Correct Option
The correct option is 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
In the Indian Parliamentary system, the President occupies the position of the Head of State, while the Prime Minister is the Head of Government. The President is the nominal or de jure executive, whereas the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister constitutes the real or de facto executive.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: The President is the formal Head of State in India. All executive actions of the Government of India are formally taken in his/her name. This aligns with the British model of a constitutional monarch, adapted to a republican framework.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: While Article 53 vests the executive power of the Union in the President, Article 74 mandates that there shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President. The President shall act in accordance with such advice. The 42nd and 44th Constitutional Amendment Acts made this advice binding on the President, preventing the exercise of executive powers directly without advice, except in specific situational discretions.
- Statement 3 is Correct: The President symbolically represents the entire nation. As the first citizen of India, the President acts as the symbol of unity, integrity, and solidarity of the nation. Unlike the Prime Minister, who represents the government and political majority, the President represents the dignity of the State.
Key Takeaway: The President is the nominal executive (Head of State) bound by the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, serving as a ceremonial symbol of the nation rather than the active ruler.