Supreme Commander of Indian Armed Forces
The Constitution of India vests the supreme command of the Armed Forces of the Union in the President of India. This is stipulated in Article 53(1) of the Constitution.
Constitutional Role
- President of India: As the constitutional head of state, the President serves as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces (Army, Navy, and Air Force).
- Operational command and administration are exercised through the executive branch, primarily the Ministry of Defence and the Chiefs of Staff.
Other Roles Explained
- Prime Minister of India: The Prime Minister is the head of the government and plays a crucial role in defence policy and national security decisions, but is not the Supreme Commander.
- Chief of Army Staff: This is the operational head of the Indian Army, responsible for its administration and functioning under the Ministry of Defence.
- Chief of Defence Staff (CDS): The CDS is the professional head of the tri-service organisation and acts as the Principal Military Advisor to the Defence Minister and the government, but is subordinate to the President as Supreme Commander.
Therefore, the President of India holds the ultimate authority as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces.
Important Questions from Constitutional Bodies
Consider the following events :
1. Establishment of the Planning Commission
2. Formation of the National Development Council (NDC)
3. Approval of the First Five-Year Plan by the NDC
4. Constitution of the National Planning Committee
Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the above events?
- Who among the following is the Chairperson of the Goods and Services Tax Council?
Which one of the following statements about the Attorney General of India is not correct ?
Consider the following statements about Attorney-General in India:
1. She/he is the first law officer of the Government of India
2. She/he has a right to speak in any House of Parliament without any right to vote
3. She/he is appointed by the President of India
4. She/he is a whole-time counsel for the Government in the court of law
How many of the statements given above is/are correct?
Which of the following statements relating to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is/are correct?
1. The CAG can attend the sittings of the Committee on Public Accounts.
2. The CAG can attend the sittings of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
3. The jurisdiction of CAG is co-extensive with the powers of the Union Government.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
