Article 58 of the Indian Constitution says that the presidential candidate must:

• Be a citizen of India.
• Have completed the age of thirty-five years.
• Be qualified for elections as a member of the Lok Sabha.
• Not hold any office of profit under the Union or any State government, or any local or other authority.
• A person shall not be eligible for election as President if he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State or under any local or other authority subject to the control of any of the said Governments.
• Certain office-holders, however, are permitted to stand as Presidential candidates.
• These are:

• The current Vice President.
• The Governor of any State.
• A Minister of the Union or of any State

If the Vice-President, a State Governor, or a Minister is elected President, they are regarded to have relinquished their former position on the date they begin serving as President.

Under The Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952, a candidate to be nominated for the office of president needs 50 electors as proposers and 50 electors as seconders for his name to appear on ballot.