=12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425161321/https://books.google.com/books?id=UbdgaWR_xsUC&pg=SA12-PA6|archive-date=25 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Pardoning powers ===
{{See also|Presidential pardon}}

As mentioned in [[s:Constitution of India/Part V#Article 72 %7BPower of President to grant pardons, etc., and to suspend, remit or commute sentences in certain cases%7D|Article 72]] of the [[Constitution of India|Indian constitution]], the president is empowered with the powers to grant [[Presidential pardon|pardons]] in the following situations:<ref name="Darpan2007" />
* punishment for an offence against Union law
* punishment by a [[Military justice|military court]]
* a [[Capital punishment|death sentence]]<ref name="Pearson" />

The decisions involving pardoning and other rights by the president are independent of the opinion of the prime minister or the Lok Sabha majority. In most cases, however, the president exercises their executive powers on the advice of the prime minister and the [[Cabinet of India|cabinet]].<ref name=Kumar />{{rp|239}}<ref name="BarringtonBosia2009">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3uuAtazupnAC&pg=PA267|title=Comparative Politics: Structures and Choices|last1=Barrington|first1=Lowell W.|last2=Bosia|first2=Michael J.|last3=Bruhn|first3=Kathleen|publisher=Cengage Learning|year=2009|isbn=978-0-618-49319-7|page=267|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428043831/https://books.google.com/books?id=3uuAtazupnAC&pg=PA267|archive-date=28 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Emergency powers ===
The president can declare three types of emergencies: national, state and financial, under articles 352, 356 & 360 in addition to promulgating ordinances under article 123.<ref name="Laxmikanth2010" />{{rp|12}}

==== National emergency ====
{{See also|The Emergency (India)}}
A national emergency can be declared in the whole of India or a part of its territory for causes of war or armed rebellion or an external aggression. Such an emergency was declared in India in 1962 ([[Sino-Indian War|Indo-China war]]), 1971 ([[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|Indo-Pakistan war]]),<ref name="Omar2002">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o6-wZP7Tz8YC&pg=PA129|title=Emergency Powers and the Courts in India and Pakistan|last=Omar|first=Imtiaz|publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers|year=2002|isbn=978-90-411-1775-5|page=129|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603104218/https://books.google.com/books?id=o6-wZP7Tz8YC&pg=PA129|archive-date=3 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> and 1975 to 1977 (declared by [[Indira Gandhi]]).<sup>[[The Emergency (India)|[see main]]]</sup>

Under [[s:Constitution of India/Part XVIII|Article 352]] of the India constitution, the president can declare such an emergency only on the basis of a written request by the cabinet of ministers headed by the [[Prime Minister of India|prime minister]]. Such a proclamation must be approved by the parliament with at least a two-thirds majority within one month. Such an emergency can be imposed for six months. It can be extended by six months by repeated parliamentary approval-there is no maximum duration.<ref name="Laxmikanth2010" />{{page needed|date=May 2013}}

In such an emergency, [[Fundamental Rights in India|Fundamental Rights of Indian citizens]] can be suspended.<ref name="SharmaB.k.2007" />{{rp|33}} The six freedoms under [[Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties of India#Right to Freedom|Right to Freedom]] are automatically suspended. However, the Right to Life and Personal Liberty cannot be suspended ([[s:Constitution of India/Part III#Article 21 %7BProtection of life and personal liberty%7D|Article 21]]).<ref name="Arora">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z8Flb0gZ3ZkC&pg=SA20-PA6|title=Political Science for Civil Services Main Examination|last=Arora|first=N.D.|publisher=Tata McGraw-Hill Education|year=2010|isbn=978-0-07-009094-1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513055041/https://books.google.com/books?id=z8Flb0gZ3ZkC&pg=SA20-PA6|archive-date=13 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|20.6}}

The president can make laws on the 66 subjects of the State List (which contains subjects on which the state governments can make laws).<ref name="History & Civics">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GDmuSf3ZWtIC&pg=PA14|title=History & Civics|publisher=Rachna Sagar|isbn=978-81-8137-037-2|page=14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509151214/https://books.google.com/books?id=GDmuSf3ZWtIC&pg=PA14|archive-date=9 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Also, all money bills are referred to the president for approval.<ref name="bright pub">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZCIFvcCxua0C|title=The Constitution of India: For all Academic and Competitive Examinations|publisher=Bright Publications|isbn=978-81-7199-054-2|page=48|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729031538/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZCIFvcCxua0C|archive-date=29 July 2016|url-status=live}}{{year needed|date=May 2013}}</ref>{{rp|88}} The term of the [[Lok Sabha]] can be extended by a period of up to one year, but not so as to extend the term of parliament beyond six months after the end of the declared emergency.<ref name=Kumar />{{rp|223}}

National Emergency has been proclaimed 3 times in India to date. It was declared first in 1962 by President [[Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan]], during the [[Sino-Indian War]]. This emergency lasted through the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]] and up to 1968. It was revoked in 1968. The second emergency in India was proclaimed in 1971 by President [[V. V. Giri]] on the eve of the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]. The first two emergencies were in the face of external aggression and war. They were hence external emergencies. Even as the second emergency was in progress, another [[The Emergency (India)|internal emergency]] was proclaimed by President [[Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed]], with [[Indira Gandhi]] as prime minister in 1975. In 1977, the second and the third emergencies were together revoked.

==== State emergency ====
{{See also|Federalism in India}}
If the president is not fully satisfied, on the basis of the report of the governor of the concerned state or from other sources, that the governance in a state cannot be carried out according to the provisions in the constitution, they can proclaim under Article 356 a state of emergency in the state.<ref name="const" /> Such an emergency must be approved by the [[Parliament of India|parliament]] within a period of 2 months.

