The office of the Vice President is the second-highest constitutional position in India (second only to the President of India), established by Article 63 of the Constitution, which simply states, "There shall be a Vice President of India."
In India, the Vice President is a constitutional post and part of the executive branch of the government.
The concept for this office was borrowed from the Constitution of the United States of America.
This blog post talks about the details of this office, covering role, powers, election process, and key constitutional provisions related to the Vice President for aspirants preparing for various Kerala PSC exams.
Table of Contents
Quick Facts
- Current Vice President of India – C. P. Radhakrishnan.
- First Vice President of India – Dr. S Radhakrishnan.
- Articles related to the Vice President of India – Articles 63, 64, 65, 66 & 93.
- Ex-Officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha – Vice President of India (Article 64).
- The Oath of Office to the Vice President of India is administered by the – The President of India (Article 69).
- First to be re-elected as the Vice President of India – Dr. S Radhakrishnan.
- Second to be re-elected as the Vice President of India – Mohammad Hamid Ansari.
- Longest-serving Vice President of India – Dr. S Radhakrishnan (1952 to 1962; 10 years; two full consecutive terms).
- Second Longest-serving Vice President of India – Mohammad Hamid Ansari (2007 to 2017; 9 years, 364 days; two full consecutive terms).
- The Shortest-serving Vice President of India – V.V. Giri (1 year, 355 days).
- Vice Presidents who were elected unopposedly –
- Dr. S Radhakrishnan (1952 & 1957).
- Mohammad Hidayatullah (1979).
- Shankar Dayal Sharma (1987)
- The Only Vice President of India to have died in office – Krishan Kant (10th, 2002).
- The First Governor (while still holding the office) to become the Vice President of India – Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma (Governor of Bihar from 1985 to 1987).
- The Second Governor to become the Vice President of India – C.P. Radhakrishnan (Governor of Maharashtra from 2024 to 2025).
- The First Vice President to lose a presidential election – Bhairon Singh Shekhawat (2007).
- The First Vice President not to succeed his predecessor as President – Gopal Swarup Pathak.
- Vice Presidents of India who never contested a presidential election – Gopal Swarup Pathak, Basappa Danappa Jatti, Justice Muhammad Hidayatullah, Krishan Kant, Mohammad Hamid Ansari, M. Venkaiah Naidu, Jagdeep Dhankhar.
- V.P.s who went on to become the Presidents –
- Dr. S. Radhakrishnan (2nd President),
- Dr. Zakir Hussain (3rd President),
- V.V. Giri (4th President),
- R. Venkataraman (8th President),
- Shankar Dayal Sharma (9th President),
- K.R. Narayanan (10th President).
Constitutional Provisions Related to the Vice-President of India
Part V, Chapter I of the Constitution of India (Articles 52-78) outlines the Union Executive, which comprises the President and the Vice-President.
It also defines the role of the Vice-President, including their term of office and their function as ex officio Chairman of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha).
- Article 63: There shall be a Vice-President of India.
- Article 64: The Vice-President shall be ex officio Chairman of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and shall not hold any other office of profit.
- Article 65: The Vice-President shall act as President in the event of the occurrence of any vacancy in the office of the President by reason of this death, resignation, or removal, or otherwise.
- Article 66: Election of Vice President.
- Article 67: Vice President shall hold office for a term of five years.
- Article 68: Provisions related to the term and vacancy of the Vice President.
- Article 69: Oath to the office of President.
- Article 70: Discharge of the President's functions in any contingencies.
- Article 71: Matters and disputes relating to, or connected with, the election of a President or Vice President.
Qualifications and Election Process
Eligibility (Article 66)
To be eligible for the office of Vice President, a person must meet the following criteria:
- He should be a citizen of India.
- He should have been at least 35 years of age (Article 66(4)).
- He should be qualified for election as a member of the Rajya Sabha (Article 84).
- He should not hold any office of profit under the Union government or any state government or any local authority, or any other public authority (Article 102).
