Powers and Position of President of India
In Indian Parliamentary practice, the President is the nominal executive or a Constitutional
ruler. He is the head of the nation, but does not govern the nation. Our Union Council of
Ministers headed by the Prime Minister is the real executive. And the President rules the
country on the advice of the Prime Minister and his colleagues.
Powers: We shall now discuss in details, the powers and functions of the President of India
in the light of the above discussion. The powers and the functions of the President of India
may be classified under five heads, viz., and executive, legislative, financial, judicial and
emergency.
1. Executive Power: The President of India is the head of the executive of the Union
Government. Therefore, all executive powers are vested in the hands of the President. He
can exercise these powers either directly or through the subordinate officers.
• According to the Constitution of India, all executive action is also taken in his name. The
President appoints the Governors of the States, the Judges of the Supreme Court and High
Courts of the States. The Prime Minister of India is appointed by the President. The
President also appoints other Ministers in consultation with the Prime Minister.
• The Constitution of India empowers the President to appoint the important officers of the
Union Government including the Attorney-General for India, the Comptroller and
Auditor-General of India, the Chairman of the Finance Commission, the Election
Commissioners etc.
• The President is responsible for the administration of the Union Territories. For this reason,
he appoints Chief Commissioners and Lieutenant Governors of the centrally administered
areas.
• The President has been empowered to set up a Commission for the settlement of disputes
relating to the supply of water between two or more States.
• Moreover, the Constitution has authorized the President to establish an Inter-State Council
to enquire into disputes that may arise between, the States as well as to discuss the matters
of the common interests between the Union and the States.
• The President alone can remove the Council of Ministers, the Governors of States and the
Attorney-General for India.
• The President of India is Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Navy and the Air
Force of the Union. He has the power to declare war.
• The President also enjoys the diplomatic power. He appoints the diplomatic representatives
of India to the foreign States. He also receives the credential letters of the diplomatic
representatives of other States.
In Indian Parliamentary practice, the President is the nominal executive or a Constitutional
ruler. He is the head of the nation, but does not govern the nation. Our Union Council of
Ministers headed by the Prime Minister is the real executive. And the President rules the
country on the advice of the Prime Minister and his colleagues.
Powers: We shall now discuss in details, the powers and functions of the President of India
in the light of the above discussion. The powers and the functions of the President of India
may be classified under five heads, viz., and executive, legislative, financial, judicial and
emergency.
1. Executive Power: The President of India is the head of the executive of the Union
Government. Therefore, all executive powers are vested in the hands of the President. He
can exercise these powers either directly or through the subordinate officers.
• According to the Constitution of India, all executive action is also taken in his name. The
President appoints the Governors of the States, the Judges of the Supreme Court and High
Courts of the States. The Prime Minister of India is appointed by the President. The
President also appoints other Ministers in consultation with the Prime Minister.
• The Constitution of India empowers the President to appoint the important officers of the
Union Government including the Attorney-General for India, the Comptroller and
Auditor-General of India, the Chairman of the Finance Commission, the Election
Commissioners etc.
• The President is responsible for the administration of the Union Territories. For this reason,
he appoints Chief Commissioners and Lieutenant Governors of the centrally administered
areas.
• The President has been empowered to set up a Commission for the settlement of disputes
relating to the supply of water between two or more States.
• Moreover, the Constitution has authorized the President to establish an Inter-State Council
to enquire into disputes that may arise between, the States as well as to discuss the matters
of the common interests between the Union and the States.
• The President alone can remove the Council of Ministers, the Governors of States and the
Attorney-General for India.
• The President of India is Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Navy and the Air
Force of the Union. He has the power to declare war.
• The President also enjoys the diplomatic power. He appoints the diplomatic representatives
of India to the foreign States. He also receives the credential letters of the diplomatic
representatives of other States.