Under [[s:Constitution of India/Part XVIII|Article 356]] of the [[Constitution of India|Indian constitution]], it can be imposed from six months to a maximum period of three years with repeated parliamentary approval every six months. If the emergency needs to be extended for more than three years, this can be achieved by a [[Constitution of India|constitutional amendment]], as has happened in [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] and [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]].

During such an emergency, the president can take over the entire work of the executive, and the governor administers the state in the name of the president. The Legislative Assembly can be dissolved or may remain in suspended animation. The parliament makes laws on the 66 subjects of the state list<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5jwLBRuWHnkC&pg=SL3-PA27|title=New ICSE History and Civics|publisher=Frank Brothers|isbn=978-81-8409-587-6|page=3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505140727/https://books.google.com/books?id=5jwLBRuWHnkC&pg=SL3-PA27|archive-date=5 May 2016|url-status=live}}{{year needed|date=May 2013}}</ref> (see [[National Emergency in India|National emergency]] for explanation).

A State Emergency can be imposed via the following:
# By Article 356{{spaced ndash}}If that state failed to run constitutionally, i.e. constitutional machinery has failed. When a state emergency is imposed under this provision, the state is said to be under "[[President's rule]].<ref name="HardgraveKochanek2008">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pSyRgcSQhuIC|title=India: Government and Politics in a Developing Nation|last1=Hardgrave|first1=Robert L.|last2=Kochanek|first2=Stanley A.|publisher=Cengage Learning|year=2008|isbn=978-0-495-00749-4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519181457/https://books.google.com/books?id=pSyRgcSQhuIC|archive-date=19 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|159}}
# By Article 365{{spaced ndash}}If that state is not working according to the direction of the Union government issued per the provisions of the constitution.<ref name="Sarkar">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DAroH5ZqPgsC&pg=PA17|title=Constitutional Crisis in the States in India|last=Srivastava|first=Meera|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|year=1980|page=17|id=GGKEY:0BS5QYU7XF2|access-date=31 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508123539/http://books.google.com/books?id=DAroH5ZqPgsC&pg=PA17|archive-date=8 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

This type of emergency needs the approval of the parliament within 2 months. It can last up to a maximum of three years via extensions after each 6-month period. However, after one year it can be extended only if

# A state of National Emergency has been declared in the country or the particular state.
# The Election Commission finds it difficult to organise an election in that state.

The [[Sarkaria Commission]] held that presidents have unconstitutionally misused the provision of Article 356 many times for achieving political motives, by dismissing the state governments although there was no constitutional break down in the states.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lawmin.nic.in/ncrwc/finalreport/v2b2-5.htm|title=National Commission to Review the Working of the Article 356 of the constitution|year=2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509030437/http://lawmin.nic.in/ncrwc/finalreport/v2b2-5.htm|archive-date=9 May 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=29 July 2015}}</ref> During 2005, President's rule was imposed in [[Bihar]] state, misusing Article 356 unconstitutionally to prevent the democratically elected state legislators to form a government after the state elections.

There is no provision in the constitution to re-promulgate president's rule in a state when the earlier promulgation ceased to operate for want of parliaments approval within two months duration. During 2014 in Andhra Pradesh, president's rule was first imposed on 1 March 2014 and it ceased to operate on 30 April 2014. President's rule was promulgated after being fully aware that the earliest parliament session is feasible at the end of May 2014 after the general elections. It was reimposed again unconstitutionally on 28 April 2014 by the president.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2014/159233.pdf|title=Re-proclamation of President rule in Andhra Pradesh|year=2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924041027/http://www.egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2014/159233.pdf|archive-date=24 September 2014|url-status=live|access-date=17 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Andhra-Pradesh-mired-in-President-rule-imbroglio/articleshow/33933171.cms|title=Andhra Pradesh mired in President rule imbroglio|work=The Times of India|access-date=21 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706013450/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Andhra-Pradesh-mired-in-President-rule-imbroglio/articleshow/33933171.cms|archive-date=6 July 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Financial emergency ====
Article 282 accords financial autonomy in spending the financial resources available with the states for public purposes.<ref name="const" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiankanoon.org/doc/976795/|title=Supreme Court Judgement: Bhim Singh vs U.O.I & Ors on 6 May, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322134716/http://indiankanoon.org/doc/976795/|archive-date=22 March 2012|url-status=live|access-date=21 March 2012}}</ref> [[s:Constitution of India/Part XII|Article 293]] gives liberty to states to borrow without any limit to its ability for its requirements within the territory of India without any consent from the Union government. However, the Union government can insist on compliance with its loan terms when a state has an outstanding loan charged to the consolidated fund of India or an outstanding loan in respect of which a guarantee has been given by the Government of India under the liability of consolidated fund of India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fincomindia.nic.in/writereaddata%5Chtml_en_files%5Cfincom14/others/42.pdf|title=Article 293 and its application|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518160231/http://fincomindia.nic.in/writereaddata/html_en_files/fincom14/others/42.pdf|archive-date=18 May 2016|url-status=live|access-date=21 March 2016}}</ref>

Under article 360 of the constitution, the president can proclaim a financial emergency when the financial stability or credit of the nation or any part of its territory is threatened.<ref name="const" /> However, until now no guidelines defining the situation of financial emergency in the entire country or a state or union territory or a panchayat or a municipality or a corporation have been framed either by the [[Finance Commission of India|finance commission]] or by the central government.