Electoral process
The election of the Vice President is a legislative procedure, not an executive one.
It is governed by the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952, which outlines the rules for electing both the President and the Vice President.
The election is conducted by the Election Commission, and the electoral college consists of all members (both elected and nominated) of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
Unlike in Presidential elections, State Legislative Assemblies do not participate in this.
- The total number of voters in the Vice Presidential Election – 788 (543 members of the Lok Sabha & 245 members of the Rajya Sabha, ie, 233 elected members & 12 nominated members).
Voting follows the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote and is conducted through a secret ballot, as per Article 66(1) of the Constitution.
Nomination requirements
- A candidate requires 20 proposers and 20 seconders from the electoral college.
- The security deposit for a Vice Presidential candidate is ₹15,000, to be submitted with the Reserve Bank of India.
If there is a tie in the Vice Presidential election, the result is decided by drawing lots.
All disputes or doubts regarding the Vice President’s election are adjudicated exclusively by the Supreme Court.
The 11th Constitutional Amendment (1961) states that the election of the Vice President cannot be challenged on the grounds of any vacancy in the electoral college.
If the Supreme Court declares the election void, any acts performed by the Vice President before the verdict remain valid.
The Constitution does not provide for an acting Vice President; a new election must be held as soon as possible.
Finally, a person is eligible for re-election as Vice President without any limit on the number of terms.
Term of Office and Removal
Term of Office
The Vice President holds office for a term of five years from the date on which they enter office.
However, they can continue in office even after their term expires, until their successor is elected and takes office.
This provision is in place to prevent a vacancy in the position.
But the Vice President can resign from their office by submitting their resignation letter to the President (Article 67(a)).
Removal from Office
Unlike the President's impeachment, the Constitution does not specify any grounds for the removal of the Vice President.
The removal process is a specific constitutional procedure and is not the same as a vote of no-confidence against the government.
The Vice President can be removed from office by a resolution of the Rajya Sabha passed by a special majority (more than 50% majority, ie, out of the total strength of the Rajya Sabha (245), it would require at least 123 votes) and agreed to by the Lok Sabha by a simple majority (Article 67(b)).
A resolution for removal can be initiated only in the Rajya Sabha and requires a minimum of 14 days' notice.
The Supreme Court also has the power to remove a Vice President, but this power is strictly related to election disputes under Article 71(1) of the Constitution.
If the Supreme Court inquires into an election petition and finds that the Vice President's election was invalid, it can declare the election void and make the VP invalid.
The grounds for declaring the election void can include:
- Committing electoral malpractices.
- Being ineligible to be a Rajya Sabha member, which is a key qualification for the Vice Presidency.
Salary & Renumeration
The Parliament, by law, determines the salary and allowances of the Vice President.
The current salary of the Vice President is Rs. 4 lakh per month (exclusive of allowances).
The salary and allowances of the Vice President are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India. The salary being a charge on the Consolidated Fund means it is non-votable by Parliament.
When the Vice President acts as the President, they receive the salary and allowances of the President.
Key Functions and Powers
Ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Article 64)
This is the primary and most significant function of the Vice President as mandated by Article 64 of the Constitution.
Key Functions as Chairman
- The Vice President presides over the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha, maintaining discipline and order within the House.
- Like the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Chairman regulates debates and ensures the smooth functioning of parliamentary business.
- The Chairman is responsible for upholding the dignity and prestige of the House and protecting the rights and privileges of its members.
It is important to note that the Vice President acts as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha but is not a member of that House.
Casting Vote
As the Chairman, the Vice President does not vote in the first instance.
However, in the event of a tie on any matter, they have the authority to cast a decisive vote to resolve the deadlock. This is known as a casting vote.
Acting President (Article 65)
The Vice President can act as the President in case of a vacancy due to the President's resignation, death, or impeachment.
They can also act as the President when the sitting President is unable to perform their functions due to absence, illness, or any other cause.
