VICE-PRESIDENT
The Vice-President of India is the second highest office under Article 63 to 71, Part V of
the Constitution of India.
ELECTION OF VICE-PRESIDENT
The Vice-President is indirectly elected not directly by the people.
Article 66 of the Constitution of India, the Vice-President is elected by the members of the
Electoral College.
Electoral College consists of:
• Elected members of Rajya Sabha.
• Nominated members of Rajya Sabha.
• Elected members of Lok Sabha.
QUALIFICATION
• Should be a citizen of India.
• Should have completed 35 years of age.
• Should be qualified for election as a member of the Rajya Sabha.
• Should not hold any office of profit under the Union government or any state
government or any local authority or any other public authority.
TERM OF OFFICE (ART - 67)
• The Vice-President holds office for a term of five years from the date on which he
enters his office.
• He can resign from his office at any time by addressing the resignation letter to the
President.
• He is also eligible for re-election to that office for any number of terms.
OATH AND AFFIRMATIONS (ART - 69)
• Vice-President is administered by the President or some person appointed on that
behalf by him.
REMOVAL
• Removed from office before the completion of his term.
• No ground has been mentioned in the Constitution for his removal.
• A formal impeachment is not required.
• Resolution for removal can be introduced only in the Rajya Sabha and not in the Lok
Sabha.
ROLES AND RESONSIBILITIES
• Acts as President in the absence of the president due to death, resignation,
impeachment, or other situations.
• Ex- officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. (ART - 64)
COMPARING INDIAN AND AMERICAN VICE - PRESIDENT
Though the office of the Indian Vice-President is modelled on the lines of the American
Vice-President, there is a difference.
American Vice-President Indian Vice-President
The American Vice-President succeeds to The Indian Vice-President, on the other
the presidency when it falls vacant, and hand, does not assume the office of the
remains President for the unexpired term President when it falls vacant for the
of his predecessor.
unexpired term. He merely serves as an
acting President until the new President
assumes charge.
Why he is called ‘His Superfluous Highness?
Constitution has not assigned any significant function to the Vice-President in our country. Hence,
Constitutional scholars called him ‘His Superfluous Highness.'
FACTS
• Article 63 – The office of the Vice President of India.
• Vice President is a member of neither Lok Sabha nor Rajya Sabha.
• First Vice President of India – Dr. S. Radhakrishnan (1952). He served twice as the
Vice President of India from the year 1952 to 1962.
• Present Vice President of India – Jagdeep Dhankhar