Such an emergency must be approved by the parliament within two months by a simple majority. It has never been declared.<ref name="sharma kanhaiya">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=14U2EOCvQHoC&pg=PA321|title=Reconstitution of Constitution of India|last=Sharma|first=Kanhaiyalal|publisher=Deep and Deep Publications|year=2002|isbn=81-7629-405-5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519122048/https://books.google.com/books?id=14U2EOCvQHoC&pg=PA321&dq=Finance+emergency+in+India&hl=en&sa=X&ei=rgmiUaONC8eXiQKSuoD4Bw&ved=0CEwQ6AEwBg|archive-date=19 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|604}} A state of financial emergency remains in force indefinitely until revoked by the president.<ref name=Kumar />{{rp|195}}

The president can reduce the salaries of all government officials, including judges of the [[Supreme Court of India|supreme court]] and [[List of high courts in India|high courts]], in cases of a financial emergency. All money bills passed by state legislatures are submitted to the president for approval. They can direct the state to observe certain principles (economy measures) relating to financial matters.<ref name="general studies Indian polity">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lYMuFKCCLDEC&pg=PA106|title=general studies Indian polity|publisher=Upkar Prakashan|page=106|access-date=12 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508123832/http://books.google.com/books?id=lYMuFKCCLDEC&pg=PA106|archive-date=8 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Selection process ==

=== Eligibility ===
[[s:Constitution of India/Part V#Article 58 %7BQualifications for election as President%7D|Article 58]] of the [[Constitution of India|constitution]] sets the principal qualifications one must meet to be eligible to the office of the president. A president must be:
* a [[Indian nationality law|citizen of India]]
* of 35 years of age or above
* qualified to become a member of the [[Lok Sabha]]

A person shall not be eligible for election as president if they hold any [[office of profit]] under the Government of India or the Government of any State or any local or other authority subject to the control of any of the said Governments.

Certain office-holders, however, are permitted to stand as presidential candidates. These are:
* The current [[Vice President of India|vice president]]
* The governor of any state
* A Minister of the Union or of any state (including [[Prime Minister of India|prime minister]] and [[Chief Minister (India)|chief ministers]])<ref name=Kumar />{{rp|72}}

In the event that the vice president, a state governor or a minister is elected president, they are considered to have vacated their previous office on the date they begin serving as president.

A member of parliament or a state legislature can seek election to the office of the president but if they are elected as president, they shall be deemed to have vacated their seat in parliament or a state legislature on the date on which they enter upon their office as president '''[Article 59(1)]'''.

'''Article 57''' provides that a person who holds, or who has held, office as president shall, subject to the other provisions of this constitution, be eligible for re-election to that office.

Under the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952,<ref name="The Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952">{{cite web|url=http://lawmin.nic.in/presandvicepreselection/Presidential%20and%20Vice-Presidential%20Elections%20Act,%201952.pdf|title=The Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952|publisher=lawmin.nic.in|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128114639/http://lawmin.nic.in/presandvicepreselection/Presidential%20and%20Vice-Presidential%20Elections%20Act,%201952.pdf|archive-date=28 January 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=3 September 2013}}</ref> a candidate to be nominated for the office of president needs 50 electors as proposers and 50 electors as seconders for their name to appear on the [[ballot]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lawmin.nic.in/ld/subord/president.htm|title=The President and Vice-President Election rules, 1974|publisher=Ministry of Law & Justice, Government of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102004513/http://lawmin.nic.in/ld/subord/president.htm|archive-date=2 November 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=31 May 2012}}</ref>

== Time of election ==
Article 56(1) of the constitution provides that the president shall hold office for a term of five years, from the date on which they enter their office. According to Article 62, an election to fill a vacancy caused by the expiration of the term of office of President shall be completed before the expiration of the term. An election to fill a vacancy in the office of President occurring by reason of their death, resignation or removal, or otherwise shall be held as soon as possible after, and in no case later than six months from, the date of occurrence of the vacancy; and the person elected to fill the vacancy shall, subject to the provisions of Article 56, be entitled to hold office for the full term of five years from the date on which they enter their office.

To meet the contingency of an election to the office of President not being completed in time due to unforeseen circumstances like countermanding of an election due to death of a candidate or on account of the postponement of the poll for any valid reason, Article 56(1)(c) provides that the president shall, notwithstanding the expiration of their term, continue to hold office until their successor enters into office.

=== Conditions for the presidency ===
{{Main|Electoral College (India)}}

Certain conditions, per [[s:Constitution of India/Part V#Article 59 %7BConditions of President's office%7D|Article 59]] of the Indian constitution, debar an otherwise eligible citizen from contesting the presidential elections. The conditions are:
* The president shall not be a member of either house of the parliament or a house of the legislature of any state, and if a member of either house of the parliament or a house of the legislature of any state is elected president, they shall be deemed to have vacated their seat in that house on the date on which they enter into office as president.
* The president shall not hold any other office of profit.
* The president shall be entitled without payment of rent to the use of their official residences and shall be also entitled to such emoluments, allowances and privileges as may be determined by parliament by law and until provision in that behalf is so made, such emoluments, allowances and privileges as are specified in the Second Schedule.
* The emoluments and allowances of the president shall not be diminished during their term of office.<ref name="sharma kanhaiya" />{{rp|170}}

=== Election process ===
Whenever the office becomes vacant, the new president is chosen by an [[Electoral College (India)|electoral college]] consisting of the elected members of both houses of [[Parliament of India|parliament]] ([[Member of Parliament (India)|MPs]]), the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies ([[Vidhan Sabha]]) of all States and the elected members of the legislative assemblies ([[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLAs]]) of union territories with legislatures, i.e., [[Delhi|National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] and [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]. The election process of the president is a more extensive process than of the [[Prime Minister of India|prime minister]] who is also elected indirectly (elected by the members of the majority party (or union) in the [[Lok Sabha]]). Whereas President being the constitutional head with duties to protect, defend and preserve the constitution and [[rule of law]] in a [[constitutional democracy]] with [[Ouster clause|constitutional supremacy]], is elected in an extensive manner by the members of Lok Sabha, [[Rajya Sabha]] and [[Vidhan Sabha|state legislative assemblies]] in a secret ballot procedure.