When acting as President, the Vice President enjoys all the powers and immunities of the President and ceases to perform the functions of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
The term of the Acting President is for a maximum of six months, within which a new President must be elected.
As per the Presidential (Discharge of Functions) Act, 1969, the Chief Justice of India can also discharge the functions of the President in the absence of both the President and the Vice President.
In the absence of the Chief Justice (if the President and the Vice President are all unable to hold the office), the seniormost judge of the Supreme Court available shall discharge the functions of the President.
Vice Presidents Who Resigned from Office
To date, three Vice Presidents have resigned from office for reasons other than being elected as President of India. They are:
- The First Vice President of India to resign from office – V.V. Giri.
- He resigned in 1969 to contest the presidential election after the death of President Zakir Hussain as an independent candidate.
- The Second vice president to resign before completing his term – Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.
- He took office after the death of VP Krishkant, who can be considered to be included in this list, because after losing the presidential election to Pratibha Patil in 2007, he resigned from office.
- Shekhawat resigned in July 1987 to contest the presidential election as the Congress candidate.
- The Third Vice President of India to resign from office – Jagdeep Dhankhar.
- He resigned in July 2025, citing health reasons.
The Vice Presidents who resigned from office to become the President of India are V.V. Giri, R. Venkataraman, Shankar Dayal Sharma, and K.R. Narayanan.
V.V. Giri's resignation is considered unique. Unlike those who resigned after winning the election (like R. Venkataraman), Giri resigned to contest the election.
Full list of Vice Presidents of India (1952-2025)
| S. No. | Vice-President | Tenure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan | 13 May 1952 | 12 May 1962 |
| 2 | Dr. Zakir Hussain | 13 May 1962 | 12 May 1967 |
| 3 | Varahagiri Venkata Giri | 13 May 1967 | 20 July 1969 |
| 4 | Gopal Swarup Pathak | 31 August 1969 | 30 August 1974 |
| 5 | Basappa Danappa Jatti | 31 August 1974 | 30 August 1979 |
| 6 | Justice Muhammad Hidayatullah | 31 August 1979 | 30 August 1984 |
| 7 | Ramaswamy Venkataraman | 31 August 1984 | 24 July 1987 |
| 8 | Shankar Dayal Sharma | 7 September 1987 | 24 July 1992 |
| 9 | Kocheril Raman Narayanan | 21 August 1992 | 24 July 1997 |
| 10 | Krishan Kant | 21 August 1997 | 27 July 2002 |
| 11 | Bhairon Singh Shekhawat | 19 August 2002 | 21 July 2007 |
| 12 | Mohammad Hamid Ansari | 11 August 2007 | 10 August 2017 |
| 13 | M Venkaiah Naidu | 11 August 2017 | 11 August 2022 |
| 14 | Jagdeep Dhankhar | 11 August 2022 | 21 July 2025 |
| 15 | C. P. Radhakrishnan | 09 September 2025 | Incumbent |
Also refer,
SideNotes:
- Father of the Rajya Sabha – Dr. S Radhakrishnan.
- First Acting President of India – V.V. Giri.
- The first person to be elected as the President of India as an independent candidate – V.V. Giri.
- Current Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha – Harivansh Narayan Singh.
- Current Speaker of the Lok Sabha – Om Birla.
- Current Supreme Court Chief Justice of India – Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai (52nd).
- The person who served as the Supreme Court Chief Justice, the Vice President, and the President – Justice M. Hidayathullah.
- 'An Idealist View of Life' was written by – Dr. S Radhakrishnan.
- The autobiography of M. Hamid Ansari – By Many a Happy Accident: Recollections of a Life.
- The book 'Moving On… Moving Forward: A Year in Office was written by – Venkiah Naidu.
- When there is a joint session of both the houses of the Parliament, it is presided over by the – Speaker of Lok Sabha.
- Minimum age to become a member of the Rajya Sabha – 30.
Thanks for reading!!!
Post a Comment
Post a Comment