Presidents of India – List from 1950-2025, Eligibility, Election & Removal
Gajendra Singh Godara
Sep 14, 2025
20
mins read
The President of India is the Head of State and the First Citizen of the country, symbolizing the unity of the nation. Article 52 of the Constitution establishes the office by stating that “there shall be a President of India.” While the President is the constitutional executive head, the role is largely ceremonial, with real executive authority exercised by the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister.
The President acts on the aid and advice of the Prime Minister and cabinet, performing crucial functions such as appointing key constitutional authorities, summoning and dissolving Parliament, and giving assent to bills.
Note : Varahagiri Venkata (V.V.) Giri, Justice Mohammad Hidayatullah and B.D. Jatti were Acting President
Constitutional Position of the President of India
Constitutional Basis: Under Part V (Articles 52–78), the President of India is the cornerstone of the Union Executive.
Executive Authority: Article 53 vests the executive power of the Union in the President, exercised in name but implemented by the elected government.
Nominal Executive: The President is a constitutional head / figurehead, bound by the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers in most matters.
Judicial Precedent: In Rai Sahib Ram Jawaya Kapur v. State of Punjab (1955), SC affirmed the President as a constitutional head; real power rests with Ministers.
Checks & Balance Role: Functions like assent to bills (withholding/returning a non-money bill = veto) highlight limited discretion.
Discretionary Space: In hung parliaments or appointment of Prime Minister, the President’s judgment is pivotal, guided by conventions.
Symbolic Role: The President embodies national unity, continuity, and constitutional supremacy, balancing ceremonial authority with representative democracy led by the Prime Minister and Parliament.
Eligibility Criteria for President of India
The Constitution lays out clear qualifications and conditions for anyone aspiring to be President. Article 58 specifies that a Presidential candidate must be:
a citizen of India,
at least 35 years of age, and
qualified for election as a member of the Lok Sabha (House of the People).
In practice, the third condition means the person must meet all the eligibility requirements to be an MP (such as being a registered voter and not otherwise disqualified).
Additionally, the candidate must not hold any office of profit under the Union or state governments (except for offices exempted by the Constitution).
Article 59 further imposes that the President cannot be a Member of Parliament or of any State Legislature at the time of taking office – if an MP/MLA is elected President, they are deemed to have vacated that seat on assumption of office.
Election of the President of India
Term & Mode: The President of India is indirectly elected for a five-year term; no direct popular vote.
Electoral College: Includes elected MPs (Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha) and elected MLAs of States + UTs (Delhi & Puducherry).
Exclusions: Nominated members of Parliament/Assemblies and members of State Legislative Councils do not vote.
Vote Value:
MLA’s vote = Population ÷ Total MLAs (1971 Census).
MP’s vote = Total MLA votes ÷ Total MPs.
Ensures balance between Union and States.
Voting Method: Proportional Representation, Single Transferable Vote (STV), Secret Ballot.
Winning Quota: Candidate must secure >50% of total vote value.
Supervision: Conducted by the Election Commission of India for fairness.
42nd & 44th Amendments: Made President bound by Council of Ministers’ advice, with limited scope to return advice once.
Oath, Term and Removal of the President
Oath of Office (Art. 60): The President takes an oath administered by the Chief Justice of India, pledging to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and to serve the people of India faithfully.
Tenure (Art. 56): The President holds office for a fixed term of five years but continues until a successor assumes charge. There is no limit on the number of terms a person can serve, as seen with Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the only President to serve two terms.
Re-election: The President is eligible for indefinite re-election, though in practice, presidents usually serve one term.
Vacancy and Acting President: A vacancy may arise due to resignation, death, removal, or incapacity. During such times, the Vice-President acts as President until a fresh election is conducted within six months.
Impeachment (Art. 61): The President can be removed only for “violation of the Constitution.” The impeachment process requires a notice by at least one-fourth members in either House, a 14-day notice period, and a two-thirds majority pass in both Houses. The President has a right to defend themselves during the process.
