1.The powers of the President of India are formal. It is the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister which is the real executive.
2. In accordance with the 44th Amendment Act of the Constitution, the President can send back a bill passed by the Parliament for reconsideration only once. If the bill is again passed by the Parliament, the President has to give his assent to the bill.
3. In the Constituent Assembly, Dr.B.R. Ambedkar had rightly said, "The President occupies the same position as the King in the British Constitution". But in reality the President of India is not a mere rubber stamp.
4. The Constitution lays down that the President has to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. He can ask a newly appointed Prime Minister to seek a vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha within a stipulated period of time
5. All the administration of the country is carried on in his name.He can ask for any information from any minister.All the decisions of the Cabinet are communicated to the President.
6. He is furnished with all the information relating to administration. It is in this context that the utility of the office of the President comes to be fully realised when he gives suggestions, encourages and even warns the government. It is in this context, the President emerges as an advisor, a friend and even a critic.
Conclusion: By way of conclusion, we may describe the position of the President in the words of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. According to him, the President is the head of the state but not the executive. He represents the nation but does not rule over the nation. He is the symbol of nation. His place in the administration is that of a ceremonial head.
