Introduction
- The post of Vice President of India is the second highest constitutional post in the country in the order of precedence.
- The post of Vice President in the Constitution of India has been taken from the Constitution of America.
- In India, the Vice President is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, and in America, the Vice President is the ex-officio Chairman of the Senate.
- When the post of the President of America falls vacant, the Vice President completes his remaining term, whereas in India, if the post of President falls vacant, the Vice President can remain in his post only till the election of the new President.
| Name in India | Name in America | |
|---|---|---|
| Parliament | Parliament | Congress |
| Upper House | Rajya Sabha | Senate |
| Lower House | Lok Sabha | House of Representatives |
Vice-President as Chairperson (ex-officio) of the Rajya Sabha (Article 64) :-
The Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairperson of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and does not hold any other office of profit. During any period when the Vice-President acts as, or discharges the functions of the President, he does not perform the duties of the office of the Chairperson of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and, is not entitled to any salary or allowances payable to the Chairperson, Rajya Sabha.
Vice-President as Acting President (Article 65) :-
The Vice-President acts as President, during casual vacancy in the office of the President by reason of death, resignation or removal or otherwise, until a new President is elected as soon as practicable and, in no case, later than six months from the date of occurrence of the vacancy. When the President is unable to discharge his functions owing to absence, illness or any other cause, the Vice-President discharges those functions till the President resumes office. During this period, the Vice-President has all the powers, immunities and privileges of the President and receives emoluments and allowances payable to the President.
Constitutional Provisions
| Part | Article | Provision/Mentions |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 63 | There shall be a Vice-President of India. |
| 5 | 64 | The Vice-President shall be the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. |
| 5 | 65 | In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall perform the duties of the President. |
| 5 | 66 | Qualifications, Conditions and Election |
| 5 | 67 | Tenure and removal process |
| 5 | 68 (2) | ๐ If the post of Vice President becomes vacant (due to death, resignation, removal from the post) then the Vice President should be elected as soon as possible. ๐ When the post of Vice President becomes vacant, there is no 6 month restriction in the election of Vice President like in the case of President. ๐ The next Vice President should be elected before the completion of the term of the Vice President. |
| 5 | 69 | Oath |
| 5 | 70 | ๐ The Vice President will discharge the duties of the President in other emergency situations. ๐ If both the posts of President and Vice President are vacant, then in such a situation the Parliament will make a provision for discharging the duties of the President. ๐ In 1969, the Parliament made a provision that in case both the posts of President and Vice President are vacant, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court will discharge the duties of the President. ๐ If the post of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is vacant, then the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court will discharge the duties of the President. |
| 5 | 71 | Disputes related to the elections of the President and Vice President can be heard only in the Supreme Court. |
Vice President
| Provision | Vice President | |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifications or Conditions | Part-5, Article-66 | He should be a citizen of India. He should have completed 35 years of age. He should have the qualifications to be elected as a member of Rajya Sabha. He should not hold any post of profit. |
| Tenure | Part-5, Article-67 | 5 years from the date of taking oath (He can continue in office even after the expiry of this period till his successor takes office.) |
| Resignation Letter | Part-5, Article-68 | President (The resignation takes effect from the date on which it is accepted.) |
| Oath | Part-5, Article-69 | By the President |
Article 67 :-
- The reason for removing the Vice President from the post is not mentioned in the Constitution.
- The proposal to remove the Vice President can be introduced only in the Rajya Sabha i.e. the proposal is first introduced in the Rajya Sabha and later can be introduced in the Lok Sabha as well.
- The House discusses the proposal after a notice of 14 days.
- The Vice President cannot be the presiding officer during the discussion on the proposal.
- The Vice President can participate in the proceedings of the House during the discussion on the proposal and can also present his side. But cannot vote because the Vice President is not a member of the Rajya Sabha.
- This proposal should be passed by an effective majority of the then members in the Rajya Sabha.
- After the proposal is passed in the Rajya Sabha, it is sent to the Lok Sabha.
- The proposal should be approved by a simple majority in the Lok Sabha.
