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Powers and Functions of Vice President of India

Vice-President of India- Relevance for UPSC Exam

GS Paper 2: Indian Constitution- Historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.

Constitutional Provisions: The Office of the Vice-President of India is mentioned in Part V of the Constitution of India under Chapter I (Executive).
- Article 63 of the Indian Constitution mentions the post of Vice-President.
- The Constitutional Articles from 63-73 deal with the qualifications, election and removal of the Vice-President of India.
Constitutional Status: The Vice-President of India is the second-highest constitutional office in the country.
Present Vice-President: Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu is the current Vice President of India and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha: In this capacity, his powers and functions are similar to those of the Speaker of Lok Sabha.
- In this respect, it is similar to the American vice-president, who also acts as the Chairman of the Senate (the Upper House of the American legislature).
- While acting as President or discharging the functions of the President, the Vice-President does not perform the duties of the office of the chairman of Rajya Sabha.
- During this period, those duties are performed by the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha.
Acts as President in case of Vacancy: Vice-President acts as President when a vacancy occurs in the office of the President due to his-
- Resignation,
- Removal,
- Death or otherwise.
Maximum period for which Vice-President can act as President: He can act as President only for a maximum period of six months, within which a new President has to be elected.
Discharges Functions of President: when the sitting President is unable to discharge his functions due to absence, illness or any other cause, the Vice-President discharges his functions until the President resumes his office.

Disputes regarding the election of the vice president can only be challenged in the Supreme Court of India.
The election of a person as Vice-President cannot be challenged on the ground that the electoral college was incomplete.
If the election of a person as Vice-President is declared void by the Supreme Court, acts done by him before the date of such declaration of the Supreme Court are not invalidated.

shivam