Question

The President of India is ____________.
A. Commander-in-Chief of Defence Force
B. Supreme Commander of Armed Forces
C. Head of the Government
D. Supreme Commander of Defence Forces of the Union and Executive Head of the Union

Answer 1

Hint: Indian Constitution has adopted the West Minster model of government where the head of the State is the President, who is the nominal executive.

Complete Answer: The Indian President being the nominal executive exercises only ceremonial powers and functions. He exercises the executive powers directly or through his subordinates. The 42nd amendment of the Constitution has made it obligatory for the President to act only on the advice of the council of ministers. He is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and occupies the first position according to the Warrant of Precedence. The Indian Armed Forces consist of three uniformed services - the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force, these are the military forces of India.

Article 58 of the Constitution put forwards, the qualification necessary to become the President of India.
- He must be a citizen of India and should be above 35 years of age.
- He must possess all qualifications, necessary to get elected as a member of the Lok Sabha.
- The President must not be a member of either house of parliament or a state legislature.
- He must not hold any office of profit under the government of India or any state government.
The President is elected for a term of five years and takes the oath of office in the presence of the Chief Justice of India. He can either be impeached from his office or he may resign from office before the expiry of his term. The process of impeachment is contained in Articles 56 and 61 of the Constitution.

Thus, the correct answer is option (B).

Note: The procedure of the Presidential election is given in Articles 54 and 55 of the Constitution. Article 54 provides for the creation of an electoral college consisting of all elected MLAs and MPs. Article 55 provides for the formula of uniformity in the scale of representation of the different states.