Indian Executive

The Constitution of India states that the Indian Executive is a major branch of the Parliamentary form of government. The President, Vice President, Council of Ministers, Governor and Attorney General of India are some of the prominent heads who play successful roles in the Executive Branch.

President of India

According to the Indian Constitution the President of India is elected by the electoral college. The electoral college consists of the members of both the Houses of Parliament namely Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The Legislatures of the constituent states also play an important role in electing the President of India. Being elected for a term of 5 years, the President of the country heads the State and Supreme Commander of the Defense Forces.

The election of the President of India does not require the direct involvement of the citizens of the nation since he is elected by the representative of the people. Article 55(3) of the Constitution of India states that single transferable vote is applied in the proportional representation process through which the President of India is elected.

Although the President of India exercises his executive powers in an indirect way, yet he has been conferred with the highest rank in the Executive Branch of Indian Government. The President of India is the ultimate authority who signs the bills of Parliament prior to the passing of the same. Also, every year the first session of the Parliament is addressed by the President of the nation. In case of pending bills and other kinds of provisions the President of India convey messages to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Both the houses of Indian Parliament can be called upon by the President of India as and when required.

Vice President of India

The Vice President of India, as per Article 63 of the Indian Constitution, is elected by both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha members. Elected for a period of five years, the Vice President of India is both the head of Rajya Sabha as well as a prime figure of the Indian Executive Branch. In cases of resignation, death or removal of the President, the Vice President acts as the head of the nation. In such circumstances the Vice President also exercises all the powers conferred upon the President of India. As per Article 65 of the Constitution, during the time period of the Vice President functioning as the President, he is subjected to all the financial benefits approved for the President.

The proportional representation system is used to elect the Vice President of India through single transferable vote. Since secret ballot method is applied to elect the Vice President hence in case of any confusion or discrepancy Supreme Court of India has the ultimate power to take the decision.

The major functions of the Vice President of India include:

Performing as the Chairman of Rajya Sabha
Functioning as the Presiding Officer in either or both the Houses of Parliament
Functioning as the Acting President of India under such circumstances as death, resignation or removal of the actual President
Offering consultation regarding various policies of the states of India
Visiting other countries as a goodwill ambassador
Keeping a track of all the issues pertaining to the Central Government of India

The Vice President of India can resign from his post by writing a letter addressing the President of the country. Also, a resolution unanimously passed by the Rajya Sabha members and approved by the Lok Sabha, can also remove the Vice President from his current post. According to Article 67 of the Constitution of the country, the Vice President can remain in his present office till the time a new Vice President is ready to take the entire responsibility.

Council of Ministers

Article 74(1) of the Indian Constitution clearly defines the presence of a Council of Ministers in the Executive Branch of Government of India. The Prime Minister heads the Council of Ministers and offers important piece of advice to the nation's President. The Council of Ministers, on the other hand, is selected by the Prime Minister and the formal sign of approval goes from the President.

Ministers of state, Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers are included in the Council of Ministers in India. The Council of Ministers is directly accountable to the Lok Sabha which is one of the houses of the Indian Parliament.

Governor

India has 28 states within its territory. The Constitution of India states that each and every state of the nation should have a Governor. The governor of every state enjoys the executive powers. The President of India appoints the Governor for each of the state of the country. The Prime Minister, along with other members of the Council of Minsters, provides assistance to the Governor.

Attorney General of India

The Constitution of India, under Article 76, states that the Attorney General should be appointed by the President of India. Elected by the ruling government of India, the Attorney General performs the function of a chief legal advisor. For being nominated as the Attorney General of India the concerned candidate should possess all the qualifications to take seat of the judge of the Supreme Court. During the sessions of the Parliament, the Attorney General of India has the right to participate in the same. However, he or she does not have any right to vote in the Parliament. In order to take various legal decisions in a smooth and faster way, 1 Solicitor General and 4 Additional Solicitor Generals assist the Attorney General of India. The Attorney General is also required to perform all legal functions that are delegated to him by the President of India.

Apart from the President, Vice President, Prime minister, Council of Ministers, Attorney General and Cabinet Ministers, the Executive Branch of Indian Government also includes many other ministries. Some such departments and ministries are mentioned below:

Independent Departments of Central Government

Department of space
Department of Atomic energy

Ministries of Central Government

Ministry of Women and Child Development
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
Ministry of Rural Development
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Ministry of Power
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Ministry of Human Resource Development
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
Ministry of Tourism
Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
Ministry of Food Processing Industries
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Environment and Forests
Ministry of Civil Aviation
Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
Ministry of Water Resources
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Law and Justice
Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
Ministry of Urban Development
Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
Ministry of Mines
Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways
Ministry of Corporate Affairs
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Ministry of Earth Sciences
Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs
Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises
Ministry of Labour and Employment
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Ministry of Minority Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs
Ministry of Culture
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Ministry of Coal
Ministry of External Affairs
Ministry of Panchayati Raj
Ministry of Science and Technology
Ministry of Textiles
Ministry of Railways
Ministry of Steel

Apex/Independent Offices

Comptroller and Auditor General of India
Union Public Service Commission
Central Bureau of Investigation
Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
National Commission for Backward Classes
Central Information Commission
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
Election Commission of India
National Human Rights Commission
National Commission for Scheduled Castes
Planning Commission
National Commission for Minorities
National Commission on Population
Central Vigilance Commission
National Commission for Women