Constitutional Process of Government Formation: President Appoints PM-Designate under Article 75

In a significant constitutional development following the conclusion of the 2024 General Elections, President Droupadi Murmu has formally appointed Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister-designate. This action was taken under the powers vested in the President by Article 75 of the Indian Constitution, following the formal submission of support letters by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies. This marks the beginning of the executive formation for the 18th Lok Sabha, underscoring the procedural rigor of Indian democracy. In India’s parliamentary system, while the President is the nominal head of state, the Prime Minister is the real executive authority. Article 75(1) explicitly states that the Prime Minister shall be appointed by the President, and the other Ministers shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. By convention, the President invites the leader of the party or coalition commanding a majority in the Lok Sabha to form the government. This process ensures that the executive is drawn from and remains accountable to the legislature.