The constitution provides for a Vice-President under Art. 63. The Vice-President is also indirectly elected by the people. Whenever the Article of the president falls vacant due to the death, resignation & removal of the President, the Vice-President acts for him. However, he acts for limited period only.
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Qualifications:
The qualifications for the office of Vice President are identical to those prescribed for the President of India except that the candidate must be qualified to become a member of the Rajya Sabha.
Term-Emoluments:
The term of office of the Vice-President is five years. It may terminate earlier by resignation or removal. He may be removed by a resolution of the Rajya Sabha passed by a majority of its members & agreed to by the House of the People. According to Art 68 an election to fill a vacancy caused by expiration of the term of office is to be completed before the expiration of the term. An election to fill a vacancy caused by death & removal is to be held as soon as possible after the occurrence of the vacancy.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
The Vice-President gets salary as the ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha. Besides a daily allowance as adminissible to members of Parliament.
Oath or Affirmation
The Vice-President takes an oath before the President or some person appointed by him on his behalf.
Powers and Functions:
No functions are attached to the office of the Vice-President as such. The normal function of the Vice-President is to act as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Art 64) but if there occurs any vacancy in the office of the President by reason of his death, resignation removal or otherwise the Vice-President can act as President until a new President is elected & sentence upon his office. The Vice-President discharges the function of the President during the latter’s temporary absence owing to hipness & some other cause. When the Vice-President acts as or discharges the functions of the President, he gets the emoluments of the President at such times he ceases to perform the duties of the chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Art 65).
Position:
The office of the Vice-President is not any great importance. No doubt his office is next to the office of the President of India but he does not exercise any powers.