Election of the Vice-President (Article 66)
- The Election Commission of India is mandated under Article 324 of the Constitution to conduct the election for the office of Vice-President of India.
- The election for the office of Vice-President of India is governed by the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952 and the rules made thereunder, namely, the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules, 1974.
Electoral College of the Vice-President-
- All the members (elected and nominated) of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha participate in the election of the Vice President.
Method of election for the post of Vice-President:-
- For the post of Vice President, the Vice President needs 50% + 1 vote to win by single transferable vote of proportional representation system.
- Whip cannot be issued in the election of Vice President.
- Vice President election is conducted by ballot paper.
- Secret voting takes place in the election of Vice President.
Vice Presidential Electoral List
| S. No. | Election Year | Winning Candidate (Votes Received) | Main Rival (votes received) | Total Voting (MP) (Valid + Invalid) | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1952 | Dr. Radhakrishnan | – | ๐ It contained the names of 715 electors. ๐ He was declared elected unopposed. ๐ Reason- Two candidates filed nomination papers this time out of which the nomination of Janab Sheikh Khadir Hussain was rejected. ๐ Being the only candidate, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan was declared elected unopposed for the post of Vice President. | |
| 2 | 1957 | Dr. Radhakrishnan | – | ๐ The Electoral College consisted of 735 members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. ๐ He was declared elected unopposed. ๐ Reason- At this time Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was the only candidate. | |
| 3 | 1962 | Dr. Zakir Hussain (568) | Sh. N.C. Samantsinhar (14) | 596 (582 + 14) | ๐ 2 candidates ๐ The Electoral College consisted of 745 members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. ๐ 596 Members Out of 745 of the Electoral College voted. (80%) |
| 4 | 1967 | Sh. V.V. Giri (483) | Rrof. Habib (193) | 679 (676 + 3) | ๐ 2 candidates ๐ The Electoral College consisted of 749 members of Parliament. |
| 5 | 1969 | Shri. G.S. Pathak (400) | H.V. Kamath (156) | ๐ 6 candidates ๐ The Electoral College consisted of 759 member of Parliament. ๐ Shri V.V. Giri’s term was till 12-05-1972. However, on 03-05-1969, India’s third President Dr. Zakir Hussain died and Vice President Shri V.V. Giri took over as Acting President. After this, Shri V.V. Giri resigned from the post of Acting President and Vice President to contest the Presidential election on 20 July 1969. Since both the posts were vacant, the election was held at this time. | |
| 6 | 1974 | Sh. B.D. Jatti (521) | Shri N.E. Horo (141) | 672 (662 + 10) | ๐ 2 candidates ๐ The Electoral College consisted of 767 members of Parliament. |
| 7 | 1979 | Shri Mohammad Hidyatullah | – | ๐ He was declared elected unopposed. | |
| 8 | 1984 | Shri Ramaswami Venkataraman (508) | Shri Bapu Chandrasen Kamble (207) | 745 (715 + 30) | ๐ The Electoral College consisted of 788 members of Parliament. |
| 9 | 1987 | Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma | – | ๐ He was declared elected unopposed. ๐ A total of 27 nomination papers were filed this time out of which 26 were rejected. ๐ The term of Shir R. Venkataraman, Vice-President was upto 30-08-1989. However, he was elected as President of India on 16-07-1987 and he tendered his resignation as Vice-President on 25-07-1987. ๐ The Electoral College consisted of total 790 members (Lok Sabha-545 and Rajya Sabha-245) | |
