India's Vice President holds the nation's second-highest office but lacks explicit constitutional duties.

History · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: While the Vice President of India is the country's second-ranking official, the Constitution remains silent on the specific responsibilities of the role. Instead, the position is defined by its function as the ex officio leader of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India's parliament, and a standby for the presidency.

The office of the Vice President is established under articles 63 through 69 of the Indian Constitution. Although the role is the second-highest constitutional post, it carries no inherent duties beyond presiding over the Rajya Sabha. This legislative function is the primary reason for the office's existence, and the salary attached to the position is specifically designated for this chairmanship. If the Vice President assumes the presidency due to a vacancy caused by death, resignation, removal, or illness, they must relinquish their legislative role and the associated salary, receiving instead the compensation and benefits of the president.

Candidates for the position must be Indian citizens at least 35 years old and meet the eligibility requirements for the Rajya Sabha. They cannot hold any office of profit under the government or public authorities. If a sitting member of either house of parliament is elected, they must vacate their legislative seat before taking the oath. The election is conducted via secret ballot by an electoral college comprising all members of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, including those who are nominated. Any disputes regarding the election process are settled exclusively by the Supreme Court of India.

The term of office is five years, and there is no limit on how many times an individual can serve. While Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the first Vice President elected in 1952, and Mohammad Hamid Ansari both served two terms, most incumbents have served only once. The officeholder can resign by writing to the president or be removed through a resolution passed by a majority in the Rajya Sabha and confirmed by the Lok Sabha, provided a 14-day notice is given. In 2024, the Vice President’s Enclave was completed as part of the Central Vista project in Delhi to provide a dedicated official residence.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• How India's executive power is structured through the Union Council of Ministers
• Is India's President a powerful ruler or merely a ceremonial figurehead?
• The invisible role that once lacked formal status in India's Upper House
• India's upper house can never be dissolved, and a third retires every two years
• The chief legal advisor to India holds a unique constitutional role
• Tonkin to Saigon: a Cold War proxy that remade Indochina
• The CIA informant who became a dictator and a fugitive
• How a humble hatchback became the third best-selling automobile in human history
• The 15 pillars that manage the American state
• The bent-wing fighter that conquered the Pacific despite its rocky start on carriers
• Why the United States is reviving the historic Department of War title
• Molotov chose a name meaning hammer and became Stalin's most enduring lieutenant

More in Modern · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics