The post of Vice President of India
The Vice President of India holds a crucial position in the country's political system. The office of the Vice President is the second-highest constitutional post in India, just below the President. The Vice President is elected indirectly by an Electoral College consisting of members of both houses of Parliament.
The Vice President serves as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Parliament. In this role, they preside over the sessions, maintain order, and ensure that parliamentary procedures are followed. They play a vital role in facilitating discussions, debates, and decision-making within the Rajya Sabha.
Apart from their parliamentary duties, the Vice President also performs various ceremonial and diplomatic functions. They represent India on official visits abroad and attend important state functions and ceremonies. They contribute to the promotion of bilateral relations with other countries and interact with foreign dignitaries.
While the Vice President's role is primarily legislative and ceremonial, they may also assume the duties of the President in case of a vacancy or temporary absence. In such instances, they act as the President of India until a new President is elected or the incumbent resumes their duties.
The Vice President of India is an important figure in the country's political landscape, contributing to the functioning of the Parliament, upholding democratic principles, and representing India on national and international platforms.
Here is a list of Vice Presidents of India:
- Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1952-1962)
- Dr. Zakir Hussain (1962-1967)
- V. V. Giri (1967-1969)
- Gopal Swarup Pathak (1969-1974)
- B. D. Jatti (1974-1979)
- Mohammad Hidayatullah (1979-1984)
- R. Venkataraman (1984-1987)
- Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma (1987-1992)
- Kocheril Raman Narayanan (1992-1997)
- Krishan Kant (1997-2002)
- Bhairon Singh Shekhawat (2002-2007)
- Mohammad Hamid Ansari (2007-2017)
- M. Venkaiah Naidu (2017-2023)
- Jagdeep Dhankhar (2023 to ......