Vice President of India Notes | SSC CGL, RRB, Banking Exams

Introduction

The Vice President of India is the second-highest constitutional office in the country. Article 63 of the Indian constitution states that there shall be a Vice President of India. The manner of the election of the Vice President and President is same. The Vice President is elected by an electoral college consisting of the elected members of both houses of Parliament. The Vice President serves a term of five years but is eligible for reelection.

Election of Vice President

• The Vice President is elected by the members of an electoral college.
• The electoral college consists of the elected members and nominated members of both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha by means of a single transferable vote system.
• The election is conducted through a secret ballot system.
• The election is conducted by the Election Commission of India.

Qualifications for Vice President

• The candidate must be a citizen of India.
• The candidate must be at least 35 years of age.
• The candidate must be qualified to be elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha.
• The candidate must not hold any office of profit under the government of India or any state government.

Oath of Office of Vice President

• The Vice President takes an oath of office before assuming the position.
• The oath is administered by the President of India.
• The oath includes a pledge to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and the law.

Term of Office

• The Vice President serves a term of five years.
• The Vice President is eligible for reelection.
• There is no limit on the number of terms a Vice President can serve.
• He/She can resign from office at any time by submitting a written resignation to the President of India.
• He/She can be elected for multiple terms, but the term is five years each time.
• Emoluments: The Vice President receives a salary and allowances as determined by law. The current salary is ₹400,000 per month, along with other perks and benefits. This salary is paid from the Consolidated Fund of India.

Removal of Vice President

• The Vice President can be removed from office by a process called impeachment.
• The impeachment process is similar to that of the President.
• The motion for impeachment must be passed by a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament.

Vacancy of Office

• The office of the Vice President can become vacant due to various reasons such as resignation, removal, or death.
• In case of a vacancy, the President of India must fill the position through a fresh election.
• Article 67 of the Constitution deals with the term of office, resignation, and removal of the Vice President.
• Resignation (Article 67(a)):
  • The Vice President can resign from office by submitting a written resignation to the President of India.
• Removal (Article 67(b)):
  • The Vice President can be removed from office by a process of impeachment, similar to the President.

Powers of Vice President

• Article 64 and Article 89(1): The Vice President is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
• Article 89(1): He/She has the power to preside over the sessions of the Rajya Sabha.
• Article 100(1): The Vice President can cast a vote in the Rajya Sabha only in the case of a tie.
• The Vice President also has the power to appoint the members of various committees in the Rajya Sabha.

Responsibilities of Vice President

• The Vice President is responsible for maintaining order and decorum in the Rajya Sabha.
• He/She must ensure that the rules and procedures of the house are followed.
• The Vice President also represents the Rajya Sabha in all external matters.

Quick Digest

List of Vice Presidents of India

Name	Tenure
Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan	1952-1962
Dr. Zakir Husain	1962-1967
Varahagiri Venkata Giri	1967-1969
Gopal Swarup Pathak	1969-1974
B.D. Jatti	1974-1979
Justice M. Hidayatullah	1979-1984
R. Venkataraman	1984-1987
Shankar Dayal Sharma	1987-1992
K. R. Narayanan	1992-1997
Krishan Kant	1997-2002
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat	2002-2007
Mohammad Hamid Ansari	2007-2017
M. Venkaiah Naidu	2017-2022
Jagdeep Dhankhar	2022-2025

FAQs about Vice President of India

1. What is the term of office for the Vice President of India?

The Vice President serves a term of five years but is eligible for reelection.

2. How is the Vice President of India elected?

The Vice President is elected by an electoral college consisting of the elected members of both houses of Parliament through a single transferable vote system.

3. What are the qualifications required to become the Vice President of India?

To become the Vice President of India, a candidate must be:

• A citizen of India
• At least 35 years of age
• Qualified to be elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha
• Not holding any office of profit under the government of India or any state government.

4. Can the Vice President of India be removed from office?

Yes, the Vice President can be removed from office through a process called impeachment, which requires a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament.

5. What are the powers of the Vice President of India?

The Vice President serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, presides over its sessions, and can cast a vote in case of a tie. He/She also has the power to appoint members of various committees in the Rajya Sabha.

6. When did Jagdeep Dhankhar resign as Vice President of India?

Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned as Vice President of India on July 21, 2025, citing health issues.

7. Who administers the oath of office to the Vice President of India?

The oath of office to the Vice President of India is administered by the President of India.

8. Who was the 14th Vice President of India?

Jagdeep Dhankhar was the 14th Vice President of India, elected on August 6, 2022.

9. Jagdeep Dhankar was previously the Governor of which state?

Jagdeep Dhankhar was previously the Governor of West Bengal from 2019 to 2022.

10. What is the current salary of the Vice President of India?

The current salary of the Vice President of India is ₹400,000 per month, along with other perks and benefits.