What is Article 55 of Indian Constitution – Defination & Meaning

Explanation.—In this article, the expression “population” means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have
📅 Part V – The Union
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Article Number

55

part

Part V – The Union

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Bare Acts Text

Article 55: Manner of election of President

  • (1) As far as practicable, there shall be uniformity in the scale of representation of the different States at the election of the President.
  • (2) For the purpose of securing such uniformity among the States inter se as well as parity between the States as a whole and the Union, the number of votes which each elected member of Parliament and of the Legislative Assembly of each State is entitled to cast at such election shall be determined in the following manner:—
  • (a) every elected member of the Legislative Assembly of a State shall have as many votes as there
    are multiples of one thousand in the quotient obtained by dividing the population of the State by the
    total number of the elected members of the Assembly;
  • (b) if, after taking the said multiples of one thousand, the remainder is not less than five hundred,
    then the vote of each member referred to in sub-clause (a) shall be further increased by one;
  • (c) each elected member of either House of Parliament shall have such number of votes as may be
    obtained by dividing the total number of votes assigned to the members of the Legislative Assemblies
    of the States under sub-clauses (a) and (b)by the total number of the elected members of both Houses
    of Parliament, fractions exceeding one-half being counted as one and other fractions being disregarded.
  • (3) The election of the President shall be held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot.
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Explanation.—In this article, the expression “population” means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published:

Provided that the reference in this Explanation to the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published shall, until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year 2026 have been published, be construed as a reference to the 1971 census.

Full Definition & Explanation

Article 55 of the Indian Constitution outlines how the President of India is elected. This article ensures a fair representation of states in the presidential election process. It mandates that the election must reflect the population of each state, calculated based on the last census. This means that larger states have more representatives, which aligns with the population size, while smaller states still maintain a voice in the electoral process. To determine the number of votes each elected member has, the population of the state is divided by the number of its elected members. This division yields the number of votes per member. If the remainder after division is more than or equal to five hundred, each member gets an additional vote. This rule helps smaller states gain a little more representation, ensuring that their voices are heard in the presidential election. The election process itself is conducted through a system called proportional representation, using a single transferable vote method. This means that voters rank candidates in order of preference. The voting is carried out with a secret ballot to maintain privacy. This system not only promotes fairness but also encourages elected representatives to consider the preferences of their constituents. Overall, Article 55 plays a major role in maintaining the balance of power among states in India during presidential elections.

Historical Context

Article 55 was included in the Indian Constitution when it was adopted in 1950. During the debates in the Constituent Assembly, members emphasized the need for a fair electoral process that reflects the population of each state. They aimed to create a system that would prevent larger states from overpowering smaller ones in presidential elections. The article has remained unchanged since then, highlighting its importance. Noteworthy Supreme Court cases like ‘Keshavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala’ have strengthened the necessity for representative democracy. Although discussions about updating census data for representation continue, no amendments have yet been made to this article.

Key Features

– Article 55 mandates uniformity in state representation during presidential elections.
– Votes for each member are determined by dividing state population by elected members.
– An additional vote is granted if the division remainder is five hundred or more.
– Voting occurs through proportional representation using the single transferable vote.
– Elections are conducted by secret ballot to ensure voter privacy.

Importance & Impact

– This article ensures fair representation of all states in presidential elections.
– It balances the influence of larger states against smaller ones.
– The voting method encourages voters to express their preferences fully.
– It supports the principle of equality among states in the governance process.
– The representation system fosters active participation and accountability in elections.

Sample UPSC Question

Consider the following statements regarding Article 55 of the Indian Constitution: 1) It ensures that each state has equal representation in the presidential election regardless of population. 2) The election is conducted using a proportional representation system. 3) Voting is done through secret ballots. Which of these statements are correct? A) 1 only B) 2 and 3 only C) 1 and 3 only D) 1, 2, and 3. Choose the correct option after analyzing each statement.

Answer

The correct answer is B. Article 55 does not provide equal representation; it reflects population size. The statements regarding proportional representation and secret ballots are accurate, making options A and D incorrect as they misrepresent the article’s provisions. Article 55 of the Indian Constitution outlines how the President of India is elected.

Key Takeaways

✓ Article 55 governs the election of the President in India.
✓ It promotes equal representation of states based on population.
✓ Votes are calculated using a specific formula related to population.
✓ The election process uses a secret ballot for privacy.
✓ Proportional representation ensures diverse voter preferences are represented.

FAQs

Article 55 of the Indian Constitution outlines how the President of India is elected. This article ensures a fair representation of states in the presidential election process. It mandates that the election must reflect the population of each state, calculated based on the last census. This means that larger states have more representatives, which aligns with the population size, while smaller states still maintain a voice in the electoral process.

If the remainder after division is more than or equal to five hundred, each member gets an additional vote. This rule helps smaller states gain a little more representation, ensuring that their voices are heard in the presidential election. The election process itself is conducted through a system called proportional representation, using a single transferable vote method.

The voting is carried out with a secret ballot to maintain privacy. This system not only promotes fairness but also encourages elected representatives to consider the preferences of their constituents. Overall, Article 55 plays a major role in maintaining the balance of power among states in India during presidential elections.

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Pramod is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of StudyHub. He holds a Master's degree and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Geology, alongside more than 7+ years spent building and verifying competitive exam content for Indian aspirants. He leads StudyHub's editorial process across Indian Polity, the Constitution, Indian Economy, History, Geography, Science, and the platform's other subject areas — checking every article against primary sources (bare act text and Gazette notifications for constitutional topics, government and Economic Survey data for economy content, standard reference material elsewhere) and flagging it for re-verification whenever a relevant amendment, policy, or data update makes an earlier version outdated.
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