Explain the process of electing the President of India.
Answers
Explanation:
The president is indirectly elected by an electoral college comprising the Parliament of India (both houses) and the legislative assemblies of each of India's states and territories, who themselves are all directly elected.
THE PROCEDURE OF ELECTION
The President is the Head of Indian Union. Presidential powers extend both to the Union Government as well as the State Governments. Therefore in Presidential election not only MPs but also MLAs vote.
Eligibility:
Article 58 of the Constitution sets the principle qualifications one must meet to be eligible to the office of the President. A President must be:
- A citizen of India
- Of 35 years of age or above
- Qualified to become a member of the Lok Sabha
Indirect Election of the President of India:
The President is elected indirectly. In other words, the ordinary citizens play no role in the election. Four reasons were given in the Constituent Assembly for this indirect election.
1. The powers resided in the Union Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister and the Union Parliament and not in the President as such. Therefore, it would be an anomaly if the President is elected directly by the people and not given any power as such.
2. The framers of the Constitution wanted the Presidential election to remain quiet and dignified affair. They knew a tremendous loss of time, money and energy would be involved in a direct Presidential election.
3. It would be difficult to provide an electoral machinery for an election in which millions of people have to participate.
4. A direct election would place too much power in the hands of the masses, with a very high percentage of illiterates among them for a post which is “highly” dignified not only in India but in abroad too.