India, the world's largest democracy, has a detailed and systematic process for electing its Prime Minister and President. Here's an easy-to-understand guide to the electoral processes for these key positions and a look at the historical leaders who have shaped the nation.
How is the Prime Minister Elected?
The election of the Prime Minister of India involves several steps, closely linked to the general elections and the functioning of the Lok Sabha (House of the People).
1. General Elections:
General elections are held every five years to elect Members of Parliament (MPs) for the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament.
Citizens aged 18 and above vote to elect MPs from 543 constituencies across India.
2. Lok Sabha and the Majority Party:
The Lok Sabha is the directly elected house, and the party or coalition with the majority of seats (at least 272 out of 543) is invited to form the government.
The leader of the majority party or coalition is typically chosen as the Prime Minister.
3. Appointment by the President:
The President of India formally appoints the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister then selects other ministers to form the Union Cabinet.
4. Vote of Confidence:
The newly appointed Prime Minister must prove their majority in the Lok Sabha by passing a Vote of Confidence.
Difference between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha:
Lok Sabha: The lower house of Parliament, directly elected by the people, with members serving five-year terms.
Rajya Sabha: The upper house of Parliament, with members elected by the elected members of State Legislative Assemblies and by the members of the Electoral college for Union Territories, serving six-year terms. It represents the states and union territories of India.
How is the President Elected?
The election of the President of India involves a more complex process, engaging both houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) and the State Legislative Assemblies.
1. Electoral College:
The President is elected by an Electoral College comprising elected members of both houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of States and Union Territories.
Lok Sabha: Represents the people of India.
Rajya Sabha: Represents the states and union territories.
2. Voting System:
The election is conducted through a system of proportional representation using a single transferable vote.
Each voter ranks the candidates in order of preference.
3. Quotas and Votes:
Votes are counted, and candidates must achieve a specific quota to win. The quota is determined based on the total number of votes and the number of positions available.
4. Declaration of Results:
The candidate who achieves the quota is declared elected as the President of India.
Historical Leaders of India
Prime Ministers of India | Presidents of India: |
Jawaharlal Nehru (1947-1964) | Dr. Rajendra Prasad (1950-1962) |
Lal Bahadur Shastri (1964-1966) | Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1962-1967) |
Indira Gandhi (1966-1977, 1980-1984) | Dr. Zakir Husain (1967-1969) |
Morarji Desai (1977-1979) | Varahagiri Venkata Giri (1969-1974) |
Charan Singh (1979-1980) | Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (1974-1977) |
Rajiv Gandhi (1984-1989) | Neelam Sanjiva Reddy (1977-1982) |
Vishwanath Pratap Singh (1989-1990) | Giani Zail Singh (1982-1987) |
Chandra Shekhar (1990-1991) | R. Venkataraman (1987-1992) |
P. V. Narasimha Rao (1991-1996) | Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma (1992-1997) |
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1996, 1998-2004) | K. R. Narayanan (1997-2002) |
H. D. Deve Gowda (1996-1997) | Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (2002-2007) |
I. K. Gujral (1997-1998) | Pratibha Patil (2007-2012) |
Manmohan Singh (2004-2014) | Pranab Mukherjee (2012-2017) |
Narendra Modi (2014-present) | Ram Nath Kovind (2017-2022) |
Droupadi Murmu (2022-present) |
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