The Constitution provides a specific mechanism for dealing with vacancies in the office of the Vice-President.
The main provisions are:
The Constitution ensures that a vacancy in the office of Vice-President does not create a constitutional vacuum.
Article 63 provides:
There shall be a Vice-President of India.
The Vice-President has two important constitutional roles:
The office of Vice-President may become vacant due to:
Article 67 deals primarily with:
The normal term is:
Five Years
The Vice-President resigns by writing addressed to:
President
The Vice-President is removed through:
A resolution of Rajya Sabha
which must be:
Agreed to by Lok Sabha
Unlike the President:
Impeachment
Removal Resolution
Therefore, the Vice-President is:
Not Impeached
A resolution for removal of the Vice-President requires:
At least 14 days' notice
State Legislatures do not participate in the removal of the Vice-President.
The procedure involves:
Rajya Sabha + Lok Sabha
The election to replace the Vice-President should be completed:
Before the expiry of the term
This ensures continuity of the office.
If a vacancy occurs before the normal expiry of the term because of:
a new election must be held:
As soon as possible
For a casual vacancy in the:
Election must be held:
Within six months
Election must be held:
As soon as possible
The Constitution does not prescribe the same six-month period for a Vice-Presidential casual vacancy.
A person elected to fill a casual vacancy:
Serves a full five-year term
from the date of entering office.
The person does not merely complete:
The predecessor's remaining term
A Vice-President elected after a casual vacancy receives:
A Fresh Five-Year Term
The Constitution does not create a separate permanent succession line for a temporary inability of the Vice-President comparable to the detailed mechanism for the President.
The office itself remains constitutionally established.
Under:
Article 65
the Vice-President may act as President when:
When the Vice-President acts as President:
the Vice-President:
Does not perform the duties of Chairman of Rajya Sabha
during that period.
If the office of Vice-President is vacant while the President's office also becomes vacant, the Constitution provides for another arrangement under:
Article 70
Parliament may make provisions for such contingencies.
No.
The Prime Minister does not automatically succeed to the office of Vice-President.
The Constitution requires:
Election of a Vice-President
No.
The Vice-President is:
Elected
not appointed by the President.
The election is conducted by the:
Election Commission of India
under the constitutional and statutory framework.
The Vice-President is elected by:
Members of Both Houses of Parliament
This includes:
State Legislative Assemblies:
Do Not Participate
in the election of the Vice-President.
The Vice-President is elected through:
Proportional Representation
by:
Single Transferable Vote
using:
Secret Ballot
Every participating MP has:
Equal Vote Value
There is no weighted State-based voting system.
A vacancy therefore results in:
Fresh Election
rather than automatic succession by another constitutional office-holder.
Because the Vice-President is the:
Ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha
a vacancy means that the office of Chairman becomes vacant as well.
The functioning of Rajya Sabha continues through the constitutional and parliamentary arrangements for presiding over the House.
The:
Deputy Chairman
can perform the functions of the Chairman when authorised under the constitutional and parliamentary framework.
This ensures continuity in the functioning of Rajya Sabha.
No.
The Deputy Chairman does not become Vice-President.
The Deputy Chairman only performs the relevant parliamentary functions of the Chairman when required.
The two offices have different constitutional mechanisms.
Vice-President acts as President during vacancy.
No equivalent permanent automatic successor is provided.
A:
Fresh Election
is held.
| President | Vice-President |
|---|---|
| Article 62 | Article 68 |
| Casual vacancy filled within 6 months | Election as soon as possible |
| VP acts as President | No automatic successor to VP |
| New President gets full 5-year term | New VP gets full 5-year term |
| Election by Presidential electoral college | Election by Members of Parliament |
Resignation addressed to:
President
After resignation:
Office becomes vacant
and a fresh election is required.
If removed:
Office becomes vacant
A fresh election is held:
As soon as possible
If Vice-President dies:
Office becomes vacant
A fresh election is held:
As soon as possible
When normal term expires:
the successor should be elected:
Before the expiry of the term
No.
The Vice-President's constitutional term ends according to Article 67, subject to the Constitution's provisions concerning continuation until a successor enters office.
