UPSC Mains 2022 GS Paper 2 Q14: model answer
Critically examine the procedures through which the Presidents of India and France are elected.
What the question wants
Critically examine and compare how India's and France's Presidents are elected.
How to structure it
Critically examine: describe both systems, compare in a table-like set of points, then judge strengths and weaknesses.
- India
- France
- Comparison
- Assessment
How to think it through
India elects a constitutional head indirectly; France elects a powerful executive directly. The method fits the role. That is your critical point. India's President never has to kiss babies on a campaign trail; France's must.
Model answer
In July 2022 Droupadi Murmu became President after an indirect vote by about 4,800 MPs and MLAs. In April 2022 Emmanuel Macron was re-elected by about 18.8 million French voters in a direct run-off. Same title, very different routes.
India
- Article 54: an electoral college of elected MPs and elected MLAs of States, Delhi and Puducherry; nominated members and Legislative Council members excluded.
- Article 55: proportional representation by single transferable vote, secret ballot.
- Value of votes: an MLA's vote is weighted by his State's 1971 population; MPs' votes together equal all MLAs' votes. This keeps a balance between the Union and States.
- Five-year term, eligible for re-election; disputes go to the Supreme Court (Article 71).
France
- Since a 1962 referendum, direct election by universal suffrage.
- Two-round system: if no candidate wins an absolute majority, the top two meet in a run-off two weeks later.
- Candidates need 500 signatures (parrainages) from elected officials across at least 30 departments.
- Five-year term since the 2000 referendum; maximum two consecutive terms since 2008.
- The Constitutional Council oversees the vote.
Comparison
- Mandate: India's President has an indirect mandate, suited to a nominal head; France's President is the real executive, so a popular mandate gives authority.
- Federal balance: India's college gives States a role; France is unitary.
- Majority: both need an absolute majority, India through transfers, France through a second round.
Critical assessment
- India's method avoids a rival power centre to the Prime Minister, but a ruling coalition usually decides the result in advance.
- France's method gives legitimacy but can produce cohabitation (a President and Prime Minister of opposite camps), as in 1986, 1993 and 1997.
Each system fits its own constitution: India wanted a head of State who symbolises the nation, France a head who governs it.
Draw: A comparison table with rows: who votes, method, majority, term, disputes.
Keywords, cases and data to drop in
Article 54, 55, 71, electoral college, STV, value of votes (1971 population), Droupadi Murmu 2022, France 1962 referendum, two-round system, 500 parrainages, quinquennat 2000, two-term limit 2008, cohabitation.
Where most answers lose marks
- Saying Indian MLCs vote. Only elected MLAs and MPs do.
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Question text as printed in the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) question paper. The model answer is original Battle IAS work; use it to learn structure, not to memorise.
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