Topic 4.1 · Indian Polity · Union Executive

The President — Election & Powers

The President — Election & Powers is studied as part of "Union Executive" (Union & State Government) in Indian Polity. The Union Executive comprises the President, Vice-President, the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers. The President is the constitutional head and the PM the real executive.

In the examination context, the president — election & powers carries conceptual questions that test both factual recall and analytical understanding. Revise this topic in sequence with the rest of the chapter so that chronological and thematic links are clear.

Important Facts

President: Elected by an electoral college — Article 54
Impeachment: Article 61 — on grounds of violation of the Constitution
Vice-President: Ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
Money Bill: Cannot be introduced in the Rajya Sabha

Key Points

President — Elected by an electoral college — Article 54
Impeachment — Article 61 — on grounds of violation of the Constitution
Vice-President — Ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
Money Bill — Cannot be introduced in the Rajya Sabha

Important Names

Rajendra PrasadS. RadhakrishnanB.R. Ambedkar

Important Dates

1952	First Presidential election — Rajendra Prasad
1952	First Vice-President — S. Radhakrishnan

Exam-Oriented Notes

»The President can pardon under Article 72; the PM advises the President. Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.