The President is the Constitutional head of the Republic of India. He is more or less the titular head of the executive. Really speaking, he is the constitutional head but not the real executive. The real power is vested in the hands of the Council of Ministers.
Qualifications:
(i) Indian citizen,
(ii) age not less than 35 years,
(iii) should have qualification for election to Lok Sabha,
(iv) should not hold any office of profit,
(v) should not be a Member of Parliament or State Legislature.
Powers :
He makes appointments to all the constitutional posts. He can address either House of Parliament and dissolve Lok Sabha. All Bills passed by Parliament must receive his assent to become an Act. He issues ordinances when Parliament is not in session. No Money Bill can be introduced in Lok Sabha without his recommendation. He can grant pardon, reprieve or remit punishment and he can commute death sentences, can declare national emergency, state emergency and financial emergency.
Term and Emolument:
The President holds the office for a period of five years. He is eligible for re-election. He draws the salary of ` 1.50 lakh per month with various allowances (In budget 2018-19 his salary has been proposed to ` 5.0 lakh per month). He is also entitled to rent free official residence called Rashtrapati Bhawan.
List of President from 1950 till now.
1. Dr. Rajendra Prasad (1884–1963) 26 Jan. 1950 — 13 May 1962
2. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888–1975) 13 May 1962— 13 May 1967
3. Dr. Zakir Husain (1897–1969) 13 May 1967— 3 May 1969
4. Varahagiri Venkatagiri (1894–1980) 24 Aug. 1969— 24 Aug. 1974
5. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmad (1905–1977) 24 Aug. 1974— 11 Feb. 1977
6. Neelam Sanjiva Reddy (1913–1996) 25 July 1977— 25 July 1982
7. Giani Zail Singh (1916–1994) 25 July 1982— 25 July 1987
8. R. Venkataraman (1910–2009) 25 July 1987— 25 July 1992
9. Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma (1918–1999) 25 July 1992— 25 July 1997
10. K.R. Narayanan (1920–2005) 25 July 1997— 25 July 2002
11. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (1931-2015) 25 July 2002— 25 July 2007
12. Pratibha Devisingh Patil (b 1934) 25 July 2007— 25 July 2012
13. Pranab Mukherjee (b 1935) 25 July 2012— 25 July 2017.
14. Ram Nath Kovid. ( b. 1945) 25 July 2017 - till date.
Acting Presidents of India:
1. Varahagiri Venkatagiri (1894–1980) 3 May 1969— 20 July 1969
2. Justice Muhammad Hidayatullah (1905–1992) 20 July 1969— 24 Aug. 1969
3. B.D. Jatti (1913–2002) 11 Feb. 1977— 25 July 1977
2. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888–1975) 13 May 1962— 13 May 1967
3. Dr. Zakir Husain (1897–1969) 13 May 1967— 3 May 1969
4. Varahagiri Venkatagiri (1894–1980) 24 Aug. 1969— 24 Aug. 1974
5. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmad (1905–1977) 24 Aug. 1974— 11 Feb. 1977
6. Neelam Sanjiva Reddy (1913–1996) 25 July 1977— 25 July 1982
7. Giani Zail Singh (1916–1994) 25 July 1982— 25 July 1987
8. R. Venkataraman (1910–2009) 25 July 1987— 25 July 1992
9. Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma (1918–1999) 25 July 1992— 25 July 1997
10. K.R. Narayanan (1920–2005) 25 July 1997— 25 July 2002
11. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (1931-2015) 25 July 2002— 25 July 2007
12. Pratibha Devisingh Patil (b 1934) 25 July 2007— 25 July 2012
13. Pranab Mukherjee (b 1935) 25 July 2012— 25 July 2017.
14. Ram Nath Kovid. ( b. 1945) 25 July 2017 - till date.
Acting Presidents of India:
1. Varahagiri Venkatagiri (1894–1980) 3 May 1969— 20 July 1969
2. Justice Muhammad Hidayatullah (1905–1992) 20 July 1969— 24 Aug. 1969
3. B.D. Jatti (1913–2002) 11 Feb. 1977— 25 July 1977
