When the head of the state is in name only, and someone else makes actual use of his powers, it is called nominal executive. In Parliamentary government, all the powers, according to the constitution, have been vested in the emperor or the President. But in England the administration is carried out in the name of the emperor, and in India, it is carried out in the name of the President.
In fact, neither the emperor in England nor the President in India has the freedom to use these powers. In India, the President uses these powers as per advice of the Prime Minister and his council of ministers. In reality, the powers of the executive are in the hands of the council of ministers under the leadership of the Prime Minster.
