Vice-President of India

The Vice-President is the second-highest constitutional office. Article 63 says there shall be a Vice-President of India. The same person is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Article 64) and steps in if the presidency is vacant (Article 65).

September 2026 reference: C. P. Radhakrishnan, in office from September 2025. The first Vice-President was Dr S. Radhakrishnan (a different person — do not mix the two names in a hurry). We do not invent a later 2026 change.

The Vice-President is elected by an electoral college of members of both Houses of Parliament (elected and nominated, unlike the President’s college). State Assemblies do not vote. The term is five years. Removal is by a Rajya Sabha resolution agreed by the Lok Sabha — read Article 67 for the exact majority language.

Key points

1. September 2026: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan — in office from September 2025.
2. First Vice-President: Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who later became President.
3. Article 63 creates the office; Article 64 makes the Vice-President the Rajya Sabha’s Chairman.
4. Article 65: the Vice-President acts as President or discharges functions during a vacancy or absence.
5. Electoral college: all members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha — including nominated members. State MLAs do not vote.
6. This is the clean exam contrast with the President’s election (MLAs vote for President, not for Vice-President).
7. Term: five years; may be re-elected. Resignation is addressed to the President.
8. As Chairman of the Rajya Sabha the Vice-President does not vote except to break a tie (usual parliamentary rule).
9. A Deputy Chairman is elected from among Rajya Sabha members to preside when the Chairman is away.
10. Rajya Sabha strength today: 245 (233 elected + 12 nominated). Constitutional ceiling: 250.
11. The Vice-President is not a member of either House while in office — a standard qualification note.
12. Minimum age: 35 years; must be qualified to be a Rajya Sabha member (Article 66).
13. Election disputes: Supreme Court (same broad idea as the President).
14. Do not call the Vice-President a “deputy Prime Minister”. The two jobs are unrelated.
15. When the Vice-President acts as President for a stretch, the Deputy Chairman runs the Rajya Sabha — textbook consequence of Article 65.
16. We do not list 2026 foreign visits or speeches.
17. Compare oaths: the Vice-President’s oath is shorter and different from the President’s “preserve, protect and defend” line — recognise, do not invent wording.
18. President (same notes): Droupadi Murmu, 15th. Prime Minister: Narendra Modi, third term after 2024.
19. The 12 nominated Rajya Sabha members vote in the Vice-Presidential election — a favourite trap.
20. There is no impeachment article cloned from the President; removal follows Article 67(b).
21. CJI Justice Surya Kant (from 24 November 2025) has no role in chairing the Rajya Sabha.
22. This page is classroom structure, not a live feed from Parliament TV.
23. Related: Lok Sabha seats (the other House), President, Constitution.
24. If a paper asks “who is the Chairman of Rajya Sabha?”, the office-holder answer is the sitting Vice-President.

Vice-President of India — facts (2026)

Exam tip: President = MPs + MLAs. Vice-President = MPs only (both Houses, including nominated). That one contrast wins marks.

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