Art. 53 Part V: The Union

Executive Power of the Union

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) The executive power of the Union shall be vested in the President and shall be exercised by him either directly or through officers subordinate to him in accordance with this Constitution. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, the supreme command of the Defence Forces of the Union shall be vested in the President and the exercise thereof shall be regulated by law. (3) Nothing in this article shall—(a) be deemed to transfer to the President any functions conferred by any existing law on the Government of any State or other authority; or (b) prevent Parliament from conferring by law functions on authorities other than the President.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article formally vests the Union's entire executive power in the President — including supreme command of the armed forces — while allowing that power to be exercised through officers subordinate to the President (which, as later Articles clarify, means the Council of Ministers acting in the President's name).

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is the formal constitutional source of the President being 'Supreme Commander' of India's armed forces — a title with real symbolic and formal-legal weight, even though actual military command decisions flow through the elected government and defence establishment.

Read alongside this one

Art. 52 — The President of India Art. 74 — Council of Ministers to Aid and Advise the President

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 53

Does the President personally command military operations?

No — while 'supreme command' formally vests in the President, actual military decision-making authority is exercised by the elected government (through the Defence Minister and military leadership), consistent with the President's generally ceremonial role in day-to-day governance.

← PreviousArticle 52: The President of India Next →Article 54: Election of President

The text above reproduces Article 53 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.