President of India Notes for SSC Exams

The President of India is the head of the State and the first citizen of the country. Articles 52 to 62 of the Constitution deal with the President, and this is a very important chapter of Indian Polity for SSC exams. The questions ask about the election, the eligibility, the term, the removal and the powers of the President. These President of India notes for SSC explain everything in simple tables with practice questions.

Basic Facts

Election of the President

• The President is elected indirectly by an Electoral College (Article 54).
• The Electoral College has the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the states, including Delhi and Puducherry.
• The nominated members of Parliament and the members of the Legislative Councils do not take part.
• The election is by the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote, through a secret ballot (Article 55).
• A candidate must be proposed by 50 electors and seconded by 50 electors, and has to deposit Rs 15,000.

Eligibility (Article 58)

Oath, Vacancy and Removal

Powers of the President

Ordinance Power (Article 123)

• When Parliament is not in session, the President can issue an ordinance, which has the same force as an Act.
• An ordinance must be approved by Parliament within six weeks from the time Parliament meets again, or it ends.
• Governors have a similar power under Article 213.

Veto Power

Emergency Powers

Salary and Other Facts

• The salary of the President is Rs 5 lakh per month (raised in 2018 from Rs 1.5 lakh).
• The President is not answerable to any court for the actions done in his official duty.
• The Vice President is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and acts as the President when the post is vacant.

Quick Tips

• Learn the Articles 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 60, 61, 72, 123, 352, 356 and 360.
• Remember the minimum age of 35 years and the six-month limit for filling the vacancy.
• Remember that the nominated members do not vote in the Presidential election.
• Remember the three types of veto, and the pocket veto of 1986.

Quick Revision Points

• The President is elected by an electoral college through proportional representation (STV).
• The term of the President is five years.
• The minimum age is 35 years.
• The Chief Justice of India gives the oath to the President.
• Impeachment needs a two-thirds majority of the total membership of both Houses.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. What is the minimum age to become the President?
   Answer: 35 years
2. Who gives the oath of office to the President?
   Answer: The Chief Justice of India
3. What is the term of the President?
   Answer: 5 years
4. Which Article deals with the impeachment of the President?
   Answer: Article 61
5. Which Article gives the ordinance power to the President?
   Answer: Article 123
6. Which Article gives the pardoning power to the President?
   Answer: Article 72
7. Who was the first President of India?
   Answer: Dr. Rajendra Prasad
8. Who was the first woman President of India?
   Answer: Pratibha Patil
9. Which Article deals with the National Emergency?
   Answer: Article 352
10. Who acts as the President when the post is vacant?
    Answer: The Vice President

How to Practise This Chapter

Make a table of the Articles of the President and revise it daily for a week. Then solve questions from our practice papers, the free SSC quizzes and the previous year papers page. Read the previous chapter, Preamble of the Indian Constitution, and see all topics on the Indian Polity notes page. For the current office holders, read the Who is Who of India 2026 note.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the head of the State in India?

The President of India is the head of the State, and the Prime Minister is the head of the government.

How is the President elected?

The President is elected by an electoral college of the elected members of Parliament and the state assemblies, by proportional representation with a single transferable vote.

What is the eligibility to become the President?

A person must be a citizen of India, at least 35 years old, qualified to be a member of the Lok Sabha and must not hold any office of profit.

What is the term of the President?

The term is five years, and the same person can be elected again.

How can the President be removed?

The President can be removed by impeachment under Article 61 for the violation of the Constitution, with a two-thirds majority of the total membership of both Houses.

Who gives the oath to the President?

The Chief Justice of India gives the oath to the President.

What is an ordinance?

An ordinance is a law made by the President under Article 123 when Parliament is not in session. It must be approved within six weeks of the next meeting.

What is the pocket veto?

In the pocket veto, the President neither signs nor returns a bill but keeps it pending for an unlimited time.

What are the emergency powers of the President?

The President can declare a National Emergency (Article 352), President's Rule in a state (Article 356) and a Financial Emergency (Article 360).

What is the pardoning power of the President?

Under Article 72 the President can pardon, reprieve, respite, remit or commute the sentence of a person.

Who acts as the President if the post is vacant?

The Vice President acts as the President until a new President is elected within six months.

How many questions come from the President in SSC exams?

Usually one or two questions come from the President in SSC General Awareness papers, but the number changes from year to year.