Vice President of India Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Vice President of India
Flag of India
Logo of The Vice President of India
Incumbent Jagdeep Dhankhar since 11 August 2022
Style	The Honourable (formal) Mr. Vice President (informal) His Excellency (in diplomatic correspondence)
Abbreviation	VP/Veep/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 (1952–1962)
Formation	13 May 1952; 73 years ago (1952-05-13)
Salary	₹400,000 (US$6,800) per month

The Vice President of India is like a helper or deputy to the President of India. The President is the head of the country. This job is the second most important position in the Indian government, right after the President. If something happens to the President, the Vice President steps in.

The Vice President also leads the Rajya Sabha, which is one of the two main parts of India's Parliament.

The Constitution of India explains how the Vice President is chosen. They are elected by a special group called an electoral college. This group includes members from both parts of Parliament. The election uses a system called "proportional representation" with "single transferable votes." The Election Commission of India manages the voting, which is done secretly.

The Vice President also acts as the head of Panjab University and Delhi University.

Currently, Jagdeep Dhankhar is the Vice President. He became Vice President after winning against Margaret Alva in the 2022 Indian vice presidential election.

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Becoming Vice President

Who Can Be Vice President?

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

They must be a citizen of India.
They need to be at least 35 years old.
They cannot hold any other government job that pays a salary.

Also, a person running for Vice President must be qualified to become a member of the Rajya Sabha. This is important because the Vice President leads the Rajya Sabha. They cannot do both jobs at the same time.

How the Vice President Is Elected

The Vice President is chosen through an indirect election. This means people don't vote for them directly. Instead, a special group of people called an electoral college votes. This college includes members from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

The election uses a system called "proportional representation" with "single transferable votes." The voting is done secretly. This election is a bit different from the President's election because state lawmakers do not vote for the Vice President.

To run for Vice President, a candidate needs at least 20 members of Parliament to suggest their name and another 20 members to support it. Each candidate also has to deposit ₹15,000 (US$260) with the Reserve Bank of India.

The Election Commission of India is in charge of holding the election. The election must happen within 60 days after the old Vice President's term ends. A special officer, usually the secretary-general of Parliament, manages the election process.

Voters rank the candidates in order of their preference. If no one gets enough first-place votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is removed. Their votes are then given to the voters' second choices. This continues until someone wins.

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 resign by sending a letter to the President. The resignation becomes official when the President accepts it. If the Vice President resigns, a new election must be held as soon as possible.

Solving Election Problems

If there are any disagreements or problems with the Vice President's election, they are taken to the Supreme Court of India. A 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 election rule breaking. They can also remove a Vice President if they were not qualified to be a Rajya Sabha member.

Taking the Oath

Before starting their job, the Vice President takes an oath. This is a promise to be loyal to the Constitution of India and to do their job well. The President is the one who gives the oath to the new Vice President.

How Long the Vice President Serves

The Vice President holds office for five years. They can be elected again any number of times. However, their time in office can end earlier if they pass away, resign, or are removed.

If the Vice President's office becomes empty for some reason, the Constitution does not have a clear plan for who takes over. However, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha can perform the Vice President's duties as the leader of the Rajya Sabha.

If the President passes away while in office, the Vice President takes over as President. They can serve as President for a maximum of six months. During this time, a new President must be elected.

Removing the Vice President

The Vice President can be removed from office by a special vote. The Rajya Sabha must pass a resolution with a majority vote of all its members. Then, the Lok Sabha must agree to this resolution with a simple majority.

Before such a vote can happen, a notice must be given at least 14 days in advance. The Constitution does not list specific reasons for removing the Vice President. So far, no Vice President has ever been removed from office.

Salary and Benefits

The Vice President does not get a salary specifically for being the Vice President. Instead, they receive a salary for being the leader of the Rajya Sabha. This salary is currently ₹400,000 (US$6,800) per month.

Besides the salary, the Vice President also gets a free furnished home, medical care, and travel benefits. If the Vice President acts as the President, they receive the salary and benefits of the President.

When they retire, the Vice President receives a pension. This pension is 50% of their salary. It's interesting to note that the Vice President is the only official who doesn't get a salary directly for their main job as Vice President.

Vice President of India facts for kids