Election of the President

Articles 52 to 78 of the Constitution establish the framework for the Union Executive and set the stage for the President’s role as the head of state. The President is not elected directly by the people but by an electoral college made up of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the legislative assemblies of the states and certain Union Territories (Delhi and Puducherry).

The election is conducted using a system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote, with each elector marking their preferences (1, 2, 3, etc.) on a secret ballot. A fixed quota is determined by dividing the total number of valid votes by the number of candidates (plus one) and then adding one to the quotient. This ensures that the winning candidate secures an absolute majority.

It is important to note that nominated members of Parliament or the state assemblies do not participate in this process, thereby ensuring that only directly elected representatives contribute to the outcome. This method reinforces the legitimacy and symbolic unity of the office.