The nomination of a candidate for election to the office of the president must be subscribed by at least 50 electors as proposers and 50 electors as seconders. Each candidate has to make a security deposit of {{INRConvert|15|k}} in the [[Reserve Bank of India]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/President_VP_Elec2012/Presidential_Elections-FAQ.pdf|title=Election to the president of India|publisher=Election commission of India|page=16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310171823/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/President_VP_Elec2012/Presidential_Elections-FAQ.pdf|archive-date=10 March 2014|url-status=live|access-date=27 May 2013}}</ref> The security deposit is liable to be forfeited in case the candidate fails to secure one-sixth of the votes polled.

The election is held by means of the [[instant-runoff voting]] (IRV) method.<ref>The Constitution of 1950 use the term [[Single transferable vote]], which is now used for a system with multiple-member constituencies. When there is only one of the latter, the system is now called [[Instant-runoff voting]]</ref> The voting takes place by a [[secret ballot]] system. The manner of election of President is provided by [[s:Constitution of India/Part V#Article 55 %7BManner of election of President%7D|Article 55]] of the [[Constitution of India|constitution]].<ref name="LibraryLibrary">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bQLff_T-uFAC&pg=PT167|title=Public Administration|author1=Great Britain. Ministry of Overseas Development. Library|author2=Great Britain. Overseas Development Administration. Library|publisher=Upkar Prakashan|pages=167–|access-date=11 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508121340/http://books.google.com/books?id=bQLff_T-uFAC&pg=PT167|archive-date=8 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Each elector casts a different number of votes. The general principle is that the total number of votes cast by Members of parliament equals the total number of votes cast by State Legislators. Also, legislators from larger states cast more votes than those from smaller states. Finally, the number of legislators in state matters; if a state has few legislators, then each legislator has more votes; if a state has many legislators, then each legislator has fewer votes.

The actual calculation for votes cast by a particular state is calculated by dividing the state's population by 1000, which is divided again by the number of legislators from the State voting in the electoral college. This number is the number of votes per legislator in a given state. Every elected member of the parliament enjoys the same number of votes, which may be obtained by dividing the total number of votes assigned to the members of legislative assemblies by the total number of elected representatives of the parliament.

Although Indian presidential elections involve actual voting by [[Member of Parliament|MPs]] and [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLAs]], they tend to vote for the candidate supported by their respective parties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070012825|title=Balance of power in presidential race|date=22 May 2007|publisher=[[NDTV]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007104210/http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070012825|archive-date=7 October 2007|url-status=dead|access-date=6 May 2012}}</ref>

=== Oath or affirmation ===
The president is required to make and subscribe in the presence of the [[Chief Justice of India|chief justice of India]]—or in their absence, the senior-most judge of the supreme court—an oath or affirmation to protect, preserve and defend the constitution as follows:<ref name="Pratiyogita Darpan 0 google books">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xOgDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT67|title=Pratiyogita Darpan|author=Pratiyogita Darpan|date=October 2007|publisher=Pratiyogita Darpan|page=67|access-date=31 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508135406/http://books.google.com/books?id=xOgDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT67|archive-date=8 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|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.|[[s:Constitution of India/Part V#Article 60 %7BOath or affirmation by the President%7D|Article 60]], Constitution of India}}

== Emoluments ==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1ex 0 1ex 1ex;"

|+ '''Presidential pay'''
! Date updated !! Salary (per month)
|-
| 1 February 2018 || style="text-align:right;" |  {{INRConvert|5|l|lk=on}}
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | Sources:<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/arun-jaitley-budget-speech-2018-president-salary-vice-president-salary/194462|title=President, Vice President, Governors' salaries hiked to Rs 5 lakh, Rs 4 lakh, Rs 3.5 lakh respectively|date=1 February 2018|work=TimesNow|access-date=2 April 2018|archive-date=2 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202190054/http://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/arun-jaitley-budget-speech-2018-president-salary-vice-president-salary/194462|url-status=live}}</ref>
|}
The president of India used to receive {{INRConvert|10|k|-2}} per month per the Second Schedule of the constitution.  This amount was increased to {{INRConvert|50|k|lk=|year=1998|-2}} in 1998. On 11 September 2008, the [[Government of India]] increased the salary of the president to {{INRConvert|1.5|l|lk=on|year=2008}}. This amount was further increased to {{INRConvert|5|l|lk=on|year=2018}} in the [[2018 Union budget of India]]. However, almost everything that the president does or wants to do is taken care of by an annual {{INRConvert|225|m|lk=on|year=2008}} budget that the Government allots for their upkeep.<ref name="ibn 300">{{cite web|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/president-gets-richer-gets-300-pc-salary-hike/73365-3.html?from=rssfeed|title=President gets richer, gets 300 pc salary hike|date=11 September 2008|publisher=CNN-IBN|access-date=9 November 2008|archive-date=17 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917112935/https://www.news18.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi|Rashtrapati Bhavan]], the president's official residence, is the largest [[presidential palace]] in the world.<ref name="RandhawaMukhopadhyay1986">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bQCIZoKDG1kC&pg=PA593|title=Floriculture in India|last1=Randhawa|first1=Gurcharan Singh|last2=Mukhopadhyay|first2=Amitabha|publisher=Allied Publishers|year=1986|isbn=978-81-7023-057-1|page=593|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623221521/https://books.google.com/books?id=bQCIZoKDG1kC&pg=PA593|archive-date=23 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="RandhawaRandhawa1971">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HTFJAAAAMAAJ|title=The Famous gardens of India|last1=Randhawa|first1=Mohindar Singh|last2=Randhawa|first2=Gurcharan Singh|last3=Chadha|first3=K. L.|last4=Singh|first4=Daljit|author5=Horticultural Society of India|publisher=Malhotra Publishing House|year=1971|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428041915/https://books.google.com/books?id=HTFJAAAAMAAJ|archive-date=28 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Rashtrapati Nilayam]] at [[Bolarum]], [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]] and [[The Retreat Building|Retreat Building]] at [[Chharabra]], [[Shimla]] are the official Retreat Residences of the president of India. The [[State Car for President|official state car]] of the president is a custom-built heavily armored [[Mercedes-Benz S-Class|Mercedes Benz S600]] (W221) Pullman Guard.

