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               The Rashtrapati Bhavan located on the Western end of the Rajpath in New Delhi, is the official residence of the president of the world’s largest democracy- India. It is one of the most iconic monuments in India.

               It was originally built with the intent of serving as the British Viceroy’s House. With its 340 rooms in the main building covering 5 acres on an estate of 330 acres, it is one among the largest residences of a Head of State in the world, in terms of area.

               Rashtrapati Bhavan was the creation of two great architects, Sir Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker.

              Besides the President’s official residence, halls, guest rooms and offices, the Rashtrapati Bhavan also includes huge presidential garden called Mughal Gardens, large open spaces, residences of bodyguards and staff, stables, other offices and utilities within its perimeter walls.

               Every year, Mughal Gardens behind the Rashtrapati Bhavan is opened for public during a festival called Udyanotsav.

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               The Supreme Court can remove the President for electoral malpractices or for being not eligible to be a Lok Sabha member. The President may also be removed before the expiry of the term on the grounds of “Violation of Constitution”.

               The charges of impeachment can be initiated in either house of the parliament. For this, charges should be signed by 1/4th of the members of the house that has framed charges against the President. With an addition to this, a 14 days’ notice should be given to the President.

               The impeachment bill must be passed by at least 2/3rd majority of the total members of that house that has initiated the charges against the President. Once the impeachment bill is passed from the house that has initiated the charges, the bill is then sent to the other house which acts as the investigator of the charges initiated by the first house.

               The president has the right to appear during the investigation. If the other house also passes the bill with 2/3rd majority of votes, then the President stands removed from his office. No President has faced impeachment proceedings and so the above provisions have never been used.

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               The President can declare three types of emergencies: national state and financial.

               The President of India, after receiving a written communication of the decision of the Union Cabinet; may issue a proclamation of national emergency when the security of the nation, or any part thereof is threatened, or is likely to be threatened by war or foreign attack, or armed rebellion.

               Every such proclamation is required to be laid before each House of Parliament. Such an emergency was declared in India in 1962 (Indo-China war), 1971 (Indo-Pakistan war), and 1975 to 1977 (declared by Indira Gandhi). In such an emergency, fundamental rights of Indian citizens can be suspended.

               State emergency can be pro-claimed if the President of India is satisfied with the report of a Governor or otherwise, or on his own initiative that a situation has arisen in which that State Government cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

               President can announce financial emergency too. Such an emergency must be approved by the Parliament. It has never been declared.

            The President is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. The President can declare war or conclude peace, under regulation by the Parliament. The President is empowered with the power to grant pardons in certain situations. Apart from this, the President also has emergency powers.

            The President appoints, as Prime Minister, the person most likely to command the support of the majority in the Lok Sabha. Usually the leader of the majority party or coalition. The Governors of States are also appointed by the President.

             The President of India also exercises financial powers. No money bill can be introduced in the Parliament without the recommendation of the President. The President also holds diplomatic powers. All international treaties are negotiated and concluded on behalf of the President.

 

 

 

 

 

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               In Indian Parliamentary practice, the President is the nominal executive, or a Constitutional ruler. He is the head of the nation, but does not govern the nation.

               However, the president of India holds various powers. The powers and the functions of the President of India may be classified under five heads, executive, legislative, financial, judicial and emergency.

               Legislative power is constitutionally vested by the Parliament of India of which the President is the head, to facilitate the law making process. The President has the power of to summon and prorogue both the Houses of Parliament. He can also dissolve the House of the People before the expiry of its term. Generally, the President addresses the Parliament after the general elections.

               The President of India is the head of the executive of the Union Government. The President appoints the Governors of the States, the Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts of the States. The Prime Minister of India is appointed by the President, The President also appoints other Ministers in consultation with the Prime Minister.

 

            Unlike the conventional ballot voting system, where the voter polls only for a single candidate of his choice, the presidential election follows the Single Transferable Vote system. According to this, each voter marks out his or her preference for the presidential candidate. If there are five candidates for example, the voter will give five preferences, making his or her most preferred candidate as the top choice, and accordingly for the rest of the candidates. It is mandatory to give a first preference, as the vote will be declared invalid in its absence. The voter can leave other preferences vacant.

            It is not just the most first preferences that decides the winner, but it’s the total number of valid votes that decides how many votes a candidate needs in order to be declared winner. This number is divided by two, and added to one to form the benchmark of winning. The total combined value of votes in the Presidential elections is 10, 98,903. It is divided as 5, 49,408 for MPs and 5, 49,495 for MLAs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictures Credit : Google