List of Vice Presidents of India: Jagdeep Dhankhar has been elected as the 14th Vice President of India and officially assumed office on August 11, 2022. The inaugural Vice President of India was Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who served from May 13, 1952, to May 12, 1957.
Mohammad Hamid Ansari is the only Vice President to serve for a decade, from August 11, 2007, to August 11, 2017. Before Jagdeep Dhankhar, Venkaiah Naidu held the office from August 11, 2017, to August 11, 2022, during the presidency of Ram Nath Kovind. For more interesting information regarding vice presidents of India, candidates are advised to go through the article thoroughly.
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Vice Presidents of India
List of Vice Presidents of India: The Vice-President of India holds the second-highest authority in the country, following the President, in accordance with Article 65 of the Indian Constitution. This position empowers the Vice-President to make crucial decisions during specific situations, such as the President’s resignation, removal, demise, impeachment, or incapacity to perform presidential duties.
Additionally, the Vice-President of India serves as the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha. To be eligible for this role, candidates must meet the following qualifications:
- They must be a citizen of India and have reached the age of 35 years.
- They should not hold any position that provides financial gain under the jurisdiction of the central government, state government, public authority, or local authority.
List of Vice Presidents of IndiaÂ
Below is a compilation of Vice-Presidents of India spanning the years from 1950 to 2023:
| List of Vice Presidents of India | |
| Vice – President of India | Term of office |
| Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (First Vice-President of India) | 13 May 1952 – 12 May 1957
13 May 1957 – 12 May 1962 |
| Zakir Hussain | 13 May 1962 – 12 May 1967 |
| V. V. Giri | 13 May 1967 – 3 May 1969 |
| Gopal Swarup Pathak | 31 August 1969 – 30 August 1974 |
| B. D. Jatti | 31 August 1974 – 30 August 1979 |
| Mohammad Hidayatullah | 31 August 1979 – 30 August 1984 |
| R. Venkataraman | 31 August 1984 – 24 July 1987 |
| Shankar Dayal Sharma | 3 September 1987 – 24 July 1992 |
| K. R. Narayanan | 21 August 1992 – 24 July 1997 |
| Krishan Kant | 21 August 1997 – 27 July 2002 |
| Bhairon Singh Shekhawat | 19 August 2002 – 21 July 2007 |
| Mohammad Hamid Ansari | 11 August 2007 – 11 August 2012
11 August 2012 – 11 August 2017 |
| Venkaiah Naidu | 11 August 2017 – 11 August 2022 |
| Jagdeep Dhankhar | 11 August 2022 – Incumbent |
Must Read- Complete List of President of India from 1950 to 2024
First Vice President of IndiaÂ
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan held the distinction of being India’s inaugural Vice President. He was born on September 5, 1888, and his father’s name was Shri S. Veerasamiah. Radhakrishnan was a renowned scholar and possessed a wealth of academic achievements.
His educational qualifications included a Master of Arts (M.A.), an honorary Doctor of Letters (D. Litt.), a Doctor of Laws (LL.D.), a Doctor of Civil Law (D.C.L.), a Doctor of Literature (Litt. D.), a Doctor of Letters (D.L.), and memberships in various esteemed academic organizations such as F.R.S.L (Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature), F.B.A. (Fellow of the British Academy), and Hony. Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford.
Current Vice President of India Â
Jagdeep Dhankhar emerged victorious in the 2022 Indian Vice Presidential election, securing a resounding victory by a margin of 346 votes against his Opposition counterpart, Margaret Alva. This electoral triumph paved the way for him to assume the role of the 14th Vice President of India, succeeding M. Venkaiah Naidu.
The electoral results clearly favored Jagdeep Dhankhar, with a vote tally of 528 in his favor, while the Opposition candidate, Margaret Alva, garnered 182 votes. The formal inauguration of his term is scheduled for August 11, immediately following the conclusion of the incumbent Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu’s term.
Vice Presidents of India Power & Functions
The Vice President of India serves as the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha, where his authority and responsibilities are equivalent to those of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. In this capacity, he bears a resemblance to the Vice President of the United States, who presides over the Senate, the upper chamber of the federal government. Should the President’s position become vacant due to removal, resignation, death, or any other reason, the Vice President steps in to assume the role.
However, this interim presidency can only last for a maximum of six months before a permanent replacement is selected. Additionally, the Vice President takes on the President’s duties in cases of the President’s absence, illness, or inability to fulfill them until the President can resume their responsibilities.
