Question map
Which one of the following statements about the election of the President of India is not correct?
Explanation
The statement that a Union Minister is ineligible for election as President is incorrect. Under Article 58 of the Constitution, a candidate must not hold any office of profit under the Government of India or any State Government. However, a sitting President, Vice-President, Governor, or a Minister of the Union or any State is specifically deemed not to hold an office of profit for this purpose, making them eligible for election. The President is elected by an Electoral College comprising elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the Legislative Assemblies of States and Union Territories like Delhi and Puducherry [3]. This Electoral College explicitly excludes members of Legislative Councils [3]. Furthermore, the election is conducted through the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote [4].
Sources
- [1] Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 18: President > ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT > p. 186
- [2] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: Universal Franchise and India’s Electoral System > Election of the President of India > p. 136
- [3] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 18: President > ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT > p. 186
- [4] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 23: Parliament > Composition of Rajya Sabha > p. 223