List of Presidents of India from 1950 to 2025
Since the Constitution came into effect on 26 January 1950, India has had 15 Presidents (not counting a few who served briefly as Acting President). Below is a chronological list of the Presidents of India, along with their tenure in office:
No. | President of India | Term of Office |
1st President of India | Dr. Rajendra Prasad | 1950–1962 |
2nd President of India | Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan | 1962–1967 |
3rd President of India | Dr. Zakir Husain | 1967–1969 |
- | Varahagiri Venkata (V.V.) Giri – Acting President | May – July 1969 |
- | Justice Mohammad Hidayatullah – Acting President | July – Aug 1969 |
4th President of India | Varahagiri Venkata (V.V.) Giri | 1969–1974 |
5th President of India | Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed | 1974–1977 |
- | B.D. Jatti – Acting President | Feb – July 1977 |
6th President of India | Neelam Sanjiva Reddy | 1977–1982 |
7th President of India | Giani Zail Singh | 1982–1987 |
8th President of India | Ramaswamy Venkataraman | 1987–1992 |
9th President of India | Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma | 1992–1997 |
10th President of India | Kocheril Raman Narayanan | 1997–2002 |
11th President of India | Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam | 2002–2007 |
12th President of India | Pratibha Patil | 2007–2012 |
13th President of India | Pranab Mukherjee | 2012–2017 |
14th President of India | Ram Nath Kovind | 2017–2022 |
15th President of India | Droupadi Murmu | 2022–Present (incumbent) |
(The list above includes two short interim periods where the Vice-President or Chief Justice acted as President due to untimely vacancies. These Acting Presidents are not counted in the numbering of full presidents.)
Check this blog to understand the Powers, Term, Election and Removal of Vice president of India : Vice President of India, Articles, List of Vice Presidents of India, Powers, Term, Election and Removal
Key Highlights of Presidents of India
Dr. Rajendra Prasad (1950–1962)
First President of India; only one to serve two full terms.
Veteran freedom fighter, President of Constituent Assembly.
Awarded Bharat Ratna (1962).
Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan (1962–1967)
Philosopher, former Vice-President.
His birthday (5th Sept) was celebrated as Teacher’s Day.
Awarded Bharat Ratna (1954).
Dr. Zakir Husain (1967–1969)
First Muslim President.
Co-founder of Jamia Millia Islamia.
First President to die in office (1969).
V.V. Giri (1969–1974)
First independent candidate for President.
Initially served as Acting President after Husain’s death.
Awarded Bharat Ratna (1975).
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (1974–1977)
Declared Emergency (1975) on PM Indira Gandhi’s advice.
Second President to die in office (1977).
Vice-President B.D. Jatti acted as President.
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy (1977–1982)
Only the President which was elected unopposed.
Youngest President (64 years).
Former CM of Andhra Pradesh, Speaker of Lok Sabha.
Giani Zail Singh (1982–1987)
First Sikh President.
Tenure saw Operation Blue Star & Indira Gandhi’s assassination.
Used Pocket Veto on Post Office Bill (1986).
R. Venkataraman (1987–1992)
Freedom fighter, former Defence Minister & Vice-President.
Guided presidency during coalition governments.
Received several international honors.
Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma (1992–1997)
Former Vice-President, CM of Bhopal State.
Took oath in Hindi (1992).
Respected for role during hung parliaments (1996).
K.R. Narayanan (1997–2002)
First Dalit President.
Asserted discretion in hung Parliament (1998) – asked Vajpayee to prove majority.
First sitting President to vote in a general election.
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (2002–2007)
“Missile Man of India,” first scientist-President.
Massively popular among youth; inspirational speeches.
Returned Office of Profit Bill for reconsideration.
Awarded Bharat Ratna (1997).
Pratibha Patil (2007–2012)
First woman President of India.
Former Governor of Rajasthan.
First woman head of state to fly Sukhoi-30 (2009).
Pranab Mukherjee (2012–2017)
Veteran statesman; served as FM, DM, EAM.
“Man for all seasons” with deep governance knowledge.
Awarded Bharat Ratna (2019).
Ram Nath Kovind (2017–2022)
Second Dalit President after K.R. Narayanan.
Former Governor of Bihar, lawyer.
Advocated social justice & education.
Oversaw ceremonial role during COVID-19 pandemic.
Droupadi Murmu (2022–Present)
15th and current President.
First tribal President, second woman.
Former Governor of Jharkhand; belongs to Santhal tribe.
Focuses on tribal welfare, women’s empowerment, education.
In 2023–25, used Article 143 reference to SC for clarity on Governor’s powers.
Dive into Articles 352, 356, 360 to see how the President’s emergency powers work and the checks on them by reading this article 50 Years National Emergency in India: Reasons, Amendments & Lessons
Powers of the President of India
Executive Powers (Article 53):
The President is the head of the Union Executive; all executive actions are taken in the President’s name.
Appoints key officials, including the Prime Minister, Council of Ministers, Governors, Judges, CAG, AG, Election Commission members, and UPSC members (Articles 75, 161, 128, 148, etc.).
Serves as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, appointing service chiefs (Article 53).
Legislative Powers:
The President is an integral part of Parliament with the power to summon, prorogue, and dissolve the Lok Sabha (Articles 85, 174).
