President of India – Complete UPSC Notes
! 1. Introduction
• The President is the nominal executive head (Article
52).
• He is the constitutional head of the Union Executive,
similar to the British monarch.
• Real powers lie with the Prime Minister & Council of
Ministers (CoM).
! 2. Election of the President – Articles 54–55
Who elects?
The Electoral College consisting of:
1. Elected members of both Houses of Parliament (Lok
Sabha + Rajya Sabha)
2. Elected members of State Legislative Assemblies
(including Delhi & Puducherry)
✅ Nominated members are excluded.
Value of Vote Calculation:
For an MLA:
For an MP:
Note: The population used is from the 1971 Census, until 2026.
Voting Method:
• Proportional Representation with Single Transferable
Vote (STV).
• Voting is done by Secret Ballot.
! 3. Qualifications – Article 58
To become President, one must:
• Be a citizen of India
• Have completed 35 years of age
• Be qualified to be elected to Lok Sabha
• Not hold an office of profit
✅ Exception: President, Vice President, Governors, and
Ministers are not considered holding office of profit.
! 4. Conditions of Office – Article 59
• Should not be a member of Parliament or State
Legislature.
• Entitled to use of official residence.
• Entitled to salary and allowances as determined by
Parliament.
• Not answerable to any court for actions taken in official
capacity.
! 5. Oath or Affirmation – Article 60
Administered by the Chief Justice of India, or in his absence, the
senior-most judge of the Supreme Court.
! 6. Term, Re-election, and Vacancy – Articles 56–57
• Term: 5 years
• Eligible for re-election any number of times
• Can resign anytime to the Vice President
Vacancy Scenarios:
• Normal expiry
• Resignation
• Impeachment
• Death
• Invalid election
If vacancy occurs, election must be held within 6 months. VP acts
as President until then.
! 7. Impeachment Process – Article 61
Ground: Violation of the Constitution (undefined term)
Process:
• Initiated in either House of Parliament.
• Requires 14 days’ notice.
• Passed by a 2/3rd majority in both Houses separately.
• Quasi-judicial in nature.
Only President can be removed through impeachment, unlike
Governors or PMs.
! 8. Powers and Functions
A. Executive Powers (Art. 53)
• Appoints: PM, Governors, Judges of SC/HC, Election
Commissioners, CAG, AG, UPSC members, etc.
• All executive actions are taken in the President’s name.
B. Legislative Powers
• Summons, prorogues, dissolves Parliament.
• Addresses Parliament at first session.
• Gives assent to bills (can veto).
• Can promulgate ordinances.
• Nominates:
• 12 members to Rajya Sabha
• 2 Anglo-Indians (if needed) to Lok Sabha (now
removed post-104th CAA)
C. Judicial Powers
• Pardoning powers under Article 72 (explained in next
section).
D. Military Powers
• Supreme Commander of Armed Forces
• Appoints Chiefs of Army, Navy, Air Force
• Declares war and peace, but with Parliament’s approval
E. Emergency Powers
Under Articles:
• 352 – National Emergency
• 356 – President’s Rule
• 360 – Financial Emergency
✅ Becomes real executive during emergency.
! 9. Ordinance-Making Power – Article 123
• Power to legislate when Parliament is not in session.
• Issued on advice of Council of Ministers.
• Must be laid before Parliament and approved within 6
weeks.
• Same force as an Act of Parliament.
• Cannot be used to amend the Constitution.
• Can be withdrawn at any time.
! 10. Veto Powers of the President
Veto Type Explanation
Absolute Veto Bill ends. No assent.
Suspensive Veto Bill returned to Parliament (can be overridden
by simple majority).
Pocket Veto No action taken; bill kept pending indefinitely
(India allows this).
✅ Money Bill cannot be returned.
! 11. Pardoning Powers – Article 72
Power Meaning
Pardon Full release from punishment and conviction
Commutation Reducing severity (e.g., death → life
imprisonment)
Remission Reducing sentence length without changing nature
of punishment
Respite Lesser punishment due to special condition (e.g.,
pregnancy)
Reprieve Temporary delay in execution (e.g., to file appeal)
✅ Only President can pardon death sentences.
! 12. Discretionary Powers
Limited, but important in:
1. Appointing PM during hung Parliament
2. Dismissing CoM when they lose majority
3. Returning a bill once
4. Dissolving Lok Sabha
5. Asking for info from PM (Art. 78)
! 13. President vs US President (Comparison)
Feature Indian President US President
Type Parliamentary system Presidential system
Head Nominal (de jure) Real (de jure + de facto)
Elected by Electoral College (indirect) Directly by people
Role Bound by CoM Independent executive
Removal Impeachment (complex) Impeachment (practical)
Term 5 years 4 years
! 14. Important Articles to Remember
Article Subject
52 President of India
53 Executive power of the Union
54–55 Election
56–57 Term and re-election
58–59 Qualifications and conditions
61 Impeachment
72 Pardoning
74–75 Council of Ministers, PM
123 Ordinance
352–360 Emergency powers
! 15. Memory Trick – “PET LOVES” the President
Use this mnemonic:
P – Pardoning powers (72)
E – Emergency powers (352–360)
T – Tenure (56–57)
L – Legislative powers (assent, sessions, nomination)
O – Ordinance (123)
V – Veto powers
E – Executive powers (53)
S – Supreme Commander of Armed Forces
✅ Conclusion:
Though a ceremonial head, the President becomes very powerful
during:
• Constitutional crises
• Emergencies
• Coalition governments
• Legal pardoning situations
….
#Upsc-Revision-Notes.
