Indian Polity & Constitution
🔒 Log in to trackUnion and State Executive
🔒 Log in to trackThe President is head of the State, and the Prime Minister heads the government. The President is elected indirectly, and the Vice-President by both Houses of Parliament. The Governor is the President's counterpart in a state, with a narrower pardon power.
The President: Articles 52-62
| Item | Fact |
|---|---|
| Electors | Elected MPs, elected MLAs of the states, and elected MLAs of Delhi and Puducherry |
| Who does not vote | Nominated members and MLCs |
| Method | Proportional representation, single transferable vote, secret ballot |
| Vote value | Based on the 1971 census |
| Qualification | Citizen, 35 years, fit to be a Lok Sabha member |
| Term | 5 years |
| Oath | Given by the Chief Justice of India (Article 60) |
| Disputes | Decided by the Supreme Court (Article 71) |
Impeachment (Article 61) is for 'violation of the Constitution'. Either House can bring the charge. It needs two-thirds of the total membership, and the other House investigates. Notice is 14 days.
Powers of the President
- Ordinance (Article 123): only when Parliament is not in session. It lapses six weeks after Parliament reassembles.
- Pardon (Article 72): covers death sentences, courts-martial and Union-law offences.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pardon | Full absolution |
| Commutation | Lighter kind of punishment |
| Remission | Smaller amount of punishment |
| Respite | Lesser sentence for a special reason |
| Reprieve | Temporary stay |
Vetoes: absolute (withhold assent), suspensive (return a bill once), and pocket (no action, no time limit). Zail Singh used a pocket veto on the Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill, 1986. On state bills the President has an absolute veto (Article 201).
The Vice-President: Articles 63-71
All members of both Houses elect the Vice-President, elected and nominated. State legislatures take no part.
- The Vice-President is ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
- He acts as President in a vacancy for at most 6 months.
- Removal starts only in the Rajya Sabha. It needs an effective majority and 14 days' notice. The Lok Sabha then agrees by simple majority.
Prime Minister and Council of Ministers
- Article 74: the Council of Ministers aids and advises the President.
- Article 75(3): the Council is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
- The 91st Amendment (2003) caps the Council at 15% of the House, with a minimum of 12. The same cap applies in states.
- A minister who is not an MP must win a seat within 6 months.
- The Attorney-General (Article 76) can speak in Parliament but cannot vote.
The Governor: Articles 153-161
The President appoints the Governor. The term is 5 years, but he holds office at the President's pleasure.
| Power | President | Governor |
|---|---|---|
| Pardon | Article 72 | Article 161 |
| Death sentence | Can pardon | Cannot pardon (can suspend, remit, commute) |
| Court-martial | Covered | Not covered |
| Ordinance | Article 123 | Article 213 |
The Governor can reserve state bills for the President (Articles 200-201).
Current office-holders
As on 23 September 2026, Droupadi Murmu is the 15th President. She took office on 25 July 2022 and is the first tribal President. C.P. Radhakrishnan is the 15th Vice-President, since 12 September 2025.
Watch: Office-holders change. Check the names again just before your exam.
Question types you will see
Each type: how to recognise it, the method step by step, and one question to try.
President's election and impeachment
The question asks who elects the President, which members do not vote, which census sets vote values, or how impeachment works.
Electors: elected MPs, elected MLAs of states, Delhi and Puducherry. Nominated members and MLCs stay out.
The method is proportional representation by single transferable vote, with a secret ballot.
Vote values use the 1971 census.
Impeachment (Article 61): ground is violation of the Constitution, and either House can begin.
One electoral college list answers most of the questions.
The value of an MLA's vote in the Presidential election is calculated from which census?
Show solutionHide solution
The base was frozen for this purpose.
The year is 1971.
The 1971 census
President's powers: veto, ordinance, pardon
The question asks which bill saw a pocket veto, which Article gives ordinances, or what the President can pardon.
Vetoes: absolute (withhold), suspensive (return once), pocket (no time limit).
Ordinances come from Article 123. They lapse six weeks after Parliament reassembles.
Pardon is Article 72. It covers death sentences, courts-martial and Union-law offences.
Learn the five shades: pardon, commutation, remission, respite, reprieve.
Three powers are tested together in statement questions.
The 'pocket veto' of the President means what?
Show solutionHide solution
The Constitution sets no time limit for assent.
