Which one of the following best describes the electoral system to elect the President of India?
Proportional Representation and Single Transferable Vote System
Understanding the Electoral System for the President of India
The President of India is the head of the state and is elected through a specific and unique electoral system outlined in the Constitution of India. Unlike direct elections where citizens vote directly, the President is elected by an electoral college.
The Electoral College for the President
The electoral college responsible for electing the President consists of:
- The elected members of both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha).
- The elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States.
- The elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the Union Territories of Delhi and Puducherry.
Nominated members of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies, and members of Legislative Councils in states having bicameral legislatures, are not part of the electoral college.
The Electoral System: Proportional Representation by Single Transferable Vote
The Constitution specifies that the election of the President shall be held in accordance with the system of Proportional Representation by means of the Single Transferable Vote.
What is Proportional Representation?
In the context of the Indian Presidential election, 'Proportional Representation' doesn't mean allocating seats based on the proportion of votes received by parties, as seen in some other systems. Here, it means that the value of votes of the electors (MLAs and MPs) is proportional to the population they represent. The votes of MLAs from different states have different values based on the population of their respective states. The votes of MPs have a value calculated based on the total value of votes of all MLAs.
What is the Single Transferable Vote (STV) System?
The Single Transferable Vote system is a preferential voting method. In this system:
- Each elector (MP or MLA) has only one vote.
- Electors mark their preferences for the candidates (1, 2, 3, and so on). They can mark as many preferences as there are candidates.
- To be elected, a candidate must secure a required quota of votes. This quota is typically calculated using the formula: \(\text{Quota} = \left( \frac{\text{Total number of valid votes cast}}{\text{Number of candidates to be elected} + 1} \right) + 1\). Since only one President is elected, the formula simplifies slightly, but the principle of reaching a specific threshold remains.
The counting process involves checking first preferences. If no candidate reaches the quota in the first round, the candidate with the fewest first preference votes is eliminated, and their votes are transferred to the next preferred candidate marked on those ballots. This process continues until one candidate reaches the required quota and is declared elected.
Why this System for the Presidential Election?
The system of Proportional Representation by means of Single Transferable Vote ensures that the elected President represents, as far as possible, the various states and also the Union, as reflected by the composition of the electoral college. It aims to elect a candidate who has broad support across different political groups and states, rather than just a simple majority based on first preferences.
Analyzing the Options
Let's look at the provided options in the context of the President of India's election:
- Proportional Representation: While the system uses principles of proportional representation (vote value based on population), this option alone doesn't fully describe the mechanism of voting and counting.
- Proportional Representation and Single Transferable Vote System: This option accurately combines the two key elements of the electoral system as specified in the Constitution. It describes both the principle behind vote value and the method of voting and vote counting.
- First-Past-the-Post System: This system is used for Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections where the candidate with the highest number of votes in a constituency wins. This is not the system for the Presidential election.
- List System: The List System is a form of proportional representation used in some countries for electing members of parliament, where parties present lists of candidates. This is not used for the Presidential election in India.
Therefore, the system that best describes the election of the President of India is Proportional Representation and Single Transferable Vote System.
Revision Table: Key Aspects of Presidential Election
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Electoral Body | Electoral College (Elected MPs, Elected MLAs of States & UTs of Delhi, Puducherry) |
| System Name | Proportional Representation by means of Single Transferable Vote |
| Vote Value | Votes of MLAs and MPs have different values calculated based on population and total MLA vote value. |
| Voting Method | Preferential voting (electors mark preferences 1, 2, 3...) |
| Winning Criteria | Securing the required quota of votes. |
Additional Information on Presidential Election System
Understanding the specifics of the President's election system is crucial for comprehending the Indian political structure. Here are a few more points:
- Indirect Election: The President is indirectly elected, rather than directly by the people. This is partly because India follows a parliamentary system where the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers are the real executive, and the President is the constitutional head. Direct election might create a parallel center of power.
- Uniformity of Representation: The complex calculation of vote values for MLAs and MPs is intended to ensure uniformity in the representation of the states as well as parity between the states as a whole and the Union.
- Secrecy of Ballot: The voting in the Presidential election is by secret ballot.
This system ensures that the election of the President is conducted in a manner that reflects the weighted representation of the constituent units of the Indian Union and the Union government itself, through a process that encourages consensus or broad support among the electors.
Similar Questions
Which one of the following statements about the Vice-President of India is not correct ?
Which one of the following States does not have a Legislative Council?
Rajya Sabha has exclusive jurisdiction in
A Joint Sitting of the Parliament is resorted to, for resolving the deadlock between two Houses of the Parliament for passing which of the following Bills?
1. Money Bill
2. Constitutional Amendment Bill
3. Ordinary Bill
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
The President of India is elected by an Electoral College comprising of elected members of which of the following?
1. Both the Houses of the Parliament
2. The Legislative Assemblies of States
3. The Legislative Councils of States
4. The Legislative Assemblies of NCT of Delhi and Puducherry
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Consider the following statements:
1. The President of India shall have the power to appoint and remove the Speaker of Lok Sabha.
Which of the statements given above is /are correct?
2. The Speaker has to discharge the functions of his office himself throughout his term and cannot delegate his functions to the Deputy Speaker during his absence from the station or during his illness.Which of the following statements regarding Rajya Sabha is/are correct?
1. The maximum permissible strength of the Rajya Sabha is 250.
2. In Rajya Sabha, 238 members are elected indirectly from the States and Union Territories.
3. It shares legislative powers equally with Lok Sabha in matters such as the creation of All India Services.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:Consider the following statements about the President of India:
1. The President has the right to address and send messages to the Council of Ministers to elicit specific information.
2. The President can call for information relating to proposals for legislation.
3. All decisions of the Council of Ministers relating to the administration of the Union must be communicated to the President.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?Who among the following Prime Ministers of India was defeated by a vote of No Confidence?
1. Morarji Desai
2. Viswanath Pratap Singh
3. H.D. Deve Gowda
4. Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Select the correct answer using the code given below:Which of the following statements relating to the powers of the President of India is/are correct?
1. The executive power of the Union shall be vested in the President.
2. The executive power shall be exercised by the President only through officers subordinate to him.
3. The supreme command of the defense forces of the Union shall be vested in the President.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Important Questions from Central Government
Who appoints the Chief Election Commissioner of India?
What is correct about the dismissal of Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha ?
i. He can be dismissed by no-confidence motion
ii. To introduce such resolution prior notice of 14 days is essential
iii. Such resolution should be passed by absolute majority
iv. Such resolution should be passed by a majority of the ten members of the house
What is correct ?
i. Finance Bill can be introduced in Lok Sabha only
ii. Rajya Sabha can detain the Finance Bill
If the Vice President removed from his office, what shall happened?
Consider the following statements :
1. In India, there is no law restricting the candidates from contesting in one Lok Sabha election from three constituencies.
2. In 1991 Lok Sabha Election, Shri Devi Lal contested from three Lok Sabha constituencies.
3. As per the- existing rules, if a candidate contests in one Lok Sabha election from many constituencies, his/her party should bear the cost of bye elections to the constituencies vacated by him/her in the event of him/her winning in all the constituencies.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
