Current Affairs Topics Archive
International Relations Economics Polity & Governance Environment & Ecology Science & Technology Internal Security Geography Social Issues Art & Culture Modern History

Protocol says CM should nominate a minister if unable to receive President

March 07, 2026 5 min read Polity & Governance GS2
On This Page ▼

What Happened

  • President Droupadi Murmu visited West Bengal for the International Santhal Conclave in Darjeeling, but was not received at the airport by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee or any state minister.
  • The President publicly expressed displeasure over the absence of the Chief Minister and the shifting of the event venue from the originally scheduled location to a smaller site near Bagdogra Airport.
  • The incident triggered a national political row, with questions raised about what the constitutional protocol requires when a state's CM cannot be present to receive the President.
  • Protocol norms specify that if a CM is unable to receive the President, a senior minister must be nominated to do so — the West Bengal government did not follow this convention.

Static Topic Bridges

Warrant of Precedence (Table of Precedence) — 1979

The Warrant of Precedence, issued by the President's Secretariat on 26 July 1979 (No. 33-Pres/79), establishes a formal hierarchy for ceremonial and state occasions. It supersedes all previous notifications and has been approved by the President. The document is not a law with legal enforceability, but carries strong constitutional and ceremonial authority.

  • President of India holds the 1st position — the highest rank.
  • Vice President: 2nd; Prime Minister: 3rd; Speaker of Lok Sabha: 4th.
  • Governors of states hold 5th position within their own state.
  • Chief Ministers of states hold their position within their own states and, in that context, take precedence over Union Cabinet Ministers.
  • The protocol is applicable only to state and ceremonial occasions; it has no application in routine government business.

Connection to this news: The Warrant of Precedence places the President at the apex of India's constitutional hierarchy. When the President visits a state, the Chief Minister — as the head of the state government — is expected to receive her personally; if unavailable, the CM must nominate a senior minister, as recognition of the President's supreme constitutional status.

Constitutional Position of the President

The President of India is the constitutional head of state under Articles 52–62 of the Constitution. Although executive power vests in the Council of Ministers (Article 74), the President's office commands the highest ceremonial and symbolic authority in the Republic. The President is elected indirectly by an Electoral College comprising elected members of both Houses of Parliament and elected members of all State Legislative Assemblies (Article 54).

  • Article 52: There shall be a President of India.
  • Article 53: Executive power of the Union is vested in the President; exercised directly or through officers subordinate to him/her.
  • Article 74: Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President; President to act in accordance with such advice.
  • The President is the Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces of India (Article 53(2)).
  • A visiting President to a state is, by convention, received by the Governor and Chief Minister.

Connection to this news: The absence of the CM and any state minister to receive the President at the airport was seen as a failure to honour the constitutional dignity of the office, regardless of political differences between the state and central governments.

Governor's Role and the President's Visit to States

When the President visits a state, the Governor of that state plays the primary host role, as the President's constitutional representative (Article 155). The Chief Minister, as head of the elected state government, is equally obligated to receive and accompany the President as a mark of respect to the office. This is codified in protocol instructions issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

  • Article 153: There shall be a Governor for each state.
  • Article 154: Executive power of the state vests in the Governor.
  • Article 155: Governor appointed by the President — is effectively the President's representative in the state.
  • Protocol requires CM (or a nominated minister) to receive the President at the airport; state police and civil administration must be placed at the President's disposal.
  • The Governor has a constitutional obligation to extend courtesies; the CM's role, while conventional, carries strong ceremonial force.

Connection to this news: The West Bengal protocol lapse — neither the CM nor a nominated minister receiving the President — was a departure from established norms and drew criticism from constitutional experts and Opposition leaders alike.

Santhal (Santal) Tribal Community

The Santhals (Santals) are the largest tribal community in eastern India and one of the most significant Adivasi groups in the country. They are classified as a Scheduled Tribe under the Constitution. The International Santhal Conclave that President Murmu attended was meant to celebrate and deliberate on Santhal culture, identity, and development.

  • The Santhals predominantly inhabit Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, and Assam — the Santhal Parganas region is historically significant.
  • Santali language is included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution (92nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003), granting it the status of a scheduled language.
  • President Droupadi Murmu is herself from the Santali community — the first tribal person to become President of India.
  • The Santali script, Ol Chiki, was developed by Raghunath Murmu in 1925.
  • Major tribal uprisings: Santhal Hul (Revolt of 1855–56) — one of the earliest organised tribal rebellions against British rule.

Connection to this news: The venue shift reduced attendance capacity for the Santhal community who had travelled to participate in the conclave. Given President Murmu's own tribal identity, the incident carried added symbolic significance beyond a mere protocol issue.

Key Facts & Data

  • The Warrant of Precedence was last comprehensively amended on 26 July 1979.
  • President of India holds Position 1; Vice President: 2nd; PM: 3rd; Speaker of Lok Sabha: 4th; Governors (within their own state): 5th.
  • Santali was added to the Eighth Schedule in 2003 via the 92nd Constitutional Amendment — one of 22 scheduled languages.
  • The International Santhal Conclave was originally scheduled at a venue with higher capacity; it was shifted to a smaller site near Bagdogra Airport.
  • President Murmu is the first tribal person and the second woman to hold the office of President of India.
  • Article 74 mandates that the President act on the advice of the Council of Ministers — but the President's ceremonial visits and protocol are governed by separate MHA instructions.