Difference Between Prime Minister and President of India

Difference Between Prime Minister and President of India: As a democratic republic, India comprises a unique system of governance. It adheres to a parliamentary system, where the President is the nominal head of the executive, and the Prime Minister is the head of the Union Council of Ministers. Although they are the two most important positions in the Indian government, their roles, powers, and responsibilities are different. Read on to learn more about the difference between the Prime Minister and the President on this page.

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Difference Between Prime Minister and President of India

The President and Prime Minister of India serve different yet complementary roles in governance. While the President offers stability and continuity as the constitutional head, the Prime Minister guides the nation towards advancement through decisive leadership. They represent how India’s parliamentary democracy must function with a proper balance of power and responsibility. In this article, we have discussed the key differences between the Prime Minister and the President in terms of role, powers, elections, etc., for a better understanding of the functionality of the political framework.

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President of India

The President of India is the head of state of the country and the nominal head of the executive. Check the roles, powers, and election of the President of India discussed below in a detailed manner for reference purposes:

Selection of President

• Article 58 of the Indian Constitution outlines the essential criteria for an individual to be eligible for the office of the President.
• As per Article 71(1), the Supreme Court has the power to investigate and solve any problems or disagreements that happen during the election of the President
• As per Article 71(1), the Supreme Court cannot directly remove the President from office. However, if the court finds that the President's election was unfair or illegal, or if they no longer meet the requirements to be President, the court can declare the election void.
• Article 361 of the Constitution states that the President cannot be forced to appear in court to answer questions. They can only testify if they choose to.

Powers of President

The President of India holds significant power, such as legislative, executive, and judicial powers. Check the list of powers of the President in India discussed below:

• The President is required to approve all laws passed by Parliament.
• They are responsible for upholding the Constitution and laws of India.
• The President has the authority to appoint key officials such as the Prime Minister, governors of states and other members of the Council of Ministers.
• Their approval is required to introduce a financial bill in Parliament.

Roles and Responsibilities of the President

The main responsibility of the President of India is to safeguard the Constitution and laws of India. Check the list of roles and responsibilities of the President in India discussed below:

• As per the constitution, the President will appoint the Prime Minister and then the other members of the Council of Ministers on the advice of the Prime Minister
• The President is responsible for handling all international treaties and agreements with other countries.
• The President has the power to declare war or make peace based on the advice of the Prime Minister and their union council of ministers.
• The Contingency Fund of India serves as a resource from which the President can obtain advances to cover unanticipated expenses

Election of President

The candidate must be a citizen of India, 35 years of age or above and possess the required qualification to become a member of the Lok Sabha in order to be eligible for election of President. The election of the President is done through an electoral college system. The electoral college system involves elected members of both houses of parliament (MPs), State Legislative Assemblies (Vidhan Sabha) of all States and the elected members of the legislative assemblies (MLAs) of union territories with the legislature. A presidential candidate's nomination requires support from at least 50 proposers and 50 seconders who are all eligible to vote.

Prime Minister of India

The Prime Minister of India is the head of the Union Council of Ministers of the country. Check the roles, powers, and election of the Prime Minister of India discussed below in a detailed manner for reference purposes:

Selection of Prime Minister

• Articles 84 and 75 of the Indian Constitution outline the eligibility criteria for Members of Parliament and Ministers, respectively.
• Article 53(1) of the Indian Constitution establishes the existence of a Council of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister. This council is entrusted with the responsibility of assisting and advising the President in the discharge of their duties. 
• Article 74(1) of the Indian Constitution outlines the appointment process for the Prime Minister and other ministers. The President holds the authority to appoint the Prime Minister. 
• As per  Article 74(1) of the Constitution of India, the Prime Minister shall be appointed by the President and the other Ministers shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. However, the appointment of other ministers to the Council of Ministers rests entirely on the advice and recommendation of the Prime Minister.

Powers & Roles of Prime Minister

The Prime Minister of India holds significant power, such as executive, administrative and legislative powers. Check the list of powers and responsibilities of the Prime Minister in India discussed below:

• The Prime Minister heads the authority and functioning of the Indian government.
• They assist the President in the allocation of roles and responsibilities to various government ministries and departments.
• They represent India in international forums, attend high-level meetings, and discuss matters of national significance.
• They embody the executive in the legislature, introduce legislation, and answer queries from the opposition.

Election of Prime Minister of India

Candidate must be a citizen of India, a member of the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha and 25 years or above are eligible for election of Prime Minister of India. To become Prime Minister, an individual must be a member of Parliament within six months of their tenure. They are not directly elected by the people, but instead by the President. The leader of the party with the most seats in the Lok Sabha usually becomes Prime Minister. Once elected, they must give up any private or government jobs.

Difference Between Prime Minister and President

Here is a detailed table that specifies the difference between the Prime Minister and the President in terms of their roles, responsibilities, and authority discussed below: