Executive Branch of India Government

Part V of the constitution deals with the Union Executive. President of India, Vice President of India, Prime Minister of India, Union Council of Ministers, Attorney General, Comptroller and Auditor General, Secretary to the Government of India, Cabinet Secretary of India and Civil Services of India are some of the prominent heads in the Executive Branch of India Government. One branch of government makes decisions related to laws and policies, while another branch implements these laws. The executive branch is the part of government that carries out administrative tasks to implement policies. The executive branch is divided into two as Political Executive and Permanent Executive. The non-official branch that heads the executive branch is called the Political Executive Branch. The Political Executives are elected through elections. The Executive is also elected traditionally. The President of India, Vice President of India, Prime Minister of India, and Union Council of Ministers are Political Executives. The officials who assist the Political Executives are called the Permanent Executives. They remain in office until they reach the age of retirement. The Permanent Executive Branch is selected through competitive examinations. The employees of permanent executive branch range from the last grade employee to the highest serving IAS and IPS.

President of India

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 (Article 53).  The president of india is the head of the state of the republic of india. The president of india is also the constitutional head of state of republic of india. He is the commander in chief of the Indian Armed Forces. Executive powers, Legislative powers, Financial powers, Judicial powers, Diplomatic Powers, Military Powers, Emergency powers are vested in President. The office and residence of indian president is located in Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Rashtrapati Bhavan is one of the largest presidential palaces in the world, located on Raisina Hill in Delhi. The first citizen of India lives here. The Presidential Secretariat, the official office of the President, is located in Rashtrapati Bhavan. 

Vice President of India

The vice president of india is the second highest ranking government official after the president. Vice President is the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Article 63 of the constitution of india provides for a Vice President. The office of the Vice President is located in Vice-President’s secretariat. The Vice-President’s secretariat commenced functioning in the year 1952. The Secretary to the Vice-President is the head of the Vice-President's Secretariat. This post has been generally held by an officer of the rank of Additional Secretary /Secretary, Government of India.

Prime Minister of India

The most important position in India, which operates under the parliamentary system, is the Prime Minister and his office. Although the executive authority is the President, he acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers. According to Article 74 of the Constitution, the President appoints the Prime Minister and appoints other ministers on the advice of the Prime Minister. The characteristic of the cabinet system of government is that the ministers holding high positions in the field of administration are also members of Parliament. The Prime Minister leads the country as the leader of the party with the majority in Parliament and as the head of the Council of Ministers. Our Union Council of Ministers consists of Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers. The President is advised only by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. The Prime Minister is elected either by the leader of the elected largest party, the leader of a front or the leader of one of the largest parties. The term of the Council of Ministers is five years. The Prime Minister can continue as long as he has the support of the House. If he loses the confidence of the Lok Sabha, he must resign.

Union Council of Ministers (Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers)

There shall be a council of ministers headed by the Prime Minister to aid and advise the president in the exercise of his functions. Ministers are appointed by the president on the advice of Prime Minister. The council of ministers is collectively responsible to the House of the People. The Council of Ministers consists of Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers. Cabinet Ministers are at the top of hierarchy of the Ministers included in the council of Ministers. Ministers of State are given independent charge of the ministries. Deputy Ministers assist their respective Cabinet Ministers in performance of their duties and responsibilities.

Attorney General

Article 76 provides for the officer of the Attorney General of India. He give advice to the Government on legal matter when referred to him by the President. 

Comptroller and Auditor General

The Comptroller and Auditor General is responsible for examining the financial affairs of the central and state governments. The CAG's duties include overseeing the accounts of income and expenditure of the central and state governments, auditing the accounts, bringing to light cases of misuse of funds, and reporting cases related to the government to the legislature. In a sense, he is the "guardian of the public treasury". The report related to central and state has to be submitted to the President of Country and to the respective Governors for the States respectively. The CAG is appointed by the President. He can continue in this post for six years or till the age of 65. The CAG can be removed only in the manner of removal of a Supreme Court judge.

Cabinet Secretary of India

The Cabinet Secretariat is responsible for the administration of the Indian Government. Cabinet Secretariat provides secretarial assistance to the Cabinet of India and facilitates smooth transaction of business between Ministries and Departments of the Government. Cabinet Secretary is the head of the Cabinet Secretariat. The Cabinet Secretary is the top executive official and senior civil servant of the Government of India. The Cabinet Secretary is the ex-officio head of Civil Services Board, Cabinet Secretariat, Indian Administrative Service (IAS), and all Civil Services of India work under the rules of business of the government. The term of office of Cabinet Secretary is five years. The Cabinet Secretary is the most senior cadre post as per the Indian Administrative Service. Cabinet Secretary ranks eleventh on the Indian order of precedence.

Civil Services of India

In India, the civil service is a group of civil servants in the government, the permanent executive branch of the country. It includes employees of the All India Services and Central Civil Services.