What is Vice President of India?
Historical Background
Key Points
8 points- 1.
Article 63 states there shall be a Vice President of India.
- 2.
Article 64 declares the Vice President as the ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha).
- 3.
Article 65 outlines the Vice President's role as acting President or discharging presidential functions during a vacancy or absence.
- 4.
Elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament, through the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote (Article 66).
- 5.
The term of office is 5 years (Article 67), but they can resign, be removed by a resolution passed by a majority of all the then members of the Rajya Sabha and agreed to by the Lok Sabha, or continue until a successor assumes office.
- 6.
Must be a citizen of India, 35 years of age, and qualified for election as a member of the Rajya Sabha (Article 66(3)).
- 7.
The Vice President does not hold any other office of profit.
- 8.
The current Vice President is Jagdeep Dhankhar, who assumed office on August 11, 2022.
Visual Insights
Election Process of the Vice President of India
This flowchart outlines the step-by-step procedure for the election of the Vice President of India, as per Article 66 of the Constitution.
- 1.Start: Vacancy in VP Office
- 2.Electoral College Formed
- 3.Nomination & Scrutiny
- 4.Election Day
- 5.Voting Method
- 6.Secret Ballot
- 7.Counting of Votes
- 8.Declaration of Results
- 9.End: New Vice President Assumes Office
President vs. Vice President of India: Key Differences
This table provides a comparative analysis of the President and Vice President of India based on their election, eligibility, term, removal, and primary roles, crucial for understanding India's constitutional framework.
| Feature | President of India | Vice President of India |
|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Articles | Articles 52-62 | Articles 63-71 |
| Electoral College | Elected members of both Houses of Parliament and elected members of State Legislative Assemblies (Article 54) | Members of both Houses of Parliament (elected and nominated) (Article 66) |
| Eligibility Criteria | Citizen of India, 35 years of age, qualified for election as a member of the Lok Sabha (Article 58) | Citizen of India, 35 years of age, qualified for election as a member of the Rajya Sabha (Article 66(3)) |
| Term of Office | 5 years (Article 56) | 5 years (Article 67) |
| Removal Process | Impeachment by Parliament (resolution passed by a special majority in both Houses) (Article 61) | Resolution passed by a majority of all the then members of the Rajya Sabha and agreed to by the Lok Sabha (Article 67(b)) |
| Primary Role | Head of State, Supreme Commander of Armed Forces, Executive Head of the Union | Ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha; acts as President during vacancy/absence (Article 64, 65) |
Recent Developments
3 developmentsThe Vice President's role in maintaining decorum and facilitating legislative business in the Rajya Sabha has been a subject of recent discussions.
Increased public engagement and statements by the Vice President on matters of national importance, reflecting the evolving role of the office.
Debates surrounding the powers of the presiding officer in parliamentary proceedings, including decisions on disqualification of members and privilege motions.