Vice President of India Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Vice President of the Republic of India
Flag of India
Logo of The Vice President of India
Incumbent C. P. Radhakrishnan since 12 September 2025
Style	The Honourable (formal) Mr. Vice President (informal) His Excellency (in diplomatic correspondence)
Abbreviation	VP/V-P
Residence	Vice President's Enclave
Seat	New Delhi, Delhi, India
Appointer	Electoral College of India
Term length	Five years Renewable
Constituting instrument	Constitution of India (Article 63)
Inaugural holder	Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1950–1962)
Formation	13 May 1950; 75 years ago (1950-05-13)
Deputy	Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha (in Rajya Sabha)
Salary	₹400,000 (US$6,800) per month

The Vice President of India is a very important leader in the Republic of India. This person is like a helper or deputy to the President of India, who is the head of the country. The Vice President holds the second-highest position in the government, right after the President. If something happens to the President, the Vice President is next in line to take over.

The Vice President also has another big job: they are the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, which is one of the two main parts of India's Parliament. This means they lead the meetings and discussions in the Rajya Sabha. They are ranked second in the official order of importance in India.

The way the Vice President is chosen is explained in the Constitution of India. They are not directly elected by all citizens. Instead, a special group of people called an electoral college votes for them. This college includes members from both houses of Parliament. The voting uses a special system called proportional representation with single transferable votes, and it's done secretly by the Election Commission of India.

Besides these roles, the Vice President is also the head of several important universities, like Panjab University, University of Delhi, and Pondicherry University. They also visit Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication and lead the Indian Institute of Public Administration.

How India's Vice President is Chosen
When a Vice President Leaves Office Early
What the Vice President Earns
List of Vice presidents
See also

How India's Vice President is Chosen

Who Can Be Vice President?

To become the Vice President, a person needs to meet certain requirements, similar to those for the President:

They must be a citizen of India.
They must be at least 35 years old.
They should not hold any "office of profit," meaning they shouldn't have a government job that gives them special benefits.
They don't have to be a Member of Parliament (MP) already, but they must be qualified to become a member of the Rajya Sabha.

It's important that the Vice President is qualified to be a member of the Rajya Sabha because they will lead that house. They cannot do both jobs (Vice President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha) at the exact same time, but they switch between these roles as needed.

The Election Process

The Vice President is chosen through an indirect election. This means people don't vote for them directly. Instead, a special group called an electoral college votes. This college includes both elected and nominated members from the two houses of Parliament: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The voting uses a system where voters rank their choices, and it's done by secret ballot.

This election is a bit different from the President's election because members of state legislatures (local government bodies) do not vote for the Vice President. However, nominated members of the Rajya Sabha can vote.

To become a candidate for Vice President, a person needs at least 20 members of Parliament to suggest their name and another 20 members to support it. Candidates also need to pay a small security deposit to the Reserve Bank of India.

The Election Commission of India manages this election. The election must happen within 60 days after the previous Vice President's term ends. A special officer, usually the secretary-general of one of the Parliament houses, is in charge of the election. This officer announces the election and invites people to become candidates.

During the election, voters rank the candidates from their first choice to their last. The votes are carefully counted. If no candidate gets enough first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is removed, and their second-choice votes are given to other candidates. This process continues until one candidate receives enough votes to win.

After the votes are counted, the election officer announces the winner. The government then officially publishes the name of the new Vice President.

A Vice President can choose to leave their job early by writing a letter of resignation to the President. The resignation becomes official once the President accepts it. If the Vice President resigns, a new election must be held as soon as possible.

The spouse of the Vice President is known as the Second Lady of India.

Solving Election Problems

If there are any disagreements or problems with the election of the Vice President, these issues are brought to the Supreme Court of India. A special group of five judges from the Supreme Court will look into the matter and make a final decision.

The Supreme Court can even remove a Vice President if they find serious problems with how the election was conducted or if the Vice President was not qualified to be a Rajya Sabha member. The Supreme Court's job is to make sure the election process is fair and follows the rules.

Taking the Oath

Before starting their job, the Vice President must take an oath, which is a solemn promise. They promise to be loyal to the Constitution of India and to do their duty well. The President of India is the one who gives this oath to the new Vice President.

How Long They Serve

The Vice President serves for a term of five years. They can be re-elected any number of times. However, their term can end earlier if they pass away, resign, or are removed from office. If the Vice President's office becomes empty for any unexpected reason, there isn't a direct line of succession like for the President. In such a case, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha can take over the duties of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

If the President passes away while in office, the Vice President steps in as President. They can serve as President for a maximum of six months, during which time a new President must be elected.

When a Vice President Leaves Office Early

The Vice President can be removed from office by a decision made by Parliament. This involves a special resolution passed by the Rajya Sabha (with a majority of all its members) and then agreed upon by the Lok Sabha (with a simple majority of votes). Before such a resolution can be discussed, a notice must be given at least 14 days in advance. The Constitution does not list specific reasons for removal. The decision to remove the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha cannot be challenged in court.

The Supreme Court of India can investigate and decide on problems related to the Vice President's election. However, the Constitution does not clearly state specific reasons for which a Vice President can be removed from office.

What the Vice President Earns

The Vice President does not receive a salary specifically for being the Vice President of India. Instead, they are paid for their role as the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Currently, this salary is ₹400,000 (US$6,800) per month.

In addition to their salary, the Vice President receives a furnished home, medical care, travel allowances, and other benefits. If the Vice President acts as the President or performs the President's duties, they receive the salary and benefits of the President. The pension for a former Vice President is 50% of their salary.

Vice President of India facts for kids

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