<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> India achieved independence from the British on 15 August 1947, initially as a Dominion within the Commonwealth of Nations with George VI as king, represented in the country by a governor - general . Still, following this, the Constituent Assembly of India, under the leadership of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, undertook the process of drafting a completely new constitution for the country . The Constitution of India was eventually enacted on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950, making India a republic . The offices of monarch and governor - general were replaced by the new office of President of India, with Rajendra Prasad as the first incumbent . </P> <P> The constitution of the Republic of India (Articles 53, 74 (2), 79 & 111) gave the President the responsibility and authority to defend and protect the constitution of India and its rule of law . Invariably, any action taken by the executive or legislature entities of the constitution shall become law only after President's assent . The president shall not accept any actions of the executive or legislature which are unconstitutional . The president is the foremost, most empowered and prompt defender of the constitution (Article 60), who has pre-emptive power for ensuring constitutionality in the actions of the executive or legislature . The role of the judiciary in upholding the constitution of India is the second line of defence in nullifying any unconstitutional actions of the executive and legislative entities of the Indian Union . </P>

Who does not take part in the election of the president