President of India: what Prelims usually asks
Election, powers, impeachment, and ordinances — a short Prelims-ready note on the President.
A current-affairs note on the President is usually a high-yield fact note for Prelims — election method, term, impeachment, and a few key powers.
- •Prelims Focus: Institutional mandate, member countries, observer status guidelines, and strategic polar agreements.
- •Mains Focus: GS Paper 2 (Bilateral, regional and global groupings) & GS Paper 3 (Climate and energy security).
Remember: the President is elected by an electoral college consisting of elected MPs of both Houses of Parliament and elected MLAs of State Legislative Assemblies and UTs (Delhi, Puducherry, J&K), not nominated members.
The election is held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote, with voting done by secret ballot.
For powers, keep a short list: executive, legislative (including ordinances under Article 123), judicial (pardoning powers under Article 72), and emergency provisions (Articles 352, 356, 360).
Impeachment under Article 61 needs a special majority (two-thirds of the total membership of the House) for 'violation of the Constitution'. Do not confuse this with removal of other constitutional posts.
Subject & Syllabus Classification
