The Vice-President

Election and term (Arts 63 to 71)

• Elected by an Electoral College of all members of both Houses of Parliament (elected and nominated). State legislatures do not take part.
• Same system: proportional representation by single transferable vote, secret ballot.
• Qualifications: Indian citizen, 35 years, qualified to be a Rajya Sabha member, no office of profit.
• Term: 5 years. Disputes decided by the Supreme Court.

Role

• Ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Art 64). He has no vote except a casting vote in a tie. He draws his salary (₹4 lakh a month) as Chairman.
• Acts as President during a vacancy (for up to 6 months) or when the President is absent or ill. While doing so he does not preside over the Rajya Sabha.

Removal (Art 67)

Only by a resolution of the Rajya Sabha passed by an effective majority (a majority of all the then members) and agreed to by the Lok Sabha, after 14 days' notice. No grounds need be stated. It is not impeachment.