Executive Powers of President — Detailed & Easy
First understand the base idea:
In India, the real executive = Prime Minister + Council of Ministers
But Constitution says:
👉 Executive power is vested in the President
👉 So all actions are taken in President’s name
President = constitutional head
Government = works in his/her name
Now each power clearly 👇
(a) All executive actions are taken in President’s name
This means every decision of Central Government is officially issued in the name of President.
Even though decision is taken by ministers/officials, legally it is considered President’s decision.
Detailed example
Government wants to appoint a new IAS officer as District Collector.
Process:
DoPT prepares file
Minister approves
PM approves
But final order will say:
“The President of India is pleased to appoint…”
So legally → appointment by President.
Same for:
Govt schemes approval
Officer transfers
Policy decisions
Rules notification
All in President’s name.
(b) President makes rules on how orders are authenticated
Since all orders are in President’s name, someone must sign them.
So Constitution allows President to make rules:
Who can sign govt orders
How orders become legally valid
This is called Authentication Rules.
Detailed example
President makes rule:
“Secretary of Ministry can sign orders on behalf of President.”
Now when Secretary signs:
“By order and in the name of the President of India”
→ order becomes legally valid.
Without such rule, every order would need President’s personal signature (impossible).
(c) President makes rules for transaction of govt business & allocation among ministers
This means President formally organizes how Union Government functions:
Which ministry handles which subject
How decisions move between ministries
Cabinet procedure
These are called Transaction of Business Rules and Allocation of Business Rules.
Detailed example
Subjects divided like:
Defence → Defence Ministry
Education → Education Ministry
Railways → Railway Ministry
Finance → Finance Ministry
Officially these allocations are issued in President’s name.
So legally → ministries exist under President’s authority.
(d) President appoints Prime Minister and other Ministers; they hold office during President’s pleasure
Constitutionally:
President appoints PM
President appoints ministers on PM advice
Ministers hold office during President’s pleasure
But in practice:
President must appoint majority leader as PM.
Detailed example
After Lok Sabha election:
Party X gets majority.
Steps:
President invites Party X leader
Appoints him Prime Minister
PM gives list of ministers
President appoints them
“Pleasure of President” means:
Formally ministers remain until President removes them.
But actually:
If PM resigns → all ministers go.
(e) President appoints Attorney General of India and decides remuneration
Attorney General = top legal officer of India
He advises govt in legal matters and represents in Supreme Court.
President appoints him and fixes salary.
Detailed example
Govt needs senior lawyer as AG.
PM recommends name → President appoints.
AG appears in Supreme Court:
“Attorney General for India”
Works during President’s pleasure.
(f) President appoints major constitutional authorities
President appoints many key posts to run the state machinery.
These include:
CAG → audits govt money
Election Commissioners → conduct elections
UPSC members → recruit civil servants
Governors → head of states
Finance Commission → tax distribution
Detailed example
Election Commissioner vacancy arises.
Selection committee recommends name → President appoints.
So legally → Election Commission authority comes from President.
(g) President can ask information from Prime Minister
President has right to know how country is governed.
So PM must give any information President asks regarding:
Administration
Policies
Decisions
Bills
Detailed example
Suppose:
Border conflict situation.
President asks PM:
“What actions govt has taken?”
PM must explain fully.
This ensures President is informed head.
(h) President can require PM to place minister’s decision before Council of Ministers
Sometimes one minister may take decision alone without Cabinet discussion.
President can say:
“Put this matter before full Council.”
Detailed example
Environment Minister alone approves major mining policy.
President feels issue is important.
President asks PM:
“Place this before Cabinet.”
Now full Council discusses.
So President ensures collective responsibility.
(i) President can appoint Commission for Backward Classes
President can create commission to study conditions of socially and educationally backward classes.
Detailed example
Govt wants to study OBC conditions.
President appoints commission:
Example: Mandal Commission.
Commission studies:
Social status
Education level
Representation
Gives report to President.
(j) President can appoint Inter-State Council
India has Centre and States → disputes may arise.
President can create council for:
Centre–State cooperation
State–State coordination
Detailed example
River water dispute between two states.
Inter-State Council meeting called.
States + Centre discuss.
Council exists under President’s authority.
(k) President administers Union Territories through Administrators
Union Territories are not states.
So they are governed directly by Union Government in President’s name.
President appoints:
Administrator
Lieutenant Governor
Detailed example
Delhi has LG.
LG acts in name of President.
So legally:
Delhi administration = President’s administration.
(l) President can declare Scheduled Areas & administer Tribal Areas
Some tribal regions need protection.
President can:
Declare Scheduled Area
Make special administration rules
Detailed example
Tribal region in state identified.
President declares:
“Scheduled Area”
Now:
Special land protections
Tribal safeguards
Governor reports to President
So tribal administration linked to President.