Question

According to Article 63 of our Constitution, "There shall be a Vice-President of India". In this context, state:
(a) The manner of his election.
(b) The qualification for election.
(c) Two of his important powers.

Answer 1

• (a) Article 66 deals with the election of the Vice-President. He is elected indirectly by an electoral college consisting of all the elected members of both houses of the Parliament and holds office for a term of 5 years. The election is held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote system.

• (b) The qualifications needed to become a Vice President of India are the following:
  
• He or she must be a citizen of India.
  
• He or she must be over 35 years of age.
• He or she must not hold any office of profit.
• He or she must be qualified for election as a Member of the Rajya Sabha or the Council of States.
• (c) 1. He acts as ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha and performs the duty same as the Speaker of Lok Sabha i.e. to conduct the business of the House and maintain the decorum.
  

2. He acts as the President in case of a vacancy due to his resignation, removal, death or otherwise.