Under the Constitution of India, what is the maximum age limit prescribed for a person to be elected as the President of India?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: No maximum age limit is prescribed

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The office of the President of India is the highest constitutional office in the country. The Constitution lays down certain eligibility conditions that a person must meet to be elected as President, including citizenship, age and qualification to be a member of the Lok Sabha. Many students casually remember the minimum age requirement but are unsure whether there is any upper or maximum age limit. This question directly checks your clarity on whether the Constitution fixes such a maximum age for the President.


Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question refers to age requirements for the President of India.
- Options suggest specific ages such as 30, 35 and 45 years, as well as an option stating that no maximum age limit is prescribed and another of 65 years.
- We assume familiarity with basic provisions in Articles related to the President, especially eligibility conditions.
- Knowledge of minimum age (35 years) is common, and we must distinguish it from any maximum age limit.


Concept / Approach:
Article 58 of the Constitution of India lays down the qualifications for election as President. It states that the person must be a citizen of India, must have completed thirty five years of age and must be qualified for election as a member of the Lok Sabha. It does not mention any upper age limit. Therefore, once a person is at least thirty five years old, there is no constitutional bar based on age from contesting the Presidential election, as long as other conditions are satisfied. This absence of a maximum age limit is the key to answering the question correctly.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the text of Article 58 which mentions the age condition for being President.Step 2: Note that the Article states a minimum age of thirty five years but remains silent on any maximum age.Step 3: Understand that in constitutional interpretation, if no maximum age is prescribed, one should not assume it.Step 4: Look at the options and recognise that specific ages like 30, 35, 45 or 65 are not described as maximum limits in the Constitution.Step 5: Select the option that correctly states that no maximum age limit is prescribed for being elected President.


Verification / Alternative check:
As an alternative check, think of past Presidents of India who have been elected at advanced ages, well beyond sixty five. This practical example supports the idea that there is no upper age bar. Furthermore, standard polity textbooks always describe only the minimum age of thirty five years for the President, unlike some other offices where both minimum and maximum ages are specified by statute. These two sources together verify that the Constitution does not impose a maximum age limit.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, thirty years, is incorrect because even the minimum age is thirty five, not thirty. Option B, thirty five years, correctly reflects the minimum age requirement but the question clearly asks about the maximum age limit, so this is not the right answer. Option C, forty five years, and option E, sixty five years, are simply not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution as age limits for the President. They may resemble retirement ages in other contexts but they do not apply here, so they are incorrect choices.


Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse the minimum age for the President with a supposed maximum age, assuming that there is a formal retirement age similar to that of judges or civil servants. Some students also overgeneralise from rules for other posts such as governors or members of certain commissions. Remember that constitutional posts can have very specific and sometimes unique eligibility rules, and one should always rely on exact wording rather than guesswork.


Final Answer:
No maximum age limit is prescribed for a person to be elected as the President of India under the Constitution; only a minimum age of thirty five years is required.

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