The Vice-President of India is the second-highest ranking government official in the executive branch of the Government of India after the President. The Vice-President also has the legislative function of acting as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
The present Vice-President of India is Mr. Mohammad Hamid Ansari who was elected on 10th August 2007.
Article 63 of the Constitution of India provides for a Vice-President: "There shall be a Vice-President of India". While the Indian Vice-President could be elected for any number of terms, the Constitution requires that the Vice-President must be a citizen of India . The qualifications for Vice-President are the same as those for President.
The Vice-President acts as President in the event of the death, resignation, or removal of the President, until a new President is chosen by the electoral college. The Vice-President may also act temporarily as President during the absence or illness of the President.
The Vice-President is elected for a term of five years whenever the office becomes vacant, by an electoral college consisting of all the Members of both Houses of Parliament.
The constitution also provides a mechanism for the removal of the Vice-President (Article 67(b)) by a vote of the majority of the votes of all the members of both Houses of Parliament.
