Qualifications of the President
Also called: Article 58 · Topic: Union Executive: President, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Council of Ministers · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Art. 58 sets out who can become President. The person must be a citizen of India, at least 35 years old and qualified to be a Lok Sabha member. They must not hold an office of profit, meaning a paid government post. A 1952 Act (amended in 1997) adds that the nomination must have 50 proposers and 50 seconders from the electoral college, and the candidate must pay a ₹15,000 deposit. These rules keep out non-serious candidates.
Example
In 2022, Droupadi Murmu met these conditions and was elected the 15th President. She was the first President from a Scheduled Tribe.
Don't confuse with
- Qualifications of the Vice-President: the Vice-President must be qualified for the Rajya Sabha, not the Lok Sabha, and needs only 20 proposers and 20 seconders. The deposit is the same ₹15,000.
Related concepts
- Election of the President
- Value of votes in presidential election
- Impeachment of the President
- Presidential election disputes
- Immunity of the President and Governors