The Vice-President is elected under the Article 63 of the Constitution. The Vice-President like the President is elected indirectly. Qualifications:

(i) He must be a citizen of India.

(ii) He must have completed the age of 35 years.

(iii) He must be eligible to be elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

(iv) He must not hold any office of profit under any government.

Election of the Vice-President: The Vice-President of India is elected by the members of both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote system and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot.

Term of Office:

The Vice-President is elected for the term five years. The period of five years starts from the date on which he enters upon his office. He is eligible for re-election. However, he may resign even before the completion of his tenure by writing to President.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

Functions of the Vice-President:

The duties of the Vice-President are two-fold: 1. He is the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha and 2. He acts for the President when the office of the President is vacant. Even when the President is ill or otherwise unable to perform his duties, the Vice-President acts for him.

Position of the Vice-President:

There is no doubt that the office of the Vice-President of India is next to the office of the President of India. But the Vice-President of India does not exercise any important and real powers.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

Therefore, the office of the Vice-President of India is not of any great importance. Inspite of the above given facts we will have to admit this that much depends upon the personality of the person who becomes the Vice-President. A person with a charismatic personality can become a very useful part of administration.