The former presidents and widows and widowers of presidents are eligible for pension, furnished accommodation, security, various allowances, etc.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Parliament-approves-salary-pension-hike-for-President-Vice-President-governors/articleshow/3841371.cms|title=Parliament approves salary pension hike for President, Vice-President and Governors|website=[[The Times of India]]|date=15 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527173113/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Parliament-approves-salary-pension-hike-for-President-Vice-President-governors/articleshow/3841371.cms|archive-date=27 May 2015|url-status=live|access-date=26 May 2015}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" style="text-align: center;" heights="100" perrow="3" caption="Presidential amenities">
File:PresidentPalaceDelhi.jpg|[[Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi|Rashtrapati Bhavan]], the official residence of the president, located in New Delhi
File:Rashtrapati Nilayam.jpg|[[Rashtrapati Nilayam]] is the official retreat of the president located in [[Hyderabad]].
File:Retreat Building.jpg|[[The Retreat Building]] is the official summer retreat of the president located in [[Shimla]].
File:Honour guard, India 20060302-9 d-0108-2-515h.jpg|The [[President's Bodyguard (India)|President's Bodyguards]] is an elite household cavalry regiment of the [[Indian Army]].
File:IAF Mi 8 for VIP Transport at Aero India 2013.JPG|A helicopter of IAF's special VIP fleet meant for carrying the President of India
File:Air India One Chennai.png|VIP [[Boeing 777|B777]] with call sign [[Air India One]] (INDIA 1) is used for international travels by the President.
File:Air India One 737.jpg|[[Indian Air Force]]'s [[Boeing 777X|BBJ 737]] with call sign [[Air India One]] (INDIA 1) is used for domestic travels by the President.
</gallery>

== Impeachment ==
The Supreme Court shall inquire and decide regarding all ''doubts'' and ''disputes'' arising out of or in connection with the election of a president per [[s:Constitution of India/Part V|Article 71(1)]] of the constitution. The Supreme Court can remove the president for the electoral malpractices or upon being not eligible to be a member of the [[Lok Sabha]] under the [[Representation of the People Act, 1951]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lawmin.nic.in/legislative/election/volume%201/representation%20of%20the%20people%20act,%201951.pdf|title=Sections 7 & 8k, The representation of the people act,1951|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501024716/http://lawmin.nic.in/legislative/election/volume%201/representation%20of%20the%20people%20act,%201951.pdf|archive-date=1 May 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=2 July 2015}}</ref> Subject to Article 71 (3), parliament made applicable rules/procedure to petition the supreme court for resolving the ''disputes'' only that arise during the election process of the president but not the ''doubts'' that arise from their unconstitutional actions/deeds or changing Indian citizenship during the tenure of the president which may violate the requisite election qualifications.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/102305/|title=Sections 13 to 20, The Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202021935/http://indiankanoon.org/doc/102305/|archive-date=2 February 2016|url-status=live|access-date=2 July 2016}}</ref>

The president may also be removed before the expiry of the term through [[impeachment]] for violating the [[Constitution of India]] by the [[Parliament]] of India. The process may start in either of the two houses of the [[Parliament of India|parliament]]. The house initiates the process by levelling the charges against the president. The charges are contained in a notice that has to be signed by at least one-quarter of the total members of that house. The notice is sent up to the president and 14 days later, it is taken up for consideration.

A resolution to impeach the president has to be passed by a two-thirds majority of the total number of members of the originating house. It is then sent to the other house. The other house investigates the charges that have been made. During this process, the president has the right to defend himself through an authorised [[counsel]]. If the second house also approves the charges made by the special majority again, the president stands impeached and is deemed to have vacated their office from the date when such a resolution stands passed. No president has faced impeachment proceedings so the above provisions have never been used.<ref name="Bhardwaj">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SBC05B0NnYIC&pg=SL1-PA238|title=Study Package For CLAT and LL.B Entrance Examinations|last=Bhardwaj|first=A.P.|publisher=McGraw-Hill Education (India)|isbn=978-0-07-107468-1|pages=238–239|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603232129/https://books.google.com/books?id=SBC05B0NnYIC&pg=SL1-PA238|archive-date=3 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

