Once a bill is introduced in Parliament, it undergoes the process of approval. Before it transforms into law, it must be submitted to the President of India for his approval. The President holds the authority to either decline, send back, or withhold assent to the bill. This presidential decision on the bill is termed as the “Veto Power”.
Governed by Article 111 of the Indian Constitution, the Veto Power of the President of India holds significance for the IAS Exam across its three stages – Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The concept of Veto Power holds considerable importance for the UPSC Prelims and Mains GS-II examination, particularly within the nation of Political Science.
The President possesses the same veto authority as UN members. The President of India possesses three veto powers. A bill or resolution becomes an act after it is passed by an assembly, but the president still needs to sign it into law. The President may choose to withhold it, reject it, or return it. These are his three options. The President’s veto authority refers to his ability to choose which legislation to reject. If the President is not in agreement with the bill’s intent, they may choose to exercise their veto power.
Articles Supporting President’s Veto Power | |
Article | Description |
Art 111 | A bill that has been approved by both Houses of Parliament is transmitted to the President for approval. |
Art 201 | When a Governor reserves a bill for the President’s consideration, the President must indicate whether or not he or she agrees with the bill. |
The President has the same three veto rights as regular legislation, but he or she may not always be able to use them all in the case of money or finance laws and bills that would modify the Constitution.
There are three types of veto powers available to the Indian President: suspensive, pocket, and absolute.
1. Absolute veto – It describes the President’s ability to refuse to sign a law that the Parliament has enacted. After that, the bill expires and does not become law. Typically Used in the Two Situations:
2. Suspensive Veto: This refers to the President returning a bill to the Indian Parliament for further consideration under a suspensive veto. The President must sign the measure without exercising his veto power if the Parliament sends it to him again, amended or not.
About the Money Bill, the President is not permitted to use his suspensive veto power.
3. Pocket Veto: This means that when the president uses his pocket veto, the legislation is delayed indefinitely. He does not return the bill for further review or reject it. The Indian President is not subject to the same time constraints as the US President, who has ten days to return the measure.
Veto authority over State measures: The governor has the authority to hold off on the President’s consideration of a certain category of state legislature-passed measures. Not only in the first instance but also in the second, the President may refuse to sign such measures. As a result, the President has complete control over state legislation (as opposed to a suspensive one). Additionally, the President has the power to veto state legislation using his pocket veto.
Veto Powers of President | |||
Type | Ratify | Return | Reject |
Ordinary Bill | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Money Bill | Yes | Yes | No |
The Constitutional Amendment Bill | Yes | No | No |
The veto is an effective instrument that tackles several significant concerns, whether it is utilized domestically or globally. In contrast to the national veto power, the global veto authority typically addresses security, trade interests, and foreign policy. A veto does not imply that a matter is unimportant; rather, it is a sign of support for a raised problem. A council body of elected members recognizes the importance of the item, even though it has been vetoed for a variety of reasons. They vote both in favour of and against it.
There are differing views regarding the exercise of veto power. Some contend it is an essential check and balance system, while others think it jeopardizes democracy. We will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of veto power as well as how it affects the political system in this part.
Advantages of Veto Powers-
Disadvantages of Veto Powers-
The veto authority has two drawbacks. It has substantial disadvantages in addition to some notable benefits. Whether the advantages exceed the disadvantages is ultimately up to the people.
Check More Indian Polity Notes
Three veto powers are available to the Indian President: the absolute veto, the suspension veto, and the pocket veto.
In 1954, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the country's first president, exercised his absolute veto power to refuse to sign the PEPSU Appropriations Bill. When the President's Rule was in effect in the state of PEPSU, the measure was approved by the parliament. However, the President's Rule was overturned when the law was brought to the president for his approval.
The President of India is granted the power of veto under Article 111 of the Indian Constitution. A Bill that has passed both Houses of Parliament is brought to the President, who either declares his or her consent to it, with the caveat that the President may, at the earliest opportunity, withhold his or her approval.
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