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The Vice President of India
The post of Vice-President is mentioned in Article 63 of the constitution of India. The post of Vice-President is after the President and he might be the next President of India.
- The Vice President of India
- Eligibility of the Vice President
- Functions of the Vice-President:
- Powers of the Vice President of India:
- Articles 63 to 71 – Vice-President
- # List of Vice President of India
- Download Vice-President GK Notes PDF
- Question Answers Vice President
- FAQs Vice-President of India
- Questions for UPSC
Key characteristics of the Vice-President of India
- After the President, the vice president holds the second-highest constitutional position in India.
- The office of the Vice President is established under Article 63 of the Indian Constitution.
- The Vice President is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both houses of Parliament (Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha).
- The Vice President is not directly elected by the people, unlike the President.
- To be eligible for the office of Vice President, a person must be a citizen of India.
- At least 35 years of age is required to become Vice-President
- A candidate must be qualified to be a member of the Rajya Sabha.
- The vice president serves a five-year tenure in office.
- The Vice President’s primary role is to preside over the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Parliament.
- In the absence of the President, the Vice President can act as the President.
- The Vice President may also perform other functions and duties as assigned by the President or the government.
- The vice President can be removed from office by a resolution passed by a majority of the members of the Rajya Sabha.
- From 1952 to 1962, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan held the title of India’s first vice president.
The election procedure of the Vice President is different from the President. The Vice President is not elected by direct vote. The Vice-President is elected by an Electoral College.
This Electoral College is made up of members of both houses of Parliament. The Vice President is elected by secret ballot on the basis of proportional representation by a single transferable vote [Article 66 (1)].
Eligibility of the Vice President
Article 66 of the Constitution of India mentions the eligibility of the Vice Presidential candidate. The Vice Presidential candidate needs to have the following qualifications.
- Must be an Indian citizen.
- Must be at least 35 years of age.
- Should be eligible to be a member of the Rajya Sabha.
- For becoming a candidate, a salaried person should not hold any government post [Article 66 (3)].
- He may not be a member of Parliament or the State Legislature.
Members of the Central and State Legislative Assemblies, including nominated members of Parliament, can be a candidate for the Vice Presidential election. But once elected, he will have to resign from the Legislative Assemblies. - The nomination papers of the Vice Presidential candidate shall be proposed by twenty electors and supported by twenty other electors among the members of the Upper House.
- The Vice Presidential candidate has to deposit Rs. 15,000 as security.
Term of Vice-President:
- Like the President, the term of office of the Vice President is five years.
- He may be re-elected.
Impeachment of Vice-President
The Vice President may resign or be removed before his term expires. He does not have to follow the formal impeachment procedure for dismissal due to violating the Constitution. A 14-day notice has to be given for violating the constitution. The issue of removal of the Vice President needs to be raised in the Rajya Sabha.
If the post of Vice President becomes vacant, the election process will have to be completed within 6 months and a new Vice President will have to be elected.
Salary of Vice President:
The Salary of Vice President is Rs. 400,000.
According to the parliamentary law enacted in 2008, the monthly salary of the Vice-President was one lakh twenty-five thousand (1,25,000) rupees, which is now 4,00,000 rupees. But when he plays the role of president, he receives the president’s salary and allowances. In fact, at that time, he received no salary as vice president. He received his salary as the chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Parliament can change its salary, allowances and other benefits by enacting legislation.
Functions of the Vice-President:
The functions of the Vice President are divided into two parts.
(i) Role as Vice President:
It is commonly said that the Vice President of India has no function. If somehow a vacancy is created in the post of President due to death, resignation, or removal, then the Vice President holds the post of President. He can serve as president for a maximum of six months. At that time, he performed the functions of the president.
For example, after the death of President Fakruddin Ali Ahmed, Vice President B. D. Jatti became the President of India. But the vice president remains in office for a certain period of time. He can hold the post of President for up to 6 months.
(2) Role as Chairman of Rajya Sabha:
Presiding Officer of the Rajya Sabha:
- The primary role of the Vice President is to serve as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), the upper house of India’s Parliament.
- While presiding over the Rajya Sabha, the Vice President maintains order, ensures that debates are conducted smoothly, and makes rulings on procedural matters.
- The Vice President has the casting vote in the event of a tie, but this vote is rarely exercised.
Casting Vote:
- In case of a tie on any matter being voted upon in the Rajya Sabha, the Vice President has the casting vote. However, this vote is typically exercised sparingly.
Acting as President in Absence:
- In the absence of the President of India due to illness, travel, or any other reason, the Vice President performs the duties of the President until the President resumes office.
Chairing Committees:
- The Vice President also chairs the Rajya Sabha’s Ethics Committee and the Committee on Rules, among others.
Representing India Abroad:
- The Vice President may represent India on various occasions and functions, both domestically and internationally, in the absence of the President.
The Vice President became the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha by qua. This is his only & important role as Vice President. However, the Vice President does not become a member of the Rajya Sabha. He conducts the Rajya Sabha as he is the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. However, he does not participate in any discussion or debate.
In the Rajya Sabha, the Vice President has no right to vote. When the Vice President performs the duty of the president in the absence of the President, he also has to play the role of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
The post of Vice President of India is prestigious. But he does not play an important role in any mode of government. In the history of the Indian Constitution, the post of Vice President is for training to be the future President. There are many vice presidents who become presidents in the future. Examples – S. Radhakrishnan, Dr. Zakir Hussain, V.V. Giri, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma and K.R. Narayanan.