| 10 | 1992 | Shri K.R. Narayanan (700) | Shri Kaka Joginder Singh urf Dharti Pakad (1) | 711 (701 + 10) | ๐ 2 Candidates ๐ The Electoral College consisted of total 790 members (Lok Sabha-545 and Rajya Sabha-245) |
| 11 | 1997 | Shri Krishan Kant (441) | Shri Surjit Singh (273) | 760 (714 + 46) | ๐ 2 Candidates ๐ The Electoral College consisted of total 790 members (Lok Sabha-545 and Rajya Sabha-245) |
| 12 | 2002 | Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat (454) | Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde (305) | 766 (759 + 7) | ๐ 2 Candidates ๐ The Electoral College consisted of total 790 members (Lok Sabha-545 and Rajya Sabha-245) ๐ The term of office of the incumbent Vice-President of India Shri Krishan Kant was to expire on 20-08-2002. However, he expired on 27-07-2002 and election was held to fill the vacancy. |
| 13 | 2007 | Mohd. Hamid Ansari (455) | Dr. (Smt.) Najma A. Heptulla (222) | 762 (752 + 10) | ๐ 3 Candidates ๐ The third candidate Shri Rasheed Masood got 75 votes. ๐ The Electoral College consisted of total 790 members (Lok Sabha-545 and Rajya Sabha-245) |
| 14 | 2012 | Shri M. Hamid Ansari (490) | Shri Jaswant Singh (238) | 736 (728 + 8) | ๐ 2 Candidates ๐ The Electoral College consisted of total 790 members (Lok Sabha-545 and Rajya Sabha-245) |
| 15 | 2017 | Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu (516) | Shri Gopalakrishna (244) | 771 (760 + 11) | ๐ 2 Candidates ๐ The Electoral College consisted of total 790 members (Lok Sabha-545 and Rajya Sabha-245). Out of 790 seats, 785 members were eligible for voting, as there were 04 vacancies at the time of poll and Shri Chhedi Paswan, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha from Bihar was debarred from casting his vote in Vice-Presidential Election-2017. |
| 16 | 2022 | Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar (528) | Smt. Margaret Alva (182) | 725 (710 + 15) | ๐ 2 Candidate ๐ The Electoral College consisted of total 788 members (Lok Sabha-543 and Rajya Sabha-245). Out of 788, 780 members were eligible for voting, as o5 elected seats (04 from the UT of Jammu & Kashmir and 01 from Tripura) as well as 03 nominated seats in the Rajya Sabha were vacant at the time. |
| 17 | 2025 | C. P. Radhakrishnan (452) | Shri B. Sudarshan Reddy (Shri Buchireddy Sudarshan Reddy) (300) | ๐ 2 Candidate |
Vice President Election 2025 :-
- Notification- 07 August, 2025
- Last date for nomination- 21 August, 2025
- Date of scrutiny of nomination- 22 August, 2025
- Last date for withdrawal of candidatures- 25 August, 2025
- Election date- 09 September, 2025
- Counting date- 09 September, 2025
- Candidate (2)-
- NDA Alliance- Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan
- INDIA Alliance- B. Sudarshan Reddy/Shri Buchireddy Sudarshan Reddy (Former Judge, Supreme Court)
- Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan became the 15th Vice President of India.
List of Vice Presidents of India
| S. No. | Name | Tenure | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan | 13-05-1952 To 12-05-1957 | ๐ Bharat Ratna- 1954 |
| Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan | 13-05-1957 To 12-05-1962 | ๐ President- 13-05-1962 To 12-05-1967 | |
| 2 | Dr. Zakir Hussain | 13-05-1962 To 12-05-1967 | ๐ Padma Vibhushan- 1954 ๐ Governor (Bihar)- 1957 To 1962 ๐ Bharat Ratna- 1963 ๐ President- 13-05-1967 To 03-05-1969 |
| 3 | Shri V.V. Giri (Shri Varahagiri Venkata Giri) | 12-05-1967 To 03-05-1969 | ๐ Governor (Uttar Pradesh)- 1957 To 1960 ๐ Governor (Kerala)- 1960 To 1965 ๐ Governor (Mysore)- 1965 To 1967 ๐ Acting President- 03-05-1969 To 19-07-1969 ๐ President- 24-08-1969 To 23-08-1974 ๐ Bharat Ratna- 1975 |