Under [[s:Constitution of India/Part XIX|Article 361]] of the constitution, though the president cannot be summoned for questioning except on their voluntary willingness to testify in the court in support of their controversial deeds, the unconstitutional decisions taken by the president would be declared invalid by the courts. The case would be decided by the courts based on the facts furnished by the Union government for the president's role. As clarified by the supreme court in the case ''Rameshwar Prasad & Others vs Union of India & An Other'' on 24 January 2006; though the president cannot be prosecuted and imprisoned during their term of office, they can be prosecuted after he/she steps down from the post for any guilt committed during the term of the presidency as declared earlier by the courts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1885130/|title=Rameshwar Prasad And Ors vs Union Of India And Anr on 24 January, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101016074238/http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1885130/|archive-date=16 October 2010|url-status=live|access-date=2 July 2015}}</ref> No president has resigned on impropriety to continue in office for declaring and nullifying their unconstitutional decisions by the courts till now. No criminal case at least on the grounds of [[Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971|disrespecting constitution]] is lodged till now against former presidents to punish them for their unconstitutional acts; though many decisions taken during the term of a president have been declared by the supreme court as unconstitutional, ''[[mala fides]]'', void, ''[[ultra vires]]'', etc.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://home.bih.nic.in/Acts_Rule/Prevention_Insults_National_Honour_Act1971.pdf|title=The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act of 1971|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912020948/http://home.bih.nic.in/Acts_Rule/Prevention_Insults_National_Honour_Act1971.pdf|archive-date=12 September 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=2 July 2015}}</ref>

{{Presidential orders of succession}}

== Succession ==
The Office of the president falls vacant in the following scenarios:
# On the expiry of their term.
# By reason of death.
# By reason of [[resignation]].
# Removal by [[impeachment]].
[[s:Constitution of India/Part V#Article 65 %7BThe Vice-President to act as President or to discharge his functions during casual vacancies in the office, or during the absence, of President%7D|Article 65]] of the [[Constitution of India|Indian constitution]] says that the [[Vice-President of India|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.<ref name="Arora" />{{rp|20.10}} 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.

A vice president who acts as or discharges the functions of the president has all the powers and immunities of the president and is entitled to the same emoluments as the president. When a vice president discharges the duties of the president, he/she does not function as the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.

The [[Parliament of India|Indian parliament]] has enacted the law—''The President (Discharge of Functions) Act, 1969'' —<ref>{{cite web|url=http://164.100.47.5/pres2012/4000rs.pdf|title=Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704004059/http://164.100.47.5/pres2012/4000rs.pdf|archive-date=4 July 2012|access-date=11 June 2013}}</ref> for the discharge of the functions of the president when vacancies occur in the offices of the president and the vice president simultaneously, owing to removal, death, resignation of the incumbent or otherwise. In such an eventuality, the [[Chief Justice of India|chief justice]]—or in their absence, the senior-most judge of the [[Supreme Court of India]] available—discharges the functions of the president until a newly elected president enters upon their office or a newly elected vice president begins to act as president under Article 65 of the constitution, whichever is the earlier.<ref name="BakshiM2010" />{{rp|96}} For example, in 1969, when President [[Zakir Husain (politician)|Zakir Husain]] died in office, Vice-President [[V. V. Giri]] served as the acting president of India. However, later, V.V Giri resigned from both posts (Acting President of India and Vice-President of India) as he became a candidate in the 1969 presidential election in India. In this event, the then chief justice of India, Justice [[Mohammad Hidayatullah]] served as the acting president of India until the next president was elected.

== President vs Chief Justice ==

{| class="wikitable"
|+ President versus Chief Justice of India
|-
! President !! [[Chief Justice of India]] / judiciary
|-
| The duties of President under their oath is to protect, defend and preserve the constitution and the law || Similar to president to uphold the constitution and the laws (Third Schedule of the constitution)<ref name="const" />
|-
| The oath is taken in the presence of the chief justice ||The oath is taken in the presence of the president
|-
| Impeachment by parliament with a majority of not less than two-thirds of the total membership of each house of the parliament for violation of the constitution as per [[s:Constitution of India/Part V|Article 61]]. || Removal from office by each house of the parliament supported by a majority of the total membership of that house and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of that house present and voting on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity as per [[s:Constitution of India/Part V|Article 124(4)]]
|-
| President cannot directly be removed by the supreme court. However, the supreme court can declare the election of the president to be void and consequently remove the president from the post per [[s:Constitution of India/Part V|Article 71(1)]] for committing electoral malpractices and upon ceasing to possess the requisite qualifications to be president.|| President cannot remove judges once appointed by him without impeachment process per Article 124.
|-
| An individual heads the autonomous institution of President. || Judiciary/supreme court is also an autonomous institution represented by a team of supreme court judges with chief justice as its chief.
|-
| President being head of parliament, Executive and supreme commander of the armed forces, is fully empowered by the constitution to fulfil their judicial responsibility. They can also take the expert advice of the Attorney General and also chief justice in performing their judicial role. It is President's duty to ensure that every state's governance is carried on in accordance with the provisions of the constitution under Articles 355 and 356. || Chief justice/[[Supreme Court of India|supreme court]] is also empowered by the constitution to repeal the unconstitutional activities of parliament and executive only after a fair trial.
|-
| President's prime duty is to prevent unconstitutional decisions of union and state governments and parliament or state assemblies by denying their compulsory assent for making them into applicable laws. They are the foremost defender of the constitution who can pre-empt the unconstitutional activities of executive and legislatures. The other duties of President are just ceremonial as head of the country which are attached to him for being protector, defender and preserver of the constitution. The institution of President becomes redundant if the president is confined to other ceremonial duties only. || Can intervene or nullify the unlawful actions of union/state governments and unconstitutional laws enacted by the parliament or a state legislative after presidential assent only.
|-
| President has constitutional immunity for their unconstitutional, ''[[mala fides]]'' activities during their tenure but is liable for judicial action/punishment for their unconstitutional activity after the term of their presidency. However, per Article 361 (1), President is answerable to a court designated by either house of the parliament with a two-thirds majority for the investigation of a charge against him under article 61. || Chief justice/judges of the supreme court are also immune from punishment for not delivering correct judgements or for their incompetence and mala fides. However, Judges' verdict can be repealed by a higher level bench of other judges.
|-
| President cannot be recalled by the people of India for not fulfilling their constitutional duties in case parliament is not impeaching the president or removed by the supreme court. || Chief justice/judges of the supreme court also cannot be recalled by the people of India in case parliament is not impeaching the judges.
|}

