What are the powers and functions of the President of India? In spite of so much powers given by the Constitution, why is it said that President does not rule but represents the nation?
Answers
ANSWER:
India is the world's largest functioning democracy with as much as the second largest population in the world. Yet the people of India can't elect their own president, it's done by the members of the upper house, the president holds a lot of powers in the Indian democracy.
The president is the ultimate head of the army and other defense forces, the president has the veto power to save someone from being hanged and a lot of bills have to be "passed in the upper houses" and lower houses only with the signature of the president.
The Powers and Functions of the President of India
President derives his powers and performs his functions according to the Indian Constitution.
Explanation:
1) He is the Chief executive officer of the state.All the executive functions are carried on his name.
2) He appoints the judges of the supreme court and high court,chief election commissioner and other high authorities of the country.
3) He invites the leader of the majority party in the parliament to form the government.
4) He summons,prorogues the sessions of the parliament and also has the powers to dissolve the lower house loka sabha
5) He is the commander - in - chief of the Indian defense forces.
6) All the bills passed by the parliament becomes law only after his assent including the money bill.
7) President also has the right to declare emergency in case of administrative failure or financial crisis in any region of the land.
8) The right to grant pardon and the power of impeachment has been vested in the office of the president by the INDIAN CONSTITUTION
. Thus the above mentioned powers are vested with the Indian president
and he has to perform his functions according to the Indian constitution.
In spite of these powers, yet he does not rule because he is only a Nominal executive or Titular Sovereign.The real powers are exercised by the Prime minister and his council of ministers according to the constitution.Since Indian Democracy is a parliamentary democracy unlike American Presidential democracy.
Thus the President of India governs the country and does not rule.