Constitution Section 58 — Qualifications for election as President

Part V — THE UNION — The President and Vice-President

Constitutional

Summary

To be eligible to run for President of India, a person must be an Indian citizen, at least 35 years old, and qualified to be elected as a member of the Lok Sabha (the House of the People). Additionally, a person cannot run for President if they hold any paid government position—whether under the central government, a state government, or any local authority controlled by them. However, holding the offices of President, Vice-President, Governor of a state, or a Minister (central or state) does not count as holding a paid government position for this rule.

Official Text

(1) No person shall be eligible for election as President unless he—

(a) is a citizen of India,

(b) has completed the age of thirty-five years, and

(c) is qualified for election as a member of the House of the People.

(2) A person shall not be eligible for election as President if he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State or under any local or other authority subject to the control of any of the said Governments.Explanation.—For the purposes of this article, a person shall not be deemed to hold any office of profit by reason only that he is the President or Vice-President of the Union or the Governor of any State or is a Minister either for the Union or for any State.