In the Constitution of India, the method of indirect election of the President through an electoral college using the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote has been largely adopted from the constitutional practice of which country?

Introduction / Context:
The makers of the Indian Constitution studied several foreign constitutions and selectively borrowed features that were suitable for Indian conditions. One such important feature is the method of electing the President of India. The President is not directly elected by the people but is chosen by an electoral college using the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. This question tests your knowledge of which country provided the main inspiration for this method.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The election is indirect, through an electoral college consisting of elected members of Parliament and elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies.- The system used is proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.- We must identify the foreign model from which this method was primarily borrowed.

Concept / Approach:
The British model, represented by a largely ceremonial monarch, does not involve an elected head of state. The United States model uses a direct electoral college but not the single transferable vote or proportional representation in the same manner. Australia has a parliamentary system but a different arrangement for its head of state. The Irish Constitution, however, provided an example of a parliamentary republic where the President was indirectly elected using proportional representation and the single transferable vote, which strongly influenced the Indian framers.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Eliminate Britain. In the United Kingdom, the head of state is a hereditary monarch, not elected through proportional representation, so the Indian model could not have been taken from there.Step 2: Consider the United States. The United States has a powerful President elected indirectly through an electoral college, but the method used is not the single transferable vote system, and the overall structure is a presidential system, not a parliamentary one.Step 3: Consider Australia. It is a parliamentary system but within a constitutional monarchy, and the head of state is nominally the British monarch represented by a Governor General, not elected by a proportional representation system.Step 4: Recall that Ireland is a parliamentary republic with a largely ceremonial President elected either directly or indirectly using proportional representation by the single transferable vote. The Indian framers specifically cited the Irish model when adopting the method of electing the President.Step 5: Therefore, Ireland is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick memory aid is that many features related to parliamentary form and directive principles were influenced by Ireland. When a polity question mentions proportional representation by the single transferable vote in the context of the President of India, you should immediately associate it with the Irish Constitution, rather than with Britain or the United States.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (Britain) is wrong because the British monarch is hereditary and not elected through an electoral college.Option B (United States of America) is wrong because the United States uses a different electoral college system without single transferable vote and operates a presidential system, not a parliamentary republic.Option D (Australia) is wrong because Australia is a constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth and its head of state is not elected by the method described.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse the origin of the office of the President with the origin of the method of election. While the general concept of a nominal or ceremonial President in a parliamentary system has multiple influences, the specific technical method of proportional representation by single transferable vote for the Presidential election is closely linked to the Irish experience. It is helpful to remember that Directive Principles of State Policy were also inspired by the Irish Constitution, which strengthens this association in your memory.

Final Answer:
Correct answer: Ireland