Article 52 — The President of India

There shall be a President of India.

Source: Constitution of India, as published by the Ministry of Law and Justice.

The Constituent Assembly debated at length whether India should be a presidential republic (like the United States) or a parliamentary republic (like Britain). B. R. Ambedkar and Jawaharlal Nehru favoured parliamentary democracy, arguing it was more accountable because the executive could be removed by the legislature through a vote of no confidence. The drafters created a constitutional (ceremonial) President who formally exercises executive power but acts on the advice of the Cabinet. The model drew from the Westminster system and from the Government of India Acts of 1919 and 1935.

• Article 53
• Article 61
• Article 72
• Article 74
• Article 75
• Article 356

Last reviewed: 3 July 2026