The Vice-President of India is the second-highest ranking government official in the executive branch of the Government of India after the President. The Vice-President also has the legislative function of acting as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The present Vice-President of India is Mr. Mohammad Hamid Ansari who was elected on 10th August 2007. Article 63 of the Constitution of India provides for a Vice-President: "There shall be a Vice-President of India". While the Indian Vice-President could be elected for any number of terms, the Constitution requires that the Vice-President must be a citizen of India . The qualifications for Vice-President are the same as those for President. The Vice-President acts as President in the event of the death, resignation, or removal of the President, until a new President is chosen by the electoral college. The Vice-President may also act temporarily as President during the absence or illness of the President. The Vice-President is elected for a term of five years whenever the office becomes vacant, by an electoral college consisting of all the Members of both Houses of Parliament. The constitution also provides a mechanism for the removal of the Vice-President (Article 67(b)) by a vote of the majority of the votes of all the members of both Houses of Parliament. Trivia
Six out of the eleven Vice Presidents of India went on to become the President of India See alsoExternal links
| |