| 4 | Shri Gopal Swarup Pathak | 31-08-1969 To 30-08-1974 | ๐ Judge (Allahabad High Court)- 1945 To 1946 ๐ Governor (Mysore)- 13-05-1967 To 31-08-1969 |
| 5 | Shri B.D. Jatti (Shri Basappa Danappa Jatti) | 31-08-1974 To 30-08-1979 | ๐ Lt. Governor (Pondicherry)- 1968 To 1972 ๐ Governor (Orissa)- 1972 To 1974 ๐ Acting President- 12-02-1977 To 24-07-1977 |
| 6 | Shri M. Hidayatullah (Shri Mohammed Hidayatullah) | 31-08-1979 To 30-08-1984 | ๐ Chief Justice (Nagpur High Court)- 1954 To 1956 ๐ Chief Justice (Madhya Pradesh High Court)- 1956 To 1958 ๐ Chief Justice of India (CJI)- 1968 To 1970 ๐ Acting President- 20-07-1969 To 23-08-1969 ๐ Acting President- 06-10-1982 To 31-10-1982 |
| 7 | Shri R. Venkataraman | 31-08-1984 To 25-07-1987 | ๐ Union Minister (Finance and Defence)- 1980 To 1984 ๐ President- 25-07-1987 To 25-07-1992 |
| 8 | Dr. Shanker Dayal Sharma | 03-09-1987 To 24-07-1992 | ๐ Union Minister for Communications- 1974 To 1977 ๐ Governor (Andhra Pradesh)- 1984 To 1985 ๐ Governor (Punjab)- 1985 To 1986 ๐ Governor (Maharashtra)- 1986 To 1987 ๐ President- 25-07-1992 To 25-07-1997 |
| 9 | Shri K.R. Narayanan | 21-08-1992 To 24-07-1997 | ๐ President- 25-07-1997 To 25-07-2002 |
| 10 | Shri Krishan Kant | 21-08-1997 To 27-07-2002 | ๐ Governor (Andhra Pradesh)- 07-02-1990 To 21-08-1997 ๐ Governor (Tamil Naidu- Additional Charge)- 22-12-1996 To 25-01-1997 ๐ The first and only Vice President of India who died while in office. |
| 11 | Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat | 19-08-2002 To 21-07-2007 | ๐ Chief Minister (Rajasthan)- 22-06-1977 To 15-02-1980 ๐ Leader of Opposition (Rajasthan Legislative Assembly)- 15-07-1980 To 30-12-1989 ๐ Chief Minister (Rajasthan)- 04-03-1990 To 15-12-1992 ๐ Chief Minister (Rajasthan)- 04-12-1993 To 01-12-1998 ๐ Leader of Opposition (Rajasthan Legislative Assembly)- 08-01-1999 To 18-08-2002 |
| 12 | Shri M. Hamid Ansari | 11-08-2007 To 10-08-2012 | ๐ Padma Shri- 1984 |
| 11-08-2012 To 10-08-2017 | |||
| 13 | Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu | 11-08-2017 To 10-08-2022 | |
| 14 | Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar | 11-08-2022 To 21-07-2025 | ๐ 21st Governor (West Bengal) – 30-07-2019 To 18-07-2022 ๐ 14th Vice President of India ๐ Resigned from the post of Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President of India on 21-07-2025 due to health reasons. |
| 15 | Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan | 09-09-2025 To Present | ๐ He is the 15th Vice President of India. |
Vice Presidents who later became Presidents of India-
- Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
- Dr. Zakir Hussain
- Shri V.V. Giri (Shri Varahagiri Venkata Giri)
- Shri R. Venkataraman
- Dr. Shanker Dayal Sharma
- Shri K.R. Narayanan
Vice Presidents who left office before completing their term-
- Shri Krishna Kant- Died in 2002
- Shri V.V. Giri- Resigned to become President. (Became President in 1969)
- Shri R. Venkataraman- Resigned to become President. (Became President in 1987)
- Shri Shankar Dayal Sharma- Resigned to become President. (Became President in 1992)
- Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar- Resigned on July 21, 2025 due to health reasons.
Other Facts
Disputes related to the elections of MPs and MLAs are heard in the High Court. But this has not been mentioned in the Constitution.
Types of majority
| S. No. | Type | Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simple majority | majority of the members present |
| 2 | Absolute majority | majority of total members |
| 3 | Effective majority | majority of then members |
| 4 | Special majority | โ of the members present or ยฝ of the total members |