<P> The President of the Republic of India is the head of state of India and the commander - in - chief of the Indian Armed Forces . </P> <P> The President is indirectly elected by an electoral college comprising the Parliament of India (both houses) and the Legislative Assemblies of each of India's states and territories, who themselves are all directly elected . </P> <P> Although the Article 53 of the Constitution of India states that the President can exercise his powers directly or by subordinate authority, with few exceptions, all of the executive powers vested in the President are, in practice, exercised by the Prime Minister (a subordinate authority) with the help of the Council of Ministers . The President is bound by the constitution to act on the advice of the Prime Minister and Cabinet as long as the advice is not violating the constitution . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Republic of India </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> This article is part of a series on the politics and government of India </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Union Government (show) <Ul> <Li> Constitution of India </Li> <Li> Fundamental rights </Li> </Ul> <P> Executive: </P> <Ul> <Li> President </Li> <Li> Vice President </Li> <Li> Prime Minister </Li> <Li> Union Council of Ministers </Li> <Li> Cabinet Secretary of India </Li> <Li> Civil Services of India </Li> </Ul> <P> Parliament: </P> <Ul> <Li> Rajya Sabha </Li> <Li> Lok Sabha </Li> <Li> The Chairman </Li> <Li> The Speaker </Li> </Ul> <P> Judiciary: </P> <Ul> <Li> Supreme Court of India </Li> <Li> Chief Justice of India </Li> <Li> High Courts </Li> <Li> District Courts </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Elections (show) Election Commission: <Ul> <Li> Chief Election Commissioner </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Political parties (show) <Ul> <Li> National parties </Li> <Li> State parties </Li> </Ul> <P> National coalitions: </P> <Ul> <Li> National Democratic Alliance (NDA) </Li> <Li> United Progressive Alliance (UPA) </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> State Govt. and Local Govt. (show) <Ul> <Li> Governor </Li> <Li> Chief Minister </Li> <Li> Chief Secretary </Li> </Ul> <P> State Level: </P> <Ul> <Li> Vidhan Sabha </Li> <Li> Vidhan Parishad </Li> </Ul> <P> Local governments: </P> <Ul> <Li> Divisional commissioner </Li> <Li> District magistrate </Li> <Li> Sub-divisional magistrate </Li> </Ul> <Ol> <Li> Rural bodies </Li> </Ol> <Ul> <Li> Zilla panchayats </Li> <Li> Mandal Or Taluka Panchayats </Li> <Li> Gram Panchayats </Li> </Ul> <Ol> <Li> Urban bodies </Li> </Ol> <Ul> <Li> Municipal Corporations </Li> <Li> Municipal councils </Li> <Li> Nagar Panchayats </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Other countries </Li> <Li> Atlas </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Why is the president a part of the parliament