== President vs Prime minister ==

{| class="wikitable"
|+President of India versus Prime Minister of India
|-
! President !! [[Prime Minister of India|Prime minister]] / Union cabinet
|-
| The duties of President under their oath is to protect, defend and preserve the constitution and the law || Swears allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, swears to uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India and swears to do right to all manner of people without fear or favour, affection or ill-will (Third Schedule of the constitution)<ref name="const" />
|-
| The oath is taken in the presence of the chief justice ||The oath is taken in the presence of the president
|-
|Elected in an extensive manner indirectly by the members of Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and state legislative assemblies in a secret ballot conducted by the [[Election Commission of India|Election Commission]] || Elected on the basis of majority of their political party or coalition in the [[Lok Sabha]], through direct elections.
|-
| Impeachment by parliament with a majority of not less than two-thirds of the total membership of each house of the parliament for violation of the constitution as per [[s:Constitution of India/Part V|Article 61]]|| Steps down upon losing majority support in Lok Sabha.
|-
| President can be removed by the supreme court per [[s:Constitution of India/Part V|Article 71(1)]] for committing electoral malpractices and upon ceasing to possess the requisite qualifications to be president|| Similar to the prime minister and ministers also.
|-
| An individual heads the autonomous institution of President  || Union cabinet with Prime minister as its chief is collectively responsible.
|-
| President being head of parliament, Executive and supreme commander of the armed forces, is fully empowered by the constitution to fulfil their judicial responsibility. They can also take the expert advice of the Attorney General and also chief justice in performing their judicial role. It is the President's duty to ensure that every state's governance is carried on in accordance with the provisions of the constitution under Articles 355 and 356 || Rest of the governance of the union and reporting to the president on all important matters. Being the leader of the majority/ ruling party in the parliament, the union cabinet takes lead in lawmaking by the parliament needed for policy finalisation on various aspects, annual budgets finalisation, planning and implementation, etc.
|-
| President's prime function is to prevent unconstitutional decisions of union and state governments and parliament or state assemblies by denying their compulsory assent/government orders (GO) for making them into applicable laws. They are the foremost defender of the constitution who can pre-empt the unconstitutional activities of executive and legislatures. ||Prime minister/Union cabinet shall aid and advise the president who shall, in the exercise of their functions, act in accordance with such advice as long as not unconstitutional. The prime minister shall communicate to the president all decisions of the Council of Ministers relating to the administration of the affairs of the Union and proposals for legislation and on President's desire submit related information. No minister shall decide on any matter without the council of ministers/ union cabinet approval per [[s:Constitution of India/Part V|Article 78]].
|-
| President has constitutional immunity for their unconstitutional, [[mala fides]] activities during their tenure but liable for judicial action/punishment for their unconstitutional activity after the term of presidency || The union cabinet has constitutional immunity from legal proceedings in any court for their mala fide and unconstitutional advice tendered by union ministers to the president per [[s:Constitution of India/Part V|Article 74 (2)]].
|-
| President cannot escape from their constitutional duty by citing constitutional amendment to Article 74 (para 2 of 1) which makes him abide by the Union cabinet's advice after sending for reconsideration. As clarified by the supreme court, the object of Article 74 (2) is only to make the question whether the president had followed the advice of the union cabinet or acted contrary thereto, non-justiciable. Refer page [[Article 74 (Constitution of India)#Court Cases|Article 74#Court cases]] for more clarity|| The union cabinet may escape from the punishment or responsibility for implementing unconstitutional laws citing Article 74 (2).
|-
| President cannot be recalled by the people of India for not fulfilling their constitutional duties in case parliament is not impeaching the president or removed by the supreme court or resigns on their own on moral grounds|| Prime minister/ union cabinet cannot be recalled by the people of India till the end of their term in case they lose majority support in Lok Sabha or resigns on their own on moral grounds.
|}

== Important presidential interventions in the past ==
The president's role as defender of the constitution and the powers as Head of State, especially in relation to those exercised by the prime minister as leader of the government, have changed over time. In particular, Presidents have made a number of interventions into government and lawmaking, which have established and challenged some conventions concerning presidential intervention.

=== Proving majority in the parliament ===
{{Main|Vote of confidence}}

In 1979, Prime Minister [[Charan Singh]] did not enjoy a parliamentary majority. He responded to this by simply not advising the president to summon parliament.<ref name="Darpan2007" /> Since then, presidents have been more diligent in directing incoming Prime Ministers to convene parliament and prove their majority within reasonable deadlines (2 to 3 weeks). In the interim period, the Prime Ministers are generally restrained from making policy decisions.

