Executive of the Union the President

President is the head of the Union Executive.

The president of India is indirectly elected by an electoral college, in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.

The Electoral College for the President consists of: 

·         The elected members of both Houses of Parliament ;

·         The elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the states; and

·         The elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of Union Territories of Delhi and Pondicherry (now puduchery) {Ref: Art . 54}

In the President’s election vote value of an

MLA = Total population of the state    /    Total number of elected members of state   ÷ 1000

In the President’s election vote value of an 

MP= the sum of vote value of elected members of all the Legislative Assemblies    /   The sum of elected members of both the houses of Parliament

Indirect election of the president is supported on two grounds:

·         Direct election by a large electorate of people would be very costly.

·         Real power is vested in the Ministry, so, it would be anomalous to elect the president directly without giving him real powers.

Qualifications for election as President are:

·         Be a citizen of India;

·         Have completed the age of thirty – five years;

·         Be qualified for election as a member of the House of the People; and

·         Must not hold any office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State or under any local or other authority subject to the Control of any of the said government {Art. 58}