President of India

Draupadi Murmu after winning the Presidential elections 2022, has become the first tribal and the second woman to hold the highest office. Draupadi Murmu took oath as the 15th President of India on July 25, 2022. She contested against Yashwant Sinha, the joint opposition’s nominee for the top constitutional job. Her oath was administered by the Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana in the Central Hall of Parliament.

Draupadi Murmu was born on June 20, 1958, in Uparbeda village of Mayurbhanj district in Odisha in a Santali tribal family. Her father is Shri. Biranchi Narayan Tudu, who was also the village head of their village. She got married to Shyam Charan Murmu, who was a banker and the couple had two sons and a daughter Itishri Murmu. However, in an unfortunate trail of events, she lost both her sons and her husband passed away in the year 2014.

Career as a Teacher

She began her career as a school teacher before entering into state politics. Draupadi ji worked as an assistant professor at the Shri Aurobindo Integral Education and Research Institute, Rairangpur, and as a Junior Assistant at the Irrigation department of the Government of Odisha.

Career as a Politician

Her political career began in the year 1997 when she joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and got elected as the councilor of Rairangpur Nagar Panchayat. In 2000, she became the Chairperson of Rairangpur Nagar Panchayat and also worked as the National Vice-President of BJP Scheduled Tribes Morcha.

When Bharatiya Janata Party came in coalition with Biju Janata Dal in the Orissa government, Draupadi Murmu’s political career advanced, and she served as a minister in different ministries. In 2007, she received the Nilkantha Award for the best MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) from the Odisha Legislative Assembly.

Positions held	Tenure
Minister of State with Independent Charge for Commerce and Transportation	March 6, 2000, to August 6, 2000
Minister of Fisheries and Animal Resources Development	August 6, 2002, to May 16, 2004
Former Odisha Minister	2000
MLA from Rairangpur Assembly Constituency	2004

Career as Jharkhand Governor

In the year 2015, on 18 May, Draupadi Murmu took oath as the Governor of Jharkhand and became the first woman Governor of the Jharkhand state. Draupadi Murmu as the Governor of Jharkhand in 2017 refused to give assent to a bill approved by the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly seeking amendments to the Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act, 1908, and the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act, 1949. The bill was aimed to give rights to the Tribals to make commercial use of their land, while also ensuring that the ownership of land does not change.

As a Presidential Candidate

Bharatiya Janata Party nominated Smt. Draupadi Murmu as the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in June 2022. She did extensive campaigning to gain support for her candidature, all around the country.

Election of the President

Article 54 of the Indian Constitution discusses the election of the President. It says that the President shall be elected by the members of an electoral college, which consists of the elected members of both the Houses of Parliament, and the Legislative Assemblies of the States and the two Union Territories, namely Delhi and Puducherry. The election of the President is held in accordance with a system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote. He can be re-elected to the office of the President. The oath of the President is administered by the Chief Justice of India, and in his absence, by the most senior judge of the Supreme Court.


Eligibility
Article 58 of the Indian Constitution says that the presidential candidate must:

• Be a citizen of India.
• Have completed the age of thirty-five years.
• Be qualified for elections as a member of the Lok Sabha.
• Not hold any office of profit under the Union or any State government, or any local or other authority.

Term of office
Article 56 of the Indian Constitution says that the President shall hold office for a term of five years from the date he takes up his post. He may resign from his office by writing his resignation to the Vice-President of India. But, he will continue to hold his office, in spite of tendering his resignation, until his successor takes up his office. And, before his office gets vacated, an election should be held for the same.

Article 61 provides for the manner in which he can be impeached on the violation of the Constitution. The Vice-President acts as his substitute in case his office falls vacant on the grounds of his death, resignation or impeachment or otherwise. Such a vacancy should be filled by an election necessarily taking place within six months of his office falling vacant.

Impeachment of President
Impeachment is the process to remove the President of India from his office before his term expires. The Impeachment can be carried out if the Constitution of India is violated by the President and the proceedings can be initiated in either of the two houses of the Parliament. Two-thirds majority is required to pass the resolution in the House. Thereafter, a notice signed by a quarter of the members of the House and containing the charges is sent to the President. After 14 days the charges are taken into consideration by the other House and in the meantime the President can defend himself. If the charges are approved by the second House also then the President is said to have been impeached. He has to leave his office.

Powers of President

The President of India is vested with the Executive, Legislative, Emergency, Diplomatic, Judicial and Military powers.

Executive Powers
All the executive powers of the Union shall be vested in him. These powers should be exercised by him in accordance with the Constitution of India. He appoints the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers. He also appoints the judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts in the states, besides appointing the Attorney General and Comptroller and auditor General of India. Among other critical powers, he enjoys the pardoning power, whereby he can pardon the death sentence awarded to a convict.

Legislative Powers
He can dissolve the Lok Sabha and end a session of the Parliament. He can also address the Parliament in its first session every year. He can nominate 12 members to the Rajya Sabha. These members must have extra ordinary accomplishments in the fields of science, art, literature and social service. He can also nominate 2 members to the Lok Sabha from the Anglo-Indian Community. When a bill is passed by the Parliament, the President can give or withhold his assent to it. He can also return it to the Parliament, unless it's a Money Bill or a Constitutional Amendment Bill.

Emergency Powers
He can declare national, state and financial emergency. National emergency can be declared on the grounds of war, external aggression or armed rebellion in the country. This can be done on the written request of the Cabinet Ministers after the proclamation has been approved by the Parliament. State emergency can be imposed in a state if it fails to run constitutionally. Financial emergency can be proclaimed if there is a likelihood of the financial instability in the country.

Financial Powers
Only when the President recommends can a money bill be introduced in the Parliament. He lays the Union budget before the Parliament and makes advances out of the Contingency Fund.

Diplomatic, Military and Judicial Powers
He appoints ambassadors and high commissioners to other countries. All international treaties are signed on his behalf. Under Military powers, he can declare war and conclude peace. He appoints Chief of Army, Navy and Air Force. He can dismiss judges if two-third majority of the members present of the two Houses of the Parliament pass the resolution to that effect.

Salary and Residence of President of India

The salary and allowances of the President are fixed by the Parliament of India. The current salary of the President is Rs 150000 per month. His official residence is Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

List of Presidents of India