Criteria for Becoming the President of India
To be eligible for the presidency in India, candidates must satisfy specific criteria as outlined in the Constitution of India. Here’s a breakdown of the requirements:
Age Requirement
- The candidate must be at least 35 years old.
Citizenship
- The individual must be a citizen of India.
Qualifications
- The candidate should be qualified to be elected as a member of the Lok Sabha (House of the People). This implies that the individual must meet the criteria laid out for Lok Sabha members.
Disqualifications
- A person shall be disqualified from being elected as President if they are declared to be of unsound mind, are an undischarged insolvent, or if they have been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.
Membership of Legislative Bodies
- It is important to note that a candidate does not need to be a member of the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha before being elected President. This opens the position to a broader range of individuals, including those who may not have held any previous political office.
Election Process
- The President is elected by an electoral college comprising the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of States and Union territories.
Conclusion
- In summary, while certain eligibility criteria must be met, prior membership in a legislative body is not a prerequisite for becoming the President of India. This allows for diverse candidates to emerge for this prestigious position.