In the Indian constitutional practice, in the presence of which authority does the President of India take the oath of office?

Introduction / Context:

The swearing in ceremony of the President of India is an important constitutional event. The oath affirms the President's commitment to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and the law. Examinations often ask who administers this oath and in whose presence it is taken. This question focuses on identifying the authority before whom the President takes the oath of office.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The office in question is the President of India.
• The subject is the oath of office at the time of assumption of the presidency.
• Options include Vice President, Lok Sabha Speaker, Chief Justice of India, and Attorney General.
• We assume the normal situation and not exceptional cases such as when the Chief Justice is unavailable.

Concept / Approach:

Article 60 of the Constitution provides that the President shall, before entering upon his office, make and subscribe an oath or affirmation in the presence of the Chief Justice of India, or in the absence of the Chief Justice, the senior most judge of the Supreme Court available. Therefore, the authority normally associated with the oath taking ceremony of the President is the Chief Justice of India. The President does not take the oath before the Vice President, Speaker, or Attorney General under the constitutional text.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

News coverage of presidential inaugurations consistently shows the Chief Justice administering the oath and the ceremony taking place in the presence of this judicial authority. Constitutional commentaries and standard textbooks on Indian Polity also quote Article 60 and emphasise this procedure. There is no provision for the Vice President, Speaker, or Attorney General to administer or preside over the presidential oath of office, which confirms that the Chief Justice of India is the correct authority mentioned in the Constitution.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Option A, Vice President, is next in line to act as President in certain contingencies but does not administer or preside over the President's oath. Option B, Lok Sabha Speaker, presides over the lower house of Parliament and has no constitutional role in the President's oath taking process. Option D, Attorney General, is the chief legal adviser to the government but is not involved in administering oaths to high constitutional authorities. These roles are therefore not correct answers to the question.

Common Pitfalls:

Candidates sometimes confuse the oath taking procedures for different offices or assume that all high office holders swear in before the same authority. It is also possible to mix up the role of the Chief Justice with that of the Speaker or Vice President. To avoid mistakes, remember specific pairings: the President takes the oath in the presence of the Chief Justice of India, while judges of the Supreme Court take their oaths before the President, and Members of Parliament take their oaths before the presiding officers of their respective Houses.

Final Answer:

In normal constitutional practice, the President of India takes the oath of office in the presence of the Chief Justice of India.