Vice-President temporarily performs:
Presidential Functions
Must be:
Elected Separately
Article 68 deals with:
Election to fill a vacancy in the office of Vice-President
Election must be completed:
Before expiry
Election must be held:
As soon as possible
Election disputes relating to Vice-President are decided by:
Supreme Court
The vacancy provisions ensure:
Vice-President's normal term:
Five Years
VP resigns to:
President
VP is removed by:
Rajya Sabha resolution agreed to by Lok Sabha
Removal requires:
14 Days' Notice
VP is:
Not Impeached
Casual vacancy is filled:
As soon as possible
New VP gets:
Full Five-Year Term
VP is elected by:
Members of Both Houses of Parliament
Nominated MPs:
Can Vote
State MLAs:
Cannot Vote
VP election uses:
PR + STV + Secret Ballot
VP election disputes:
Supreme Court
Vice-President is appointed by President.
False.
The Vice-President is:
Elected
Vice-President is elected by State Legislative Assemblies.
False.
Only:
Members of Parliament
participate.
Nominated MPs cannot vote in VP election.
False.
They:
Can Vote
Vice-President is removed through impeachment.
False.
Removal is through:
Rajya Sabha resolution agreed to by Lok Sabha
Vice-President vacancy must be filled within six months.
False.
The Constitution says:
As soon as possible
New VP after casual vacancy completes only the predecessor's remaining term.
False.
The new VP receives:
Full Five-Year Term
Prime Minister automatically becomes Vice-President when the office is vacant.
False.
Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha becomes Vice-President during vacancy.
False.
Vice-President can remain Chairman of Rajya Sabha while acting as President.
False.
The VP does not perform Chairman's duties while acting as President.
State Legislative Councils participate in VP election.
False.
The vacancy mechanism ensures that the Vice-Presidential office is restored through:
Timely Election
rather than indefinite vacancy.
Because the Vice-President chairs Rajya Sabha, continuity in the office supports:
Effective Functioning of the Upper House
The Constitution requires:
Fresh Election
rather than automatic appointment of a successor.
The constitutional framework distinguishes:
Temporary Acting Functions
from:
Permanent Constitutional Office
For:
"Explain the constitutional provisions relating to vacancy and succession to the office of the Vice-President."
The Constitution establishes a specific mechanism under Articles 67 and 68 to ensure continuity in the office of the Vice-President.
Election:
As soon as possible
Receives:
Full Five-Year Term
VP may act as President under:
Article 65
The Deputy Chairman and parliamentary procedures ensure continued functioning of Rajya Sabha.
The mechanism balances continuity, democratic legitimacy and parliamentary stability.
"The Constitution provides a clear mechanism for dealing with vacancies in the office of the Vice-President. Articles 67 and 68 ensure that vacancies are followed by timely elections, while Article 65 separately enables the Vice-President to perform presidential functions when required."
"The constitutional scheme therefore avoids both a permanent vacancy and an automatic hereditary or administrative succession, combining institutional continuity with democratic election."
| Article | Subject |
|---|---|
| 63 | Office of Vice-President |
| 64 | Chairman of Rajya Sabha |
| 65 | VP acting as President |
| 67 | Term and removal |
| 68 | Election to fill VP vacancy |
| 69 | Oath |
| 70 | Other contingencies |
| 71 | Election disputes |
| Feature | President | Vice-President |
|---|---|---|
| Main vacancy Article | 62 | 68 |
| Casual vacancy | Election within 6 months | Election as soon as possible |
| Acting arrangement | VP acts as President | No automatic successor |
| New office-holder | Full 5-year term | Full 5-year term |
| Resignation | To VP | To President |
| Removal | Impeachment | Rajya Sabha resolution + Lok Sabha agreement |
VP Vacancy
↓
Death / Resignation / Removal / Other
↓
Article 68
↓
Election as soon as possible
↓
New Vice-President
↓
Fresh Five-Year Term
VP as President
↓
Article 65
↓
President's Vacancy / Inability
↓
VP Acts as President
↓
Does not perform Rajya Sabha Chairman's duties
Vice-President's Succession
↓
No Automatic Permanent Successor
↓
Fresh Election
↓
As Soon As Possible
↓
Full Five-Year Term
Article 65
↓
VP Can Act as President
↓
Constitutional Continuity + Democratic Legitimacy
