Art. 59 Part V: The Union

Conditions of President's Office

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) The President shall not be a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of the Legislature of any State, and if a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of the Legislature of any State be elected President, he shall be deemed to have vacated his seat in that House on the date on which he enters upon his office as President. (2) The President shall not hold any other office of profit. (3) The President shall be entitled without payment of rent to the use of his official residences and shall be also entitled to such emoluments, allowances and privileges as may be determined by Parliament by law...

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article ensures the President's office is held exclusively — a sitting MP or MLA elected President automatically vacates their legislative seat, and the President can't simultaneously hold any other office of profit, reinforcing the position's unique, non-partisan, above-politics character while also guaranteeing appropriate official residence and emoluments.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why, if a sitting Member of Parliament wins the presidential election, they don't continue holding both positions — their Parliamentary seat is automatically vacated the moment they assume the presidency.

Read alongside this one

Art. 58 — Qualifications for Election as President

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 59

Can the President's salary be reduced during their term?

Article 112 and related financial provisions generally protect key constitutional office-holders' salaries from being reduced during their term, similar to protections for judges — ensuring financial independence from the government of the day.

← PreviousArticle 58: Qualifications for Election as President Next →Article 60: Oath or Affirmation by the President

The text above reproduces Article 59 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.