The President of India
Role: The constitutional head of state.
- The President acts as the ceremonial head, and all executive decisions are taken in their name.
- They are the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces.
Election: Not directly elected by the people.
- The President is elected indirectly by an electoral college comprising elected members of both houses of Parliament and the legislative assemblies of the states.
Term: 5 years.
The Prime Minister
Role: The real head of government and the most powerful office in India.
- The PM is the leader of the majority party (or coalition) in the [[Lok Sabha]].
Appointment: Appointed by the President.
Powers: Heads the Council of Ministers, allocates portfolios to ministers, and is the chief architect of government policy.
The PM is the primary link between the President and the Cabinet.
The Union Council of Ministers:
Role: This is the body that aids and advises the President.
- Its advice is binding.
- It is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
Composition: Led by the PM, it includes Cabinet Ministers (senior ministers in charge of key ministries), Ministers of State, and Deputy Ministers.
The Union Cabinet is the small, core body of senior ministers that makes most of the important decisions.