Qualification of Vice Presidents of IndiaÂ
The qualifications for a candidate to become the Vice President of India are outlined in the Indian Constitution, specifically in Article 66. Here are the essential qualifications:
- Citizenship:Â The candidate must be a citizen of India.
- Age:Â The candidate should be at least 35 years of age.
- Eligible Member of the Rajya Sabha: To be eligible for the position of Vice President, the candidate must be qualified to be elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), which is the upper house of India’s Parliament.
- Non-Membership in the Rajya Sabha:Â A candidate cannot be a sitting member of the Rajya Sabha at the time of their election as Vice President. This means they should not currently hold a seat in the Rajya Sabha.
- Absence of Office of Profit:Â The candidate should not hold any office of profit under the Government of India, the Government of any State, or under any local or other authority subject to the control of either of the governments mentioned above.
These qualifications are designed to ensure that the Vice President is a person of integrity, experience, and capability who can fulfill the responsibilities of the office effectively. The Vice President of India plays a crucial role in the country’s parliamentary system and may need to step in as Acting President in the absence of the President.
Vice President of India Constitutional Provision
The constitutional provision that governs the office of the Vice President of India is primarily outlined in Article 63 and Article 64 of the Indian Constitution:
- Article 63: This article establishes the office of the Vice President of India. It states that there shall be a Vice President of India.
- Article 64: This article deals with the manner of the election of the Vice President. It specifies that the Vice President is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both houses of Parliament, with each member having a weighted vote calculated based on the population they represent.
Vice President of India TenureÂ
The Vice President of India commences their office on the designated date, with a term lasting five years. However, they retain the option to resign from the position before the full five-year term elapses. The following circumstances also result in the Vice President’s position becoming vacant:
- Conclusion of the five-year term.
- Voluntary resignation.
- Removal from office.
- Demise.
- Election invalidated.
Vice President of India Important Facts
Constitutional Role: The Vice President of India is the second-highest constitutional office in the country, with duties and powers similar to that of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha (House of the People).
- Ex-Officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha: One of the most significant roles of the Vice President is to serve as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), the upper house of India’s Parliament. In this capacity, the Vice President presides over its sessions and ensures orderly conduct.
- Election Process:Â The Vice President is elected by an electoral college that consists of members from both houses of Parliament, i.e., the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. State legislatures do not participate in the Vice Presidential election.
- Term Duration:Â The term of the Vice President is five years, but they can continue in office until their successor assumes the role.
- Acting President:Â In the absence of the President of India due to travel, illness, or any other reason, the Vice President assumes the role of Acting President and exercises the powers and duties of the President during that period.
- Removal Process:Â The Vice President can be removed from office by a resolution passed by a majority of the members of the Rajya Sabha, but only if the resolution is agreed upon by the Lok Sabha as well.
- Qualifications:Â To be eligible for the position, a candidate must be an Indian citizen, at least 35 years old, eligible to be elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha, and should not hold any office of profit.
- Vice Presidents List:Â India has had several Vice Presidents since the position was established in 1950, with the first Vice President being Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
- Role in Legislation:Â The Vice President plays a crucial role in the legislative process by casting the deciding vote in case of a tie in the Rajya Sabha.
- Neutrality:Â While candidates may have political affiliations, the Vice President is expected to be non-partisan and uphold the dignity and integrity of the office.
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List Of Vice Presidents Of India FAQs
Who was the first Vice President of India?
The first Vice President of India was Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He served from 1952 to 1957.
Can the Vice President of India serve multiple terms?
Yes, there is no limit to the number of terms a person can serve as Vice President of India. The term is five years, but a Vice President can continue in office until their successor takes over.
What are the qualifications required to become the Vice President of India?
To be eligible for the position of Vice President, a candidate must be a citizen of India, at least 35 years of age, and an eligible member of the Rajya Sabha. They should not simultaneously hold a seat in the Rajya Sabha and should not occupy any office of profit.
How is the Vice President of India elected?
The Vice President of India is elected by an electoral college consisting of members from both houses of Parliament, i.e., the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People). State legislatures do not have a role in the Vice Presidential election.
What is the role of the Vice President of India?
The Vice President of India serves as the second-highest constitutional authority in the country and is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of Parliament). In the absence of the President, the Vice President assumes the role of Acting President.
