The President of India is the highest official in the country. The Indian Constitution vests great powers in the hands of the President, some are exercised according to the Constitution, and some are discretionary. The President of India is not directly elected by the people but by an electoral college, consisting of the members of the State Legislature and both houses of the parliament. Today, we will discuss an essay on the President of India.
Table of Contents
Short Essay on President
A president is a powerful person who preserves, protects, and defends India’s constitution and laws. This post has a high level of authority and plays an important part in the functioning of a democratic country. The first president’s office was established on January 26, 1950, when India adopted its Constitution. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was India’s first president to hold this office. Smt. Draupadi Murmu is the current president of India, who took positions of power on July 25, 2022, as the 15th president. A president appoints the Prime Minister and members of the Council, whereas the process of electing a president includes both houses of parliament, elected members of the Legislative Assembly of States, and Union Territories. The president has several powers, including legislative, executive, judicial, financial, and emergency powers, which he or she uses to manage and monitor the country’s functions. A president’s power is not only a symbol of strength but also a foundation for the country’s democracy, ensuring national stability |
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Essay on President of India in 800 words
The president is a person who is responsible for preserving, protecting, and defending India’s constitution and laws. This position is special and holds high authority. The President not only serves constitutional functions, but he also represents the country’s unity and integrity. A president has several functions and responsibilities, and they play a crucial role in the functioning of the world’s largest democracy.
Who is Eligible to Become the President of India?
According to Article 58 of the Indian Constitution, no person shall be eligible for election as President unless he is a citizen of India, over the age of 35, and qualified for election as a member of the House of the People.
The Office of the President of India was set up on January 26, 1950. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the first to hold this position as the President of India. The establishment of this office represents the republic of the Constitution.
Quick Read: Essay on Indian Constitution
Election Process
There is no direct election for India’s President. The procedure of electing the President consists of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Legislative Assemblies of states, and Legislative Assemblies of the Union Territories, who are in charge of presidential elections.
The indirect election maintains fairness throughout the process.
Our current president, Smt. Draupadi Murmu, is the 15th president of India and won the presidential election on July 25, 2022. She is a former teacher who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. She formerly served as the Governor of Jharkhand from 2015 to 2021.
Powers of the President
The president has vast power over legislative, executive, judicial, financial, and emergency concerns.
Legislative Powers:
A President has the authority to call off the session of Parliament and dissolve the Lok Sabha. A bill enacted by the parliament can only become law with the president’s approval. He has the power to appoint any member of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to preside over its proceedings.
Executive Powers:
The president is the most powerful person in the country since he appoints the prime minister. The Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha, and other Council ministers are appointed on his advice. The President also appoints judges of the Supreme Court and the High Court.
Judicial Powers:
The President of India has the authority to pardon and suspend the punishment. This power is extremely important in punishment cases. With this power, he can grant pardon, reprieve, respite, and remission of punishment to the convicted person.
Financial Powers:
The President controls and monitors the annual budget of the country. No bill can be passed in parliament without his or her approval. He can make advances from India’s Contingency Fund to cover any unforeseen expenses.
Emergency Powers:
As per Articles 352, 356, 365, and 360, the President has the authority to declare an emergency in the country. A president can declare three different types of emergencies. They are National Emergency, State Emergency, and Financial Emergency. The President exercises these powers to ensure national stability.
Military Powers:
The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. He declares wars and concludes peace treaties on behalf of the country.
Diplomatic Powers:
The President is responsible for sending ambassadors outside India and receiving diplomats from other countries.
Veto Power:
Under Article 111 and Article 201, the president can use the veto powers, which are mainly of three types: Absolute Veto, Suspensive Veto, and pocket Veto. Absolute Veto means that the President has the authority to refuse to sign a bill that has been offered to him.
Suspensive Veto refers to the power of the president to return a bill for reconsideration to the parliament.
Pocket Veto means the power of the president to hold a bill pending indefinitely rather than ratify, reject or return it.
While the President appears to be a powerful individual, he or she is also responsible for bringing together constitutional duties with moral authority. The President acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers, although he or she may also make the final decision regarding the democratic processes.
Impeachment Process
Impeachment of a President is the process of removing a person from the duties and authority that come with the position.
As per the Article 61, a president can be impeached if he/ she:
- Violate the constitution.
- Death of the current president
- Resignation of the current president
- Invalid election
In India, no president has been impeached till now. The process of impeaching a president through Parliament is quasi-judicial. The impeachment of the President of India can be initiated in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
During times of national instability, the president’s role becomes more important. A president helps ensure the maintenance of a country’s democracy by playing an important role in its governance and functioning. The president’s power and responsibilities are more than just symbols of authority; they are the foundation of the country’s democracy, ensuring stability and respect for the Constitution. The president’s ability to work within the guidelines of the constitution while respecting moral ideals is what makes this post so important in the governance of India.
Also Read: Powers of Indian President
List of Presidents of India
Name of the President | Elective Tenure |
Dr. Rajendra Prasad | 26 January 1950–13 May 1962 |
Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan | 13 May 1962–13 May 1967 |
Dr. Zakir Husain | 13 May 1967–3 May 1969 |
V.V. Giri | 24 August 1969–24 August 1974 |
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed | 24 August 1974–11 February 1977 |
Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy | 25 July 1977–25 July 1982 |
Giani Zail Singh | 25 July 1982–25 July 1987 |
R. Venkataraman | 25 July 1987–25 July 1992 |
Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma | 25 July 1992–25 July 1997 |
K R Narayanan | 25 July 1997–25 July 2002 |
Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam | 25 July 2002–25 July 2007 |
Shrimati Pratibha Singh Patil | 25 July 2007–25 July 2012 |
Pranab Mukherjee | 25 July 2012–25 July 2017 |
Ram Nath Kovind | 25 July 2017–21 July 2022 |
Draupadi Murmu | 21 July: Present |
Also Read: Speech on President of India for School Students in English
FAQs
Ans: ‘The president is known as the ‘First Person’ of the country. He/ She is the highest executive authority in the country. The President not only serves constitutional functions, but he also represents the country’s unity and integrity. A president has several functions and responsibilities, and they play a crucial role in the functioning of the world’s largest democracy.
Ans: The president has vast power over legislative, executive, judicial, financial, and emergency concerns. A President has the authority to call off the session of Parliament and dissolve the Lok Sabha. He is the one who appoints the prime minister and other ministers of the council. The President of India has the authority to pardon and suspend the punishment. The President controls and monitors the annual budget of the country. The President has the authority to declare an emergency in the country.
Ans: The President has the authority to declare an emergency in the country. A president can declare three different types of emergencies. They are National Emergency, State Emergency, and Financial Emergency. The President exercises these powers to ensure national stability. A president helps ensure the maintenance of a country’s democracy. He or she is also responsible for bringing together constitutional duties with moral authority.
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