What is President, Who is current president of india
The President is a very important position, serving as the head of the country. In India, the President is considered the head of the Constitution and the first citizen of the nation. The President is elected by the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the state legislatures, using a special voting system. The President must be at least 35 years old and must be a citizen of India, What is President, Who is current president of india.
The term of the President of India is 5 years, during which they may be re-elected. Article 53 of the Constitution gives executive powers to the President and at the same time, he also acts as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. Today, Droupadi Murmu is the 15th President of India. She assumed her office on 25 July 2022, What is President, Who is current president of india.
Among his powers, the President summons Parliament, signs bills into law, declares emergencies, and grants pardons or reprieves. In case the President violates or fails to uphold the Constitution, the Constitution has specified impeachment as a means of removing him from office.
India’s history concerning its Presidents since independence was marked by various significant events and personalities. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the first president of India, serving from 1950. He was a popular leader during the freedom movement and was also the Chairman of the Constituent Assembly. His time in office was marked by disagreements with Prime Minister Nehru over some crucial issues, including the Hindu Code Bill.
The first Vice President and President was Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan after him, in 1962. His time saw the India-China war and criticized Nehru government policies publicly. This had controversies. Zakir Husain became the first Muslim President of India but served for just two years since his death triggered a constitutional crisis, What is President, Who is current president of india.
During Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed’s tenure, the Emergency was imposed in 1975, which was a very controversial period in Indian democracy. Later on, Presidents such as Neelam Sanjiva Reddy and Shankar Dayal Sharma took prominent decisions: recommending the dissolution of Parliament.
Most recently, Droupadi Murmu took oath as India’s 15th President on July 25, 2022. She was the first ever tribal woman to take this step, thereby heralding a new landmark in Indian politics. It has become a tradition that most Presidents take their oath of office on July 25.
The office of the President of India is not only a prestigious position but also crucial to the politics of the country. The rights and responsibilities that come with the post of the President have often pitted him or her against the Prime Minister and the government in many of India’s most critical moments.
What are the powers of the President
The President of India has several highly important powers as defined in the Constitution. First of all, he is the head of the executive branch and has the status of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces; they have the authority to declare war or declare peace. They appoint key officials like the Prime Minister, Governors, Chief Justice, and other judges of the High Courts and Supreme Court. All executive decisions are taken in the President’s name, though these decisions are based on the advice of the Cabinet.
Under legislative powers, the President can summon, adjourn, and dissolve the Lok Sabha. Furthermore, no bill becomes a law without the signature of the President. If the President so desires, they can send a bill back for reconsideration or outright reject it (veto power). The President addresses the first session of Parliament and can also call a joint sitting of both Houses.
Under the judicial powers, the President is empowered to issue pardons or reduce punishments with the right to completely forgive all punishments, where they can have a say in judicial affairs. The President has the power to declare a state of emergency so that the security of the country is maintained or constitutional stability upheld, What are the powers of the President.
The President has other powers including making vital decisions on national security, such as declaring war or establishing peace. They host foreign ambassadors and appoint Indian ambassadors to other nations. In that respect, the President is significant in Indian political life and in the administration. Most of the powers are used in accordance with the advice from the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, though. First and foremost, the President serves by ensuring that the government runs harmoniously and remains faithful to the Constitution.
What emergency powers does the President have
The President of India has special emergency powers, as defined in the Constitution, to be exercised in times of serious crises in the country. The three types of emergencies are categorized under this provision.
The first is National Emergency (Article 352), declared when there is war, external aggression, or even terrorist attack. In such times, the President allows the central government to interfere in the state matters and even fundamental rights of the citizens can be suspended.
The second one is State Emergency or Article 356. When the President feels that either the state government is not working according to the Constitution or the situation in the state is not normal, he can put the state under President’s Rule. All the powers given to the state government go to the central government, What emergency powers does the President have.
The third is Financial Emergency (Article 360), declared when the economic situation of the country faces a severe crisis, such as financial instability. During this emergency, the President can grant additional powers to the central government to manage and stabilize the economy. These powers are used to maintain national security and protect the Constitution, and their implementation requires approval from Parliament.
Can the President stop the implementation of any law
The President of India can stop the implementation of any law, which is called “veto power.” This power gives the President the authority to decide on bills passed by the Parliament. The President has three types of veto powers. The first would be absolute veto: wherein the President can totally reject a bill and if they do not like it, such bill cannot become a law. The second one would be suspensive veto: wherein the President can send the bill back to Parliament for reconsideration. When, however, Parliament sends back the same bill in the form as presented before, the President shall approve the same.