Gives assent to bills or returns non-money bills once for reconsideration; cannot veto money bills or constitutional amendment bills (Articles 111, 368).
Nominates 12 members to the Rajya Sabha (Article 80) and previously nominated Anglo-Indians to the Lok Sabha.
Can convene joint sittings of Parliament under Article 108 and promulgate ordinances when Parliament is not in session under Article 123.
Financial Powers:
Annual Union Budget is presented in the President’s name; money bills require prior recommendation (Articles 112, 117).
Controls the Contingency Fund of India (Article 267).
Constitutes the Finance Commission every five years (Article 280) to review financial relations between Centre and States.
Judicial Powers:
Appoints judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts (Articles 124, 217).
Can seek advisory opinions from the Supreme Court under Article 143.
Has pardoning power under Article 72, including commuting death sentences and court-martial reprieves.
Diplomatic Powers:
Represents India internationally and accredits envoys.
Signs treaties and agreements in the President’s name with Parliament’s ratification (Article 73).
Declares war or peace on Cabinet’s advice.
Emergency Powers:
Can proclaim National Emergency (Article 352) during war, external aggression or armed rebellion.
Imposes President’s Rule under Article 356 in states during constitutional breakdown.
Declares Financial Emergency under Article 360 during threats to financial stability.
These powers are limited by the 44th Amendment and the Supreme Court’s S.R. Bommai judgment.
President of India vs Governor: A Comparison
Aspect | President of India | Governor of a State |
Selection | Indirectly elected by Electoral College: elected MPs (Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha) + elected MLAs of states & UTs. | Appointed by the President of India (Union Government’s choice). |
Tenure & Removal
| 5-year term (Art. 56). Can resign to the Vice-President or be impeached by Parliament for “violation of Constitution” (Art. 61). Eligible for re-election.
| Normally 5 years, but holds office at the pleasure of the President. Can be removed anytime by the Union Government (no impeachment). |
Jurisdiction & Scope | Head of State for the entire Union of India. Powers over national defense, foreign affairs, war/peace. Represents India internationally. | Head of one state. Powers confined to state executive & legislation. No role in defense or diplomacy |
Legislative Role | Summons, prorogues, dissolves Lok Sabha. Assent to bills; can return a non-money bill once. Ordinance-making power under Art. 123. | Summons, prorogues, dissolves State Assembly. Can reserve bills for President under Art. 201. Ordinance-making power under Art. 213.
|
Pardoning Power | Art. 72: Can grant pardons, reprieves, commutations, remissions for Union law offences, court-martial sentences, and death penalty. | Art. 161: Can remit/commute sentences under state law. Cannot pardon death sentence or court-martial cases.
|
Discretionary Powers | After 42nd & 44th Amendments, almost no discretion; must act on aid & advice of the Council of Ministers, except in rare cases (e.g., hung Parliament, returning advice once). | Wider discretion: choosing CM in hung assembly, recommending President’s Rule (Art. 356), reserving bills for the President, or special responsibilities under state provisions. |
UPSC Previous Year Questions
Q. Consider the following statements with regard to pardoning power of the President of India: (2025)
The exercise of this power by the President can be subjected to limited judicial review.
The President can exercise this power without the advice of the Central Government.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a)
Q. Consider the following statements regarding constitutional provisions in India: (2025)
The Constitution of India explicitly mentions situations where the Governor of a State can act in his/her discretion.
The President of India can, on his/her own, reserve a Bill passed by a State Legislature for consideration, even without it being forwarded by the Governor of the concerned State.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a)
Q. Consider the following statements: (2023 )
If the election of the President of India is declared void by the Supreme Court of India, all acts done by him/her in the performance of duties of his/her office of President before the date of decision become invalid.
Elections for the post of the President of India can be postponed on the grounds that some Legislative Assemblies have been dissolved and elections are yet to take place.
When a Bill is presented to the President of India, the Constitution prescribes time limits within which he/she has to declare his/ her assent.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (d)
In conclusion, the advent of the President’s Office in India’s constitutional scheme was a thoughtfully crafted aspect of our democratic republic – creating a Head of State who embodies the majesty of the law and continuity of governance without wielding arbitrary power. Over the decades, India’s Presidents have ranged from freedom fighters to scholars and career politicians, each navigating the fine line between authority and accountability. The Presidency has largely functioned as intended – a stabilizing, non-partisan force that guards the Constitution and facilitates the transfer of power, while the real governing power rests with the elected government. However, history also shows moments when Presidents rose to the occasion: be it in protecting the spirit of the Constitution during emergencies, advising caution to governments, or representing India on the world stage with grace and dignity.
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