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| What is Article 55 of Indian constitution |
Article 55 of the Indian Constitution explains the manner of election of the President of India, particularly how the votes are calculated and balanced between MPs and MLAs.
📜 Text of Article 55 (Simplified)
Article 55 lays down the procedure to ensure uniformity and parity in the value of votes during the Presidential election. It contains 3 clauses.
✅ Explanation of Article 55
🔹 Clause (1): Uniformity among States
The election of the President shall, as far as possible, be held in accordance with the principle of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote and secret ballot.
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This ensures fair representation of both States and the Union Parliament.
🔹 Clause (2): Value of Votes
(a) Value of MLA’s Vote (State Vote Value)
Each MLA’s vote value is calculated using this formula:
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The 1971 Census is used (as frozen by the 84th Amendment till 2026).
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Example: Larger states like Uttar Pradesh have more valuable MLA votes than smaller states like Sikkim.
(b) Value of MP’s Vote (Parliament Vote Value)
This ensures balance between the states and the Union.
🔹 Clause (3): Equality Across India
The election is conducted in a way that ensures equality among States and parity between Union and States.
🧾 Example (Illustrative Values – Approximate):
| Voter Type | Vote Value |
|---|---|
| MLA (UP) | 208 |
| MLA (Sikkim) | 7 |
| MP (Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha) | ~700 (varies by total MLA votes) |
📌 Summary of Article 55
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Type | Procedure for Presidential election |
| Election method | Proportional representation + Single Transferable Vote |
| Voter categories | Elected MPs and MLAs (no nominated members) |
| Value of votes | Calculated differently for MPs and MLAs |
| Census used | 1971 Census (frozen till 2026 by constitutional amendment) |
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