The third is the pocket veto, whereby the President fails to make a decision on the bill within a certain time. In this case, if the session of Parliament ends, the bill is automatically canceled. However, it is worth noting that the President usually uses these powers based on the advice of the Council of Ministers. This implies that the President conducts his duties under the recommendation of the government but, in exceptional cases, exercises his power at his discretion.
How is president of india elected
In India, the election of the President follows a special process. This election is done indirectly by an electoral college, which includes the elected members of both houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) and the elected members of all the state assemblies. The election involves a special voting system called the proportional representation system. In this system, the value of each vote is determined by the population of the state and the number of members in the state legislature.
An aspirant to the office of the President has to be an Indian citizen, be at least 35 years old, and qualify to become a member of the Lok Sabha. Moreover, no government office may be held by him. Secret voting is involved in the election, and in case no candidate receives the highest number of votes, the election is decided through counting second preference votes, How is president of india elected.
The Election Commission decides the dates for the election, and the process begins when the term of the current President is about to expire. If the President violates the Constitution, then he can be removed through impeachment, which has a special process in Parliament. In this manner, the election of the President is an integral part of India’s democratic system.
List of all the Presidents of India and their tenure, who was the first President of India
Here is the list of all Presidents of India and their tenure:
| S.No | President’s Name | Working period |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Rajendra Prasad | 1950–1962 |
| 2 | Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan | 1962–1967 |
| 3 | Dr. Zakir Husain | 1967–1969 (Died in office) |
| 4 | V. V. Giri | 1969–1974 |
| 5 | Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed | 1974–1977 |
| 6 | Neelam Sanjiva Reddy | 1977–1982 |
| 7 | G. V. Pant | 1982–1987 |
| 8 | R. Venkataraman | 1987–1992 |
| 9 | Shankar Dayal Sharma | 1992–1997 |
| 10 | K. R. Narayanan | 1997–2002 |
| 11 | Abdul Kalam | 2002–2007 |
| 12 | Pratibha Patil | 2007–2012 |
| 13 | Pranab Mukherjee | 2012–2017 |
| 14 | Ram Nath Kovind | 2017–Present |
The first President of India was Dr. Rajendra Prasad, and his tenure was from 1950 to 1962.
What is the difference between President and Prime Minister
Some important differences occur between the President and the Prime Minister in India, which set apart their roles and powers. The President is seen as the highest citizen of the country and also occupies the most important position in the Constitution. Conversely, the Prime Minister is the head of the government and carries out a head representative of the executive.
The Prime Minister is the one who has a greater share of power as they are the most powerful person in India. Although the President holds special powers, the work is basically carried out by the Prime Minister and his Council of Ministers. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President while the President is elected by the members of Parliament and state assemblies.
The Prime Minister is the one who belongs to the political party having the majority in the Lok Sabha, whereas the President is not associated with any political party. In case the Lok Sabha passes a vote of no confidence, the Prime Minister can be removed from the office, but the President can be removed only by impeachment and requires a special majority, What is the difference between President and Prime Minister.
The President has the power to declare an emergency, but the Prime Minister does not have this power. The President also has judicial powers, like pardoning criminals who have been sentenced to death, while the Prime Minister does not have judicial powers.
The Prime Minister is in charge of the implementation of policies and bills, whereas the President gives their consent to bills, and without the approval of the President, no bill can become a law. The term of the President is five years, and they are eligible for re-election, whereas the term of the Prime Minister lasts as long as their party or coalition maintains a majority, What is President, Who is current president of india.
FAQs
What does “President” mean
The President is a constitutional office, who heads a country. In India, the President is termed as “first citizen.” The position primarily holds formal obligations and ceremonies. But the practical governing and making of decisions and judgments are actually exercised by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. According to the Indian Constitution, the President is elected by the elected members of Parliament and state assemblies.
Who was the first President of India
Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the first President of India. He served as President from 1950 to 1962. He was a very prominent leader in the Indian freedom struggle and a member of the Indian National Congress. He chaired the Constituent Assembly and played an important role in making India a republic. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1962, which is a symbol of his great contributions.
Who is the Present President
At present, India has Droupadi Murmu as the 15th President elected on July 25, 2022. She is India’s first tribal president. Droupadi Murmu started her politics from the Jharkhand State Legislative Assembly before becoming the governor of the same state. Therefore, her selection as President became a landmark day in Indian history.
What is the term of office for the President
The term of office for the President is five years in India, according to the Indian Constitution. If the President resigns before the end of his term or dies, the Vice President acts as President until a new election is held for the President. This way, the leadership of the country is renewed periodically, What is President, Who is current president of india.