Vice-President Election: Process, Powers & Exam Hotspots

Election of Vice-President:
(Key Constitutional Insights)
India’s Vice-President (VP) is uniquely positioned under Articles 63–71 of the Constitution. Unlike the President, the VP is elected only by MPs (no state legislators). Here’s what you must grasp:


Powers & Role:
Serves as ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Article 64).
Steps in as Acting President during the President’s absence, illness, or vacancy (Article 65).
Holds office for 5 years but can stay beyond their term until a successor takes over.


Election Process:
Eligibility: Citizen of India, ≥35 years, registered voter. Cannot be a Parliament/state legislature member.
Proposal: Nomination requires 20 MPs as proposers and 20 as seconders.
Electoral College: 782 MPs (Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha members). State MLAs have no role.
Voting System: Secret ballot via proportional representation (single transferable vote).
Vote Value: All votes carry equal weight (unlike Presidential elections).
Quota: Winner must secure Total Valid Votes
2
+
12Total Valid Votes​+1 (ignore fractions).

Exit Mechanisms:
Resignation: Addressed to the President.
Removal: Rajya Sabha resolution passed by majority + agreed by Lok Sabha.
Critical Gap: No constitutional provision substitutes the VP during a vacancy. Only the Rajya Sabha Chair’s duties can be delegated (to Deputy Chair or President-nominated member).


Why This Matters for Exams:
UPSC Focus: Direct questions in Prelims (2020) and Mains 2022 on VP’s role as Rajya Sabha Chair.
High Resignation Precedent: Dhankhar is only the 3rd VP to resign mid-term—linking to historical resignations (V.V. Giri, R. Venkataraman).
Constitutional Nuances: Contrast with Presidential election (weighted votes, state MLA role).
Current Affairs: September 2023 election timing aligns with exam cycles.
Tricky Clauses: Article 67 (term extension), Article 65 (acting President), and electoral math (quota calculation).


Questions for Self-Test:
Q1. Who elects the Vice-President of India?
A: Members of Parliament (both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha). State legislatures play no role.
Q2. Can the Vice-President be re-elected?
A: Yes. There’s no constitutional bar on re-election.
Q3. How is the Vice-President’s election quota calculated?
A: Total Valid Votes
2
+
12Total Valid Votes​+1 (ignore fractions).
Q4. What happens if the Vice-President’s office falls vacant?
A: The Constitution doesn’t specify a substitute. Only the Rajya Sabha Chair’s duties can be delegated.
Q5. How does the VP’s election differ from the President’s?
*A:
President: Elected by MPs + MLAs (weighted votes).
VP: Elected only by MPs (equal vote value).
President’s vote value varies by state; VP’s is uniform.*