=== Proof of Majority to form a Government ===
Since the 1990s, Parliamentary elections have generally not resulted in a single party or group of parties having a distinct majority, until the 2014 Lok Sabha elections when BJP received a clear majority. In such cases, presidents have used their discretion and directed prime ministerial aspirants to establish their credentials before being invited to form the government. Typically, the aspirants have been asked to produce letters from various party leaders, with the signatures of all the MPs who are pledging support to their candidature. This is in addition to the requirement that a prime minister proves he has the support of the [[Lok Sabha]] (by a vote on the floor of the house) within weeks of being sworn into office.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/10/stories/2005111003281400.htm|title=K.R. Narayanan – President who defied stereotype|last=Subrahmaniam|first=Vidya|date=10 November 2005|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=15 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722044512/http://hindu.com/2005/11/10/stories/2005111003281400.htm|archive-date=22 July 2012|url-status=dead|location=Chennai, India}}</ref><ref name="Manmohan PM">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/05/20/stories/2004052007550100.htm|title=President appoints Manmohan Prime Minister|date=20 May 2004|access-date=15 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603070838/http://www.hindu.com/2004/05/20/stories/2004052007550100.htm|archive-date=3 June 2012|url-status=dead|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India}}</ref>

=== Vetoing of a Bill ===
{{See also|Pocket veto|Zail Singh}}

Since the Indian constitution does not provide any time limit within which the president is to declare their assent or refusal, the president could exercise a "pocket veto" by not taking any action for an indefinite time. The veto was used in 1986 by President [[Zail Singh]] over the Postal Bill. The president did not give assent to the bill, arguing that its scope was too sweeping and would give the government [[arbitrary power]]s to intercept postal communications indiscriminately.<ref name="Bhardwaj" /><ref name="Presidential Years of Zail Singh">{{cite web|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?202610|title=Presidential Years|last=Sundar Rajan|first=K.T.|date=4 December 1996|work=Outlook|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603054921/http://outlookindia.com/article.aspx?202610|archive-date=3 June 2012|url-status=live|access-date=13 June 2012}}</ref><ref name="Show of Dissent">{{cite web|url=http://archives.digitaltoday.in/indiatoday/20060612/nation5.html|title=Show of Dissent|last=Bhattacharjya|first=Satarupa|date=12 June 2006|work=[[India Today]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130326055411/http://archives.digitaltoday.in/indiatoday/20060612/nation5.html|archive-date=26 March 2013|url-status=dead|access-date=13 June 2012}}</ref>

=== Rashtrapati Bhavan Communiqués ===
In the late 1990s, President [[K. R. Narayanan]] introduced a modicum of transparency and openness in the functioning of the President. This was by means of Rashtrapati Bhavan Communiqués explaining, to the nation, the thinking that led to the various decisions he took while exercising their discretionary powers.<ref name="ram_int">[http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/nic/narayanankr.pdf Interview] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060203201144/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/nic/narayanankr.pdf|date=3 February 2006}} with K. R. Narayanan on Independence day, 15 August 1998; by [[N. Ram]], editor, [[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]] ["K. R. Narayanan in conversation with N. Ram", ''The Hindu'', 10 November 2005. Retrieved 24 February 2006].</ref>

=== Return of a Bill ===
{{See also|Office of profit}}

The constitution gives the president the power to return a bill unsigned but it circumscribes the power to send it back only once for reconsideration. If the parliament sends back the bill with or without changes, the president is obliged to sign it. In mid-2006, President [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]] sent back a controversial bill regarding the exclusion of certain offices from the scope of 'offices of profit', the holding of which would disqualify a person from being a member of parliament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/kalam-returns-office-of-profit-bill/11851-4.html|title=Kalam returns Office of Profit Bill|date=31 May 2006|publisher=[[CNN-IBN]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620221052/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/kalam-returns-office-of-profit-bill/11851-4.html|archive-date=20 June 2013|url-status=dead|access-date=2 May 2012}}</ref> The combined opposition, the [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|NDA]], hailed the move. The UPA chose to send the bill back to the president without any changes and, after 17 days, Kalam gave his assent on 18 August 2006.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/features/dateline-india/signing-office-of-profit-bill-was-toughest-decision-a-p-j-kalam/articleshow/6182455.cms|title=Signing office of profit bill was toughest decision:A P J Kalam|date=18 July 2010|newspaper=The Economic Times|access-date=2 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511055231/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/features/dateline-india/signing-office-of-profit-bill-was-toughest-decision-a-p-j-kalam/articleshow/6182455.cms|archive-date=11 May 2013|url-status=live|agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kalam-erred-on-Office-of-Profit-bill/articleshow/2970756.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511070652/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-04-22/india/27743198_1_assent-comprehensive-criteria-office-of-profit-bill|url-status=live|archive-date=11 May 2013|title=Kalam erred on Office of Profit bill|date=22 April 2008|access-date=2 May 2012|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref>

=== Sacking state governors ===
{{See also|Governors of states of India}}
[[Arunachal Pradesh]] governor [[Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa]], who was earlier appointed by the ruling party at the centre, was sacked by President [[Pranab Mukherjee]] after the Supreme Court struck down his unconstitutional acts.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jyoti-prasad-rajkhowa-removed-as-arunachal-pradesh-governor-report-1457717|title=Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa Sacked|access-date=12 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913155231/http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jyoti-prasad-rajkhowa-removed-as-arunachal-pradesh-governor-report-1457717|archive-date=13 September 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of presidents of India]]
* [[Spouse of the President of India]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://presidentofindia.nic.in/|The President of India (official site)}}
* {{official website|http://www.india.gov.in// |India portal (official site)}}

{{Presidents of India}}
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