The post of Vice President of India is the second-highest constitutional office in the country after the President. The Vice President is elected indirectly by an Electoral College comprising members of both houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha). The office of the Vice President is defined by the Constitution of India, and it plays a significant role in the functioning of the Indian Parliament and the country’s political system.
Key details about the post of Vice President of India:
- Eligibility: To be eligible for the post of Vice President, a person must fulfill the following criteria:
- Be a citizen of India.
- Have completed the age of 35 years.
- Be qualified for election as a member of the Rajya Sabha (the Council of States).
- Election Process: The Vice President is elected by an Electoral College, which consists of members of both houses of Parliament. Unlike the President, the members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States and Union territories do not participate in the Vice Presidential election.
- Term of Office: The Vice President holds office for a term of five years. There is no limit on the number of times a person can be re-elected as Vice President.
- Powers and Functions: The Vice President’s role is primarily as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Some of the key powers and functions of the Vice President include:
- Presiding over the sessions of the Rajya Sabha and maintaining order in the house.
- Casting a casting vote in case of a tie during voting in the Rajya Sabha.
- Discharging the functions of the President in case of the President’s absence, resignation, or removal until a new President is elected.
- Acting as the President during a temporary vacancy in the President’s office until a new President is elected.
- Performing other duties assigned by the President or the Government of India.
- Removal from Office: The Vice President can be removed from office by a resolution passed by a special majority in the Rajya Sabha. However, such a resolution needs to be supported by the Lok Sabha as well.
- Relation with the President: The Vice President is next in line of succession to the President. In case of a vacancy in the office of the President, the Vice President discharges the functions of the President until a new President is elected.
- Independence of Office: The Vice President is not a member of either House of Parliament. They are elected separately and independently of their political affiliations. Once elected, the Vice President is expected to act impartially and discharge their duties in a non-partisan manner.
List of all Vice-Presidents of India
Vice – President of India |
Term of office |
| Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (First Vice-President of India) | 13 May 1952 – 12 May 1957
13 May 1957 – 12 May 1962 |
| Zakir Hussain | 13 May 1962 – 12 May 1967 |
| V. V. Giri | 13 May 1967 – 3 May 1969 |
| Gopal Swarup Pathak | 31 August 1969 – 30 August 1974 |
| B. D. Jatti | 31 August 1974 – 30 August 1979 |
| Mohammad Hidayatullah | 31 August 1979 – 30 August 1984 |
| R. Venkataraman | 31 August 1984 – 24 July 1987 |
| Shankar Dayal Sharma | 3 September 1987 – 24 July 1992 |
| K. R. Narayanan | 21 August 1992 – 24 July 1997 |
| Krishan Kant | 21 August 1997 – 27 July 2002 |
| Bhairon Singh Shekhawat | 19 August 2002 – 21 July 2007 |
| Mohammad Hamid Ansari | 11 August 2007 – 11 August 2012
11 August 2012 – 11 August 2017 |
| Venkaiah Naidu | 11 August 2017 – 11 August 2022 |
| Jagdeep Dhankhar | 11 August 2022 – Incumbent |
History and Origin of Post of Vice-President of India
The post of Vice President of India was created as part of the constitutional framework established after India gained independence from British colonial rule in 1947. The idea of having a Vice President was borrowed from the United States, where the Vice President plays a similar role as the second-highest constitutional officer after the President.
- Constitutional Assembly and the Constitution: After India gained independence, a Constituent Assembly was formed to draft the Constitution of India. The Constitution was adopted on January 26, 1950, and it came into effect, marking India’s transformation into a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic. The Constitution laid down the framework for the Vice President’s office, drawing inspiration from the United States’ Vice Presidency.
- Role and Functions: The primary role of the Vice President was defined as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), which is the upper house of Parliament. The Vice President’s role in presiding over the Rajya Sabha and maintaining order during its proceedings was seen as essential to ensure effective functioning of the upper house.
- Indirect Election: Like the President, the Vice President is also elected indirectly by an Electoral College, which comprises members of both houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha). The members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States and Union territories do not participate in the Vice Presidential election.
- First Vice President: Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a renowned philosopher and statesman, became the first Vice President of India on August 13, 1952. He held the office for two terms and played a significant role in shaping the Vice Presidency’s traditions and conventions.
- Constitutional Provisions: Articles 63 to 73 of the Indian Constitution deal with the Vice President’s office, defining their qualifications, election process, powers, and functions.
- Evolution of the Office: Over the years, the office of the Vice President has evolved, and Vice Presidents have contributed to enhancing the Rajya Sabha’s functioning and the Indian parliamentary system as a whole.
Constitutional articles related to Vice President
Article 63: This article states that there shall be a Vice President of India. It establishes the office of the Vice President as the second-highest constitutional office in the country.
Article 64: This article deals with the Vice President’s eligibility for election. It states that a person shall not be eligible for election as Vice President unless they fulfill the qualifications for membership of the Rajya Sabha (the Council of States).
Article 65: This article lays down the procedure for the election of the Vice President. It states that the Vice President shall be elected by an Electoral College, which consists of members of both houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha).
Article 66: This article deals with the term of office of the Vice President. It states that the Vice President shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which they enter upon their office.
Article 67: This article deals with the manner of election of the Vice President. It states that all doubts and disputes arising out of or in connection with the election of the Vice President shall be inquired into and decided by the Supreme Court.
Article 68: This article deals with the time of holding the Vice Presidential election. It states that the election to fill the vacancy in the office of the Vice President shall be completed before the expiration of the term of the outgoing Vice President.
Article 69: This article deals with the oath or affirmation by the Vice President. It states that the Vice President, before entering upon their office, shall make and subscribe an oath or affirmation in the presence of the President of India.
Article 70: This article deals with the discharge of the President’s functions during casual vacancies in the Vice President’s office or during the Vice President’s absence or inability to discharge their functions.
Article 71: This article deals with the time of holding the election to fill the vacancy in the office of the Vice President, and the conditions for eligibility of the Vice President for re-election.
Article 72: This article deals with the power of the President to grant pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offense, including offenses under the Union laws.
List of Vice presidents of India who later became President of India
- Dr. S Radhakrishnan
- Dr Zakir Hussain
- V V Giri
- R Venkataraman
- Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma
- K R Narayanan
FAQ
Who is the first woman Vice-President of India?
India Never Had A Female Vice-President.
What is the current salary of the vice president of India?
The current salary of the Vice President is Rs. 4 lahks per month (exclusive of allowances).
