Discuss the Powers of the Indian President

President

The President is the head of the Indian State. He is the First Citizen of India and acts as the symbol of Unity, Integrity and Solidarity of the Nation.

Executive

Running of all administration in his name, making of rules for the conduct of government business and allocation of work among the ministers.
Having information of all important decisions of the Cabinet, referring any mater for the consideration of the Cabinet.
Making important appointments and removals.
Maintaining foreign relations.
Holding supreme command of the Defence Forces.
Approving rules and regulations for the working of the Supreme Court and other independent agencies.
Sending directions and instructions to state governments and invoking Art.356 in case of the breakdown of Constitutional machinery in a State.
Running of the administration of Union Territories and Scheduled and Tribal Areas.

Powers of President

Legislative

Summoning and proroguing sessions of Parliament and dissolving Lok Sabha.
Making nomination of 12 members to the Rajya Sabha and 2 to the Lok Sabha.
Delivering inaugural addresses and sending messages to the Parliament.
Exercising veto power over non-money bills- absolute as well as suspensive.
Giving prior permission for introducing certain kinds of bills in Parliament.
Promulgating an ordinance if the Parliament is not in session.
Causing presentation in the Parliament of reports and recommendations of various commissions.
Making appointment of presiding officer pro tem of the Lok Sabha.
Allowing extension, modification, or abrogation of law in cases of ports and aerodromes.
Exercising absolute veto power over State legislation in certain cases.

Financial

Judicial

Granting commutation of sentence, reprieve or pardon, respites or remissions or suspension of punishments by virtue of holding prerogative of mercy.
He appoints the Chief Justice of India and other judges of Supreme Court and High Courts.
He can seek advice from the Supreme Court on any question of law or fact.

Emergency

The constitution confers extraordinary powers on the President to deal with three types of emergencies
National emergency (Art.352)
President’s rule (Art.356 & 365)
Financial emergency (Art. 360)
Art.352-President declares national emergency when security is threatened due to war, external aggression and internal rebellion.
Provision of emergency in a State(Art 356) in the event if breakdown of constitutional machinery.
Art 365 – enforcement of President’s rule when a State does not obey the union government direction or the Indian Constitution.
The President under Art 360 has the power to declare financial emergency if he is satisfied that financial stability or the credit of India is threatened.

Miscellaneous

Reference of any matter of public importance involving a question of law or fact to the advisory opinion of the Supreme Court.
Determining the strength of Judges in the High Court.
Making rules for the composition and working of the Union Public Service Commission.
Setting up official languages Commission and taking steps for the progressive use of Hindi for official purposes on the basis of its recommendations.
Making special regulations for the administration of the State of Jammu-Kashmir.
Making special rules and regulations for the administration of Scheduled and Tribal Areas.

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