The Union Executive: President

• The legislative branch makes the laws, while the executive branch enforces them.
• The Union Executive includes the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, and Council of Ministers.
• A large workforce, including civil servants and the police force, assists the executive in implementing policies and ensuring citizen compliance with laws.

The President

• The President is the constitutional head of the Indian government.
• In a parliamentary system, the President is a nominal or symbolic head.
• The administration is carried out in the President's name, but actual power lies with the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.
• The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers advise the President, who is bound to follow their advice.
• A presidential candidate must be a citizen of India.
• A presidential candidate must be at least 35 years old.
• A presidential candidate must possess the qualifications needed to be a member of the Lok Sabha.
• The President is indirectly elected by an electoral college.
• The electoral college comprises the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies.
• The President is elected for a five-year term.
• The Parliament can impeach the President.
• Impeachment can occur if the President is guilty of violating the Constitution, treason, or corruption.
• The Rashtrapati Bhavan is the official residence.
• Attached is a large Mughal Garden, which is open to visitors in February.

Powers of the President

• The President appoints the Prime Minister, who is the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Lok Sabha.
• The President appoints Union Ministers based on the Prime Minister's advice.
• The President appoints state governors and high officials like the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Attorney General.
• The President appoints judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, as well as ambassadors to other countries.
• The President serves as the Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces and has the power to declare war or conclude peace.
• All significant treaties and contracts are made in the President's name.
• The President can summon or prorogue Parliament and addresses its opening session annually, outlining government policy.
• The President can dissolve the Lok Sabha and call for new elections.
• The President can call a joint session of both Houses of Parliament in case of a deadlock on a bill.
• Each bill passed by Parliament requires the President's approval to become law.
• The President can send a bill back to Parliament once for reconsideration but must approve it if passed again.
• The President nominates twelve members to the Rajya Sabha and two Anglo-Indian members to the Lok Sabha.
• The President can issue ordinances, which are like laws, when Parliament is not in session.
• Ordinances are valid for six weeks after Parliament reconvenes.
• The budget is presented to Parliament in the President's name.
• All money bills require the President's permission to be introduced in Parliament.
• The President can grant advances from the Contingency Fund for unforeseen expenditures.
• The President can grant pardons or reduce/suspend sentences and even pardon a death sentence.
• The President is not answerable to any court of law for their actions unless impeached.
• The President can declare a National Emergency if the country's security is threatened by external aggression or armed rebellion.
• The President's Rule can be imposed if a state government cannot function according to the Constitution.
• The President can declare a Financial Emergency if the country's financial stability is threatened.
• The President cannot declare an emergency without the approval of the Parliament.
• The powers are limited and exercised strictly according to the advice of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.
• In a situation where no political party secures a clear majority in the Lok Sabha and a coalition cannot be formed, the President has discretionary powers.
• The President can then select a Prime Minister of their choice, but the selected candidate must prove their majority in the Lok Sabha.

The Vice-President

• The qualifications for the Vice-President are the same as those for the President, except that the Vice-President should be eligible for membership to the Rajya Sabha.
• The Vice-President serves a term of five years.
• The Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.
• The Vice-President assumes the President's functions during their absence.
• The Vice-President discharges the President's functions until a new President is elected in case of a vacancy.

The Prime Minister

• The Prime Minister is the head of the Council of Ministers, which serves as the most powerful political institution in India.
• The President of India is obligated to act in accordance with the advice provided by the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.
• The Prime Minister is the real head of the Indian government.
• Its is the Prime Minister who exercises all the powers vested in the President (except discretionary powers).
• The Prime Minister is the elected head of the country.
• The Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party or the largest coalition in Parliament.
• The Prime Minister acts as a link between the President, the people, and the Parliament.
• The Prime Minister advises the President, and has the power to inform them about the decisions made by the Council of Ministers.
• Such advice from the Prime Minister is binding on the President.
• Its the Prime Minister who selects members of the Council of Ministers.
• The Prime Minister distributes portfolios and presides over the meetings of the Council of Ministers.
• They also coordinate the working of the different departments and serves as the link between the President and the Council of Ministers.
• Prime Minister can expand the Council of Ministers and also demand the resignation of any minister.
• The Prime Minister is the real head of the nation.
• They also have to answer for the success or failure of the government.
• The Prime Minister is regarded as the nation’s leader.
• The Prime Minister addresses the nation from the Red Fort in Delhi on Independence Day.

Council of Ministers

• General elections to the Lok Sabha occur every five years.
• The President appoints the Prime Minister, who typically leads the majority party in the Lok Sabha.
• If no single party holds a majority, parties agree to work together by forming a coalition government.
• The Prime Minister selects ministers based on preference.
• The President appoints the ministers, and the Council of Ministers is formed.
• The Council of Ministers consists of Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, and Deputy Ministers.
• All ministers must be members of either House of Parliament.
• Non-members must be elected within six months of appointment.
• The Prime Minister assigns each minister a department or portfolio.
• Cabinet Ministers hold the most important portfolios, make key decisions, have the highest ranks/responsibility, hold the executive power, and are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
• The Cabinet can remain in office as long as it has confidence of a Lok Sabha majority.
• A vote of no-confidence against any one Cabinet Minister will result in the Council Ministers resigning immediately.
• The civil servants are government employees, not belonging to any political party
• Civil Servants can be appointed in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), the Indian Police Service (IPS) etc
• Successful candidates must then be trained and can work at both central and state levels.

Explore the roles of the legislative and executive branches in India, focusing on the Union Executive comprised of the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, and Council of Ministers. Learn about the President's constitutional role, qualifications, and indirect election process, emphasizing their symbolic headship within a parliamentary system.