How is the Vice-President of India elected and removed?
What Happened?
The INDIA bloc held discussions to select a joint candidate for the post of Vice-President of India, but the meeting ended without consensus. The election for the Vice-President is upcoming, making this a crucial political decision for both ruling and opposition alliances.
Concept Corner
| Keyword | Simple Explanation |
|---|---|
| Vice-President of India | Second-highest constitutional office, created under Article 63. Ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha. |
| Election | Elected by an Electoral College consisting of both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha MPs, nominated + elected). Voting is by proportional representation using single transferable vote and secret ballot. |
| Qualifications | Must be a citizen of India, at least 35 years old, and eligible for election as Rajya Sabha member. |
| Term & Oath | 5 years; oath administered by President (Article 69). |
| Removal | Can be removed by a resolution of Rajya Sabha passed by absolute majority, agreed to by Lok Sabha (Article 67(b)). |
| Succession Role | Acts as President of India when the post falls vacant due to death, resignation, removal, or absence, until new President is elected. |
Core Highlights
- Political Context – Opposition INDIA bloc failed to finalize a consensus Vice-President candidate, showing internal differences.
- Importance of Post – The Vice-President presides over Rajya Sabha, playing a key role in parliamentary debates and balance of power.
- Election Process – Unlike the President, only MPs vote for the Vice-President (no MLAs). Both elected and nominated MPs participate.
- Removal Mechanism – Can only be removed by Rajya Sabha resolution with majority support and agreed by Lok Sabha—rare and difficult.
- UPSC Angle – The Vice-President’s election and removal procedure often feature in Polity prelims and mains questions.
Recent Developments
- Past contests: Jagdeep Dhankhar (NDA) elected as Vice-President in 2022, defeating Margaret Alva (Opposition candidate).
- Political strategies: Opposition unity on President/Vice-President posts is symbolic of larger parliamentary coordination.
- Relevance now: Debate on how much influence the Vice-President has in ensuring neutrality as Chairman of Rajya Sabha.
Practice Question
Consider the following statements regarding the Vice-President of India:
- The Vice-President is elected by both elected and nominated members of Parliament.
- The Vice-President can be removed only by a resolution of the Rajya Sabha passed by a special majority and agreed to by the Lok Sabha.
- The Vice-President acts as the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha in case of vacancy of the Speaker.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A) 1 only
B) 1 and 2 only
C) 2 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