Powers of the Vice President of India:
Limited Executive Powers:
- Unlike the President, the Vice President has very limited executive powers.
- The Vice President’s executive powers are largely restricted to discharging the functions of the President in the President’s absence.
No Veto Power:
- The Vice President does not possess any veto power or the authority to withhold assent to bills or ordinances.
Advisory Role:
- The Vice President can play an advisory role by offering suggestions or advice to the President or the government on various matters of national importance.
Appointment of Rajya Sabha Deputies:
- The Vice President appoints the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and also functions as the presiding officer when the Deputy Chairman is absent.
Preservation of Order:
- One of the crucial powers of the Vice President is to maintain order and decorum during Rajya Sabha sessions, ensuring that debates and discussions are conducted in a disciplined manner.
Committee Appointments:
- The Vice President has the authority to appoint members to various parliamentary committees.
Constitutional Roles:
- The Vice President plays a constitutional role in the functioning of the Indian parliamentary system but does not have executive or legislative powers beyond those prescribed by the Constitution.
Representation and Protocol:
- The Vice President represents India at various official and ceremonial functions, both within the country and abroad, in the absence of the President.
Articles 63 to 71 – Vice-President
| Articles | Description |
|---|---|
| Article 63 | The Office of the Vice President of India |
| Article 64 | Vice President of India shall be the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), the upper house of Parliament. |
| Article 65 | The Vice President of India shall be the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), the upper house of Parliament. |
| Article 66 | The Vice President is elected by members of an electoral college consisting of both houses of Parliament, i.e., the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. |
| Article 67 | The term of office for the Vice President at five years. |
| Article 68 | Empower Parliament to make laws regarding the election of the President and Vice President. It allows Parliament to enact laws specifying the manner of election, the procedure for resolving disputes regarding such elections, and other related matters. |
| Article 69 | Prescribes the oath or affirmation that the Vice President takes before entering upon his office. |
| Article 70 | Provides for the discharge of the President’s functions in cases where both the President and the Vice President are unable to perform their duties due to, for example, illness or absence. In such situations, these functions are performed by such other persons as Parliament may prescribe by law. |
| Article 71 | Empowers Parliament to make laws regarding the election of the President and Vice President. It allows Parliament to enact laws specifying the manner of election, the procedure for resolving disputes regarding such elections, and other related matters. |
# List of Vice President of India
| Vice-President | Duration |
| Sarvapalli Radhakrishna (2 times) | 13/5/1952 to 12/5/1062 |
| Zakir Hussain | 13/5/1962 to 12/5/1967 |
| V. V. Giri | 13/5/1967 to 03/5/1969 |
| G.S. Pathak | 31/8/1969 to 30/8/1974 |
| B.D Jatti | 31/8/1974 to 30/8/1979 |
| Md. Hedayatullah | 31/8/1979 to 30/8/1984 |
| R. Venkataraman | 31/8/1984 to 24/7/1987 |
| Shankar Dayal Sharma | 3/9/1987 to 24/7/1992 |
| K.R, Narayanan | 21/8/1992 to 24/7/1997 |
| Krishan Kant | 21/8/1997 to 27/7/2002 |
| Bhairon Singh Shekhawat | 19/8/2002 to 21/7/2007 |
| Mohammad Hamid Ansari | 11/8/2007 – 11/8/2012 |
| Mohammad Hamid Ansari | 1/8/2012 – 10/8/2017 |
| Venkaiah Naidu | 11/8/2017 – present |
Download Vice-President GK Notes PDF
Notes: Directive Principle of State Policy
Notes: Fundamental Rights – GK
Vice-President – general knowledge notes for competitive govt job exams like IAS, UPSC, SSC, Banking, etc. A collection of important points from the vice president is enlisted in this post so that all the aspirants could be able to take the beneficial knowledge.
Question Answers Vice President
Who was the first vice president of India?
Answer: Sarvapalli Radhakrishna. He held his office two times (around 10 years) from 13 May 1952 to 12 May 1062.
How vice president of India can be removed?
Answer: The Vice president of India can be removed by passing a resolution with an absolute majority in the Rajya Sabha and also with the consent of the Lok Sabha.
Which articles mentioned the existence of the vice president of India?
Answer: Articles 63 to 71 of the Indian constitution.
How the vice president of India is appointed?
Answer: By an electoral college. The vice president of India can not be elected by direct voting. For this, a majority is required in both houses of parliament through secret ballot voting.
How many Vice presidents became the President later?
Answer: Out of 14, six vice presidents became president later in India.
Who was the first woman Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha?
Answer: Violet Hari Alva. She holds the office from office 3 April 1952 to 2 April 1960. She was also a politician, journalist, lawyer, and deputy chairperson in Rajya Sabha.
FAQs Vice-President of India
Questions for UPSC
Who presides over the Rajya Sabha in India and what is their role in the legislative process?
Explain the process of electing the Vice President of India. What is the composition of the electoral college for this election?
Under what circumstances can the Vice President of India perform the duties of the President? Explain the constitutional provisions regarding this.
Explain the role and significance of the Vice President in the Indian parliamentary system. How is it different from the President’s?
Discuss the historical significance of the office of the Vice President in India, citing notable Vice Presidents and their contributions.