Vice President of India – Best Competitive Exams Notes

The American Vice-President is the model for the post of Vice President of India. The second highest office in India is that of Vice-President. The post of Vice President is mentioned in Article 63 of India’s Constitution. This topic is crucial for IAS Exam because it forms an integral part of the Political Science subject at all three stages of the exam: Prelims Mains Interview.

Jagdeep Dhankhar is currently the Vice President of India. He also serves as the current Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

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Vice President of India

The vice president is the second-highest office in the nation. He is given a position just below the President on the officially issued order of preeminence. The office is modelled on the model of an American Vice-President.

How is India’s Vice President elected?

The Vice-President is not elected directly, but he/she can be indirectly elected by the Electoral College. Although the process for electing the President of India is very similar, the electoral college that elected the President is different from the one responsible for electing the Vice-President.

Points on Vice President of India Election

• Elected by both houses (Electoral College) in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote and the vote being secret. Nominated members also participate in his election.
• The Supreme Court has the final and exclusive jurisdiction for resolving disputes and doubts relating to the election of the Vice-President.

Also Read,
President of India
List of Presidents of India till 2023
Prime Minister of India
Attorney General of India
Important Articles, Schedules, Parts and Amendments of the Constitution
Salaries of Chief Ministers of States and UTs

Who is eligible to become Vice President of India?

If a citizen of India is at least 35 years old, he can be eligible for the position of Vice President. A candidate must also be qualified to serve as a Rajya Sabha member in order to run for vice presidential elections. He must not be a Rajya Sabha or Lok Sabha member. Additionally, if he wins the election as Vice President, the house will consider him to have vacated his seat. He cannot hold any office of profit in the union government, state government or local authority.

Qualification of Vice President of India

• Citizen of India.
• More than 35 yrs of age.
• Possess the qualification for membership of Rajya Sabha.
• Not hold any office of profit under union state or local authority. However for this purpose, the President, Vice-President, Governor of a State and a Minister of the Union or a State, are not held to be holding an office of profit.

Terms and Office of Vice President

• Holds office for 5 yrs. Can be re-elected.
• The term can be cut short if he resigns or by a resolution of the Rajya Sabha passed by a majority of all the then members of the Rajya Sabha and agreed to by the Lok Sabha.
• The Vice President is the second highest dignitary in India, next to the President of India. No formal functions are attached to the office of the Vice President. He is the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Since he is not a member of the Rajya Sabha, he has no right to vote.
• Being the Vice President of India he is not entitled to any salary but he has entitled to the salary and allowances payable to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
• All bill resolution motions can be taken in Rajya Sabha after his consent.
• Can discharge the function of President if the post falls vacant (For maximum of 6 months) The Vice President takes over the office of the President normally under these conditions :
  1. death of the President;
  2. When his election is declared void
  3. resignation of the President;
  4. removal of the President;
  5. When he completes his term of five years
  6. When President owing to absence, illness or any other cause, is unable to perform the functions of his office.
• When he discharges the functions of the President, the Vice President shall not perform the duties of the office of the Chairman of Rajya Sabha and shall not be entitled to receive the salary of the Chairman. During this period, he is entitled to the salary privileges of the President of India.

Salary of Vice President of India

The Salary of a Vice President is one of the highest-paying salaries in India. The monthly salary of the Vice President of India is ₹4 Lakhs plus other allowances.

Power and functions of Vice President of India

• The vice president of India acts as both the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha and acts as President when a vacancy occurs in the office of the President due to his resignation, impeachment, death or otherwise.
• The Vice-President is not a member of the Rajya Sabha, and hence he has no right to vote.
• Being the Vice-President of India, he is not entitled to any salary, but he is entitled to the salary and allowances payable to the Chairman of the Council of States.
• When he acts as the President or discharges the functions of the President, he shall not perform the duties of the office of the Chairman of the Council of States and shall not be entitled to receive the salary.

Longest Serving Vice president of India

The longest-serving vice president of India is Sh. M. Hamid Ansari who served India as vice president from August 11, 2007 to August 10, 2017 which is a total of 3652 days and a day more than the second-highest serving vice president of India Dr S. Radhakrishnan.

Important Questions on the Vice President

Questions 1
The serial number of Mr Mohammad Ansari as Vice-President of India is [48th to 52nd BPSC (Pre) 2008 Karnataka PSC (Pre) 2019]
(A) 10th
(B) 11th
(C) 12th
(D) 13th

Questions 2
Among the four pairs given below which one consists of a correct-combination of dignitaries who became Vice-President after having held diplomatic posts of Ambassador and High Commissioners? [IAS (Pre) 1993]
(A) Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and G.S. Pathak
(B) Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and V.V. Giri
(C) Dr. Zakir Hussain and K.R. Narayanan
(D) B.D. Jatti and K.R. Narayanan

Questions 3
Which one of the following is presided over by one who is not its member? [UPPCS (Mains) 2004 Tamil Nadu PSC (Pre) 2019]
(A) Lok Sabha
(B) Vidhan Sabha
(C) Rajya Sabha
(D) Council of Ministers

Questions 4
Who is the Chairman of Rajya Sabha? [45th BPSC (Pre) 2001]
(A) The President
(B) The Vice-President
(C) The Prime Minister
(D) The Speaker of Lok Sabha

Questions 5
A resolution for the removal of the Vice-President of India can be proposed in [UPPCS (Mains) 2003, 04]
(A) Only Lok Sabha
(B) Any House of Parliament
(C) Joint Session of Parliament
(D) Only Rajya Sabha

FAQs on the Vice President