Art. 60 Part V: The Union

Oath or Affirmation by the President

Exact text — Constitution of India

Every President and every person acting as President or discharging the functions of President shall, before entering upon his office, make and subscribe in the presence of the Chief Justice of India or, in his absence, the senior-most Judge of the Supreme Court available, an oath or affirmation... 'I, A.B., do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will faithfully execute the office of President... and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law...'

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article specifies the exact oath the President must take before assuming office — administered by the Chief Justice of India (or, in their absence, the senior-most available Supreme Court judge) — with the President specifically swearing to 'preserve, protect and defend the Constitution', framing the office's core duty explicitly in constitutional-guardian terms.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why every new President's inauguration ceremony features this specific, constitutionally-mandated oath administered by the Chief Justice — a moment publicly marking the formal, solemn assumption of this unique constitutional guardianship role.

Read alongside this one

Art. 52 — The President of India

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 60

Can the President choose to affirm instead of swearing a religious oath?

Yes — the constitutional oath text specifically offers both a religious ('swear in the name of God') and a secular ('solemnly affirm') option, letting the individual President choose according to their own preference.

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The text above reproduces Article 60 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.