Zail Singh used it in 1986.
Keeping a bill without acting on it
Vice-President: election and removal
The question asks who elects the Vice-President, how he is removed, or who acts as President.
The electors are all members of both Houses, elected and nominated.
The Vice-President is ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
He can act as President for up to 6 months.
Removal starts in the Rajya Sabha with 14 days' notice and an effective majority.
The Vice-President's college differs from the President's, and that is what exams test.
The Vice-President of India is elected by whom?
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State legislatures take no part.
Elected and nominated MPs both vote.
All members of both Houses of Parliament
PM and Council of Ministers
The question asks about collective responsibility, the 15% cap, a non-member minister's 6-month window, or the Attorney-General.
The Council is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha (Article 75(3)).
The 91st Amendment caps it at 15% of the House, minimum 12. States have the same cap.
A minister who is not an MP must win a seat within 6 months.
The Attorney-General (Article 76) can speak in Parliament but not vote.
These four facts cover the statement questions on this topic.
The 91st Amendment caps the Union Council of Ministers at what limit?
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The cap is a share of a House.
The floor is 12 ministers.
15% of the strength of the Lok Sabha
Governor: appointment, powers, pardon
The question asks who appoints the Governor, whether he can pardon a death sentence, or how state bills are reserved.
The President appoints the Governor. He holds office at the President's pleasure. Nominal term: 5 years.
Under Article 161 he cannot pardon a death sentence.
He can reserve state bills for the President (Articles 200-201). Ordinances are Article 213.
The Governor's powers are a narrower copy of the President's.
Which statement about the Governor's pardoning power is correct?
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Article 161 applies to state-law offences.
A death sentence pardon lies with the President.
The Governor can suspend, remit or commute a death sentence but cannot pardon it
Current office-holders
The question asks who is the current President or Vice-President, or which number they are.
Recall the President: Droupadi Murmu, 15th President, since 25 July 2022.
She is the first tribal President.
Recall the Vice-President: C.P. Radhakrishnan, 15th, since 12 September 2025.
Current-affairs style questions use these names and numbers.
Who is the 15th President of India, in office since 25 July 2022?
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She is also the first tribal President.
Her office began on 25 July 2022.
Droupadi Murmu
Shortcuts that save time
The President is elected by elected MPs and elected MLAs. The Vice-President is elected by all MPs of both Houses, including the nominated ones.
Do nominated Rajya Sabha members vote in the Vice-Presidential election?
Show solutionHide solution
The Vice-President's college is all members of both Houses.
Nominated members are excluded only from the President's college.
Yes, they vote
The President's Article 72 covers court-martial and death sentences. The Governor's Article 161 covers neither.
Can a Governor pardon a death sentence?
Show solutionHide solution
Article 161 is narrower than Article 72.
A Governor can only suspend, remit or commute it.
No. Only the President can pardon it
Mistakes to avoid
Where most students lose marks on this subtopic.
Saying the Vice-President gives the oath to the President.
The Chief Justice of India gives the oath.
Thinking the Vice-President's removal starts in the Lok Sabha.
It starts only in the Rajya Sabha (Article 67(b)).
Giving the 15% cap on ministers to the 52nd Amendment.
The 15% cap is from the 91st Amendment. The 52nd is anti-defection.
Letting nominated members vote for the President.
Nominated members and MLCs do not vote for the President.
Saying a Governor can pardon a death sentence.
Only the President can. The Governor may suspend, remit or commute.
Quick revision
Read this the night before the exam.
President: elected MPs and elected MLAs (states, Delhi, Puducherry). PR by STV. 1971 census values.
Impeachment: Article 61. Ground: violation of the Constitution. Either House can start.
Vetoes: absolute, suspensive, pocket. The pocket veto was used in 1986.
Ordinance: Article 123. It lapses six weeks after reassembly. Pardon: Article 72.
Vice-President: elected by all members of both Houses, and removed only via the Rajya Sabha.
Council of Ministers: at most 15% (minimum 12) by the 91st Amendment.
Governor: the President's pleasure. No pardon of a death sentence (Article 161).
Practice: 13 questions
Sets of 10, mixed across the question types above. Every answer has a step-by-step explanation.
Topic test · 13 questions
Suggested time 5 min · wrong answers go to your mistake notebook automatically.