Introduction to Union Executive and President of India

Articles 52 to 78 in Part V of the Constitution deal with the Union executive. The Union executive consists of the President, Vice-President and a Council of Ministers to aid and advice the President and the Attorney General of India.

(Articles 52-73) - The President and Vice President

(Articles 74-75) - Council of Ministers

(Article 76) - Attorney General for India

(Articles 77-78) - Conduct of government business

The President of India - 

The President is the executive head of the Indian state. The India Constitution, under Article 53, vests the executive power of the Union in the President, who shall exercise the executive power directly or through officers subordinate to him in accordance with the Constitution.

He is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. He is the First citizen of India and occupies the first position under the warrant of precedence. (Warrant of precedence indicates the hierarchy of position occupied by various dignitaries attending a state function).

All the executive actions are taken in his name. The executive power vested in the President is to be exercised on the advice of the Council of Ministers responsible to Parliament. However, the 42nd Constitutional Amendment to the Constitution has made it obligatory on the party of the President to accept the advice of the Council of Ministers.

Important Articles related to the President

(Article 52) - The President of India

(Article 53) - Executive power of the Union

(Article 54) - Election of President

(Article 55) - Manner of election of President

(Article 56) - Term of office of President

(Article 57) - Eligibility for re-election

(Article 58) - Qualification for election as President

(Article 59) - Conditions of President’s office

(Article 60) - Oath or affirmation by the President

(Article 61) - Procedure for impeachment of the President

(Article 62) - Time of holding election to fill vacancy in the office of person election to  fill casual vacancy

(Article 71) - Matters related to, or connected with, the election of a President of Vice-President

(Article 72) - Power of president to grant pardons etc., and to suspend, remit or commute sentences in certain cases.