The President of India is elected by:

The correct answer is members of the electoral college.

Key Points

• The President of India is elected indirectly by an electoral college as per Article 55 of the Indian Constitution.
• The electoral college consists of elected representatives from both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of States (including Union Territories with legislatures).
• The process is governed under the provisions of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952.
• The election is conducted through a system of proportional representation using a single transferable vote.
• The value of votes is calculated based on the population of states as per the 1971 Census and the number of elected representatives.
• The election ensures a balance between representation from the Union Parliament and the State Legislatures.
• The voting takes place through a secret ballot to uphold the integrity of the election process.
• The President serves as the head of the state and the supreme commander of the Indian Armed Forces.

 Additional Information

• Direct vote of the people
  • The President of India is not elected directly by the citizens because the Constitution provides for an indirect election to ensure a wider representation.
  • This method prevents political instability and ensures the selection of a candidate acceptable to both the Union and State Legislatures.
• State Governors
  • State Governors are appointed by the President and do not have any role in the election process for the President.
  • They act as the constitutional head of states, representing the Union Government but are not part of the electoral college.
• Members of the Rajya Sabha only
  • While the Rajya Sabha members do participate in the election, the electoral college also includes members from the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies.
  • Limiting the election process to Rajya Sabha members alone would exclude a significant portion of the electoral college.