1962 Indian presidential election
Indirect 1962 election in which Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was chosen President by the Electoral College under the Constitution of India; a consensus choice during the Nehru era.
The 1962 Indian presidential election resulted in the selection of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan as President of India. Conducted under the provisions of the Constitution, this was an indirect election in which an Electoral College of elected members of Parliament and of state legislative assemblies chose the head of state by secret ballot and by the single transferable vote. The contest produced a widely accepted, largely non-partisan occupant of the largely ceremonial office.
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Electoral system and procedure
The President is elected not by direct popular vote but by an Electoral College composed of elected members of both houses of Parliament and of the legislative assemblies of the states. The single transferable vote and proportional representation are used to encourage consensus choices. The election process includes formal nomination and a secret ballot, and occurs at the end of a five-year presidential term or sooner when a vacancy arises.
Candidates and political context
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was the principal candidate. He was a distinguished scholar and statesman with an international reputation in philosophy and comparative religion, and he had served as Vice-President of India prior to his election. His standing as a respected public intellectual and his perceived impartiality attracted broad support, reflecting a pattern of choosing eminent, non-partisan figures for the presidency during the early decades of the Republic. The election took place during the prime ministership of Jawaharlal Nehru and within the period of dominant Congress influence in national politics.
Result, term and duties
Radhakrishnan was elected in 1962 and served as President until 1967. In office he performed the constitutional and ceremonial duties of the head of state: appointing the prime minister, acting on the advice of the Council of Ministers, assenting to legislation, and performing other statutory and ceremonial functions. While the role is primarily symbolic, presidents may exercise certain reserve powers in exceptional circumstances.
Significance and legacy
The 1962 election illustrated the functioning of constitutional mechanisms designed to produce a broadly acceptable occupant for the presidency. Radhakrishnan’s tenure reinforced the image of the office as a unifying national institution above everyday party politics. His election is often cited as an example of selecting a respected moral and intellectual figure to embody the dignity of the state.
Key facts
- Type: Indirect election by Electoral College
- President elected: Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
- Context: Nehru era, Congress-dominated politics
- Term: Radhakrishnan served as President from 1962 to 1967
Questions and answers
Q: Who was elected as the Indian president in 1962?
A: Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was elected as the Indian president in 1962.
Q: When did the Indian presidential election take place?
A: The Indian presidential election took place in 1962.
Q: What was the result of the Indian presidential election in 1962?
A: Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was elected as the Indian president in 1962.
Q: Who were the other candidates for the Indian presidential election in 1962?
A: The text doesn't provide information on who the other candidates were in the Indian presidential election in 1962.
Q: What was the process for selecting the Indian president in 1962?
A: The text doesn't provide information on the process for selecting the Indian president in 1962, but the President of India is elected by an Electoral College consisting of elected members of both Houses of Parliament, and of Legislative Assemblies of the States.
Q: Was Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan the first Indian president to be elected in 1962?
A: The text doesn't provide information on whether Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was the first Indian president to be elected in 1962, but he was the first Vice-President of India to be elected as the President.
Q: How long did Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan serve as the Indian president?
A: The text doesn't provide information on how long Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan served as the Indian president, but he served as the President of India from 1962 to 1967.
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AlegsaOnline.com 1962 Indian presidential election Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/47121