Brief on What is President of India?
The president is the head of the executive as per Article 53 and 77 of the Indian Constitution. But in practice, it is the Council of Ministers with the prime minister as its head, that exercises the powers accorded to this position as per Article 74 and 78 of the Indian Constitution. Thus making the prime minister the de facto head of the executive.
The president of India is the head of state of the Republic of India. The president is the nominal head of the executive, as well as the commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces.
The office of president was created when India became a republic on 26 January 1950, when its constitution came into force.
The president is indirectly elected by an electoral college comprising both houses of the Parliament of India and the legislative assemblies of each of India's states and territories, who themselves are all directly elected.
Although Article 53 of the Constitution of India states that the president can exercise his powers directly or by subordinate authority, with few exceptions, all of the executive powers vested in the president are, in practice, exercised by the prime minister (a subordinate authority) with the help of the Council of Ministers.
The president is bound by the constitution to act on the advice of the prime minister and cabinet as long as the advice does not violate the constitution. Ram Nath Kovind is the 14th and current president, having assumed office on 25 July 2017.
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