History & Civics
Answer
The President is elected by indirect elections because of the following reasons:
- If the President were to be elected directly by the people, he could become a rival centre of power to the Council of Ministers. This would be against the parliamentary system with ministerial responsibility.
- Since the membership in the two Houses of Parliament was likely to be dominated by one party, election of the President merely by a majority of members of the Union Parliament could make him a nominee of the ruling party like the Prime Minister. Such a President could not represent the constituent States of the Union.
- The President is elected by an Electoral College, which consists of the elected members of the two Houses of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies of the States. This makes the President the elected representative of the whole nation with a clear voice given to the States as well.
Related Questions
(A) The President uses discretionary judgement to appoint the Prime Minister when no party has a clear majority in the Parliament.
(R) The President cannot appoint a new Prime Minister on the advice of the outgoing Prime Minister, who may have lost the election or the support of the House.
- (A) is true, but (R) is false
- (A) is false, but (R) is true
- Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
- Both (A) and (R) are false
Name the body as well as the process involved in the election of the President.
How can the President vacate his/her office? On what grounds can the President of India be removed from office?
Mention the occasion when the President addresses both the Houses of Parliament assembled together.