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Vice Presidents of India, Complete List from 1952 to 2025

Vice Presidents of India, Complete List from 1952 to 2025. Check the names of all Vice Presidents, their tenure, and important details in chronological order.
authorImageParul Rishi20 Aug, 2025
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Vice Presidents of India

Vice Presidents of India: The Vice-President of India holds the second-highest authority in the country, following the President, in accordance with Article 65 of the Indian Constitution. The Vice-President also serves as the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and takes charge of presidential duties in case of resignation, removal, demise, impeachment, or inability of the President to discharge responsibilities.

Vice Presidents of India

Vice-President of India serves as the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha. To be eligible for Vice President role in India, candidates must meet the following qualifications:
  1. They must be a citizen of India and have reached the age of 35 years.
  2. They should not hold any position that provides financial gain under the jurisdiction of the central government, state government, public authority, or local authority.

Vice Presidents of India List

Vice President of India plays an important role in the country’s governance. Since 1952, India has had several Vice Presidents who have also served as the Chairpersons of the Rajya Sabha. The list below provides the names of all Vice Presidents of India, along with their tenure years, arranged in chronological order up to 2025:

Vice Presidents of India List

Vice – President of India Term of office
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (First Vice-President of India) 13 May 1952 – 12 May 1957 13 May 1957 – 12 May 1962
Zakir Hussain 13 May 1962 – 12 May 1967
V. V. Giri 13 May 1967 – 3 May 1969
Gopal Swarup Pathak 31 August 1969 – 30 August 1974
B. D. Jatti 31 August 1974 – 30 August 1979
Mohammad Hidayatullah 31 August 1979 – 30 August 1984
R. Venkataraman 31 August 1984 – 24 July 1987
Shankar Dayal Sharma 3 September 1987 – 24 July 1992
K. R. Narayanan 21 August 1992 – 24 July 1997
Krishan Kant 21 August 1997 – 27 July 2002
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat 19 August 2002 – 21 July 2007
Mohammad Hamid Ansari 11 August 2007 – 11 August 2012 11 August 2012 – 11 August 2017
Venkaiah Naidu 11 August 2017 – 11 August 2022
Jagdeep Dhankhar 11 August 2022 – 22 July 2025

First Vice President of India

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan held the distinction of being India's first Vice President. He was born on September 5, 1888, and his father's name was Shri S. Veerasamiah. Radhakrishnan was a renowned scholar and possessed a wealth of academic achievements. His educational qualifications included a Master of Arts (M.A.), an honorary Doctor of Letters (D. Litt.), a Doctor of Laws (LL.D.), a Doctor of Civil Law (D.C.L.), a Doctor of Literature (Litt. D.), a Doctor of Letters (D.L.), and memberships in various esteemed academic organizations such as F.R.S.L (Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature), F.B.A. (Fellow of the British Academy), and Hony. Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford.

Present Vice President of India

The position of the Hon’ble Vice President of India is vacant since 22 July 2025, following the completion of the previous tenure.

Jagdeep Dhankhar won the 2022 Indian Vice Presidential election with a decisive margin of 346 votes over the Opposition candidate, Margaret Alva. He assumed office as the 14th Vice President of India on August 11, 2022, succeeding M. Venkaiah Naidu. Dhankhar served until July 21, 2025, when he resigned from the position citing health reasons, leaving the Vice President’s office vacant.

Vice Presidents of India Power & Functions

The Vice President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, similar to how the Speaker leads the Lok Sabha. Like the U.S. Vice President who presides over the Senate, the Indian Vice President oversees the Upper House. If the office of the President becomes vacant due to removal, resignation, death, or any other reason, the Vice President takes over as Acting President for up to six months, until a new President is elected. The Vice President also performs the President’s duties during their absence or illness. An election to the Vice Presidency cannot be challenged because of vacancies in the Electoral College, and all actions taken before a court declares the election invalid remain valid.

Vice Presidents of India Eligibility

The eligibility for a candidate to become the Vice President of India are outlined in the Indian Constitution, specifically in Article 66. Here are the essential qualifications:
  1. Citizenship: Citizen of India.
  1. Age: The candidate should be at least 35 years of age.
  1. Eligible Member of the Rajya Sabha: To be eligible for the position of Vice President, the candidate must be qualified to be elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), which is the upper house of India's Parliament.
  1. Non-Membership in the Rajya Sabha: A candidate cannot be a sitting member of the Rajya Sabha at the time of their election as Vice President. This means they should not currently hold a seat in the Rajya Sabha.
  1. Absence of Office of Profit: The candidate should not hold any office of profit under the Government of India, the Government of any State, or under any local or other authority subject to the control of either of the governments mentioned above.
These qualifications are designed to ensure that the Vice President is a person of integrity, experience, and capability who can fulfill the responsibilities of the office effectively. The Vice President of India plays a crucial role in the country's parliamentary system and may need to step in as Acting President in the absence of the President.

Vice President of India Constitutional Provision

The constitutional provision that governs the office of the Vice President of India is primarily outlined in Article 63 and Article 64 of the Indian Constitution:
  • Article 63 : This article establishes the office of the Vice President of India. Article 63 states that there shall be a Vice President of India.
  • Article 64 : This article deals with the manner of the election of the Vice President. It specifies that the Vice President is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both houses of Parliament, with each member having a weighted vote calculated based on the population they represent.

Vice President of India Tenure

The Vice President of India commences their office on the designated date, with a term lasting five years. However, they retain the option to resign from the position before the full five-year term elapses. The following circumstances also result in the Vice President's position becoming vacant:
  • Conclusion of the five-year term.
  • Voluntary resignation.
  • Removal from office.
  • Demise.
  • Election invalidated.

Vice President of India Important Facts

The Vice President of India is the second-highest constitutional office in the country, with duties and powers similar to that of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha (House of the People).
  1. Ex-Officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha: One of the most significant roles of the Vice President is to serve as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), the upper house of India's Parliament. In this capacity, the Vice President presides over its sessions and ensures orderly conduct.
  2. Election Process: The Vice President is elected by an electoral college that consists of members from both houses of Parliament, i.e., the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. State legislatures do not participate in the Vice Presidential election.
  3. Term Duration: The term of the Vice President is five years, but they can continue in office until their successor assumes the role.
  4. Acting President: In the absence of the President of India due to travel, illness, or any other reason, the Vice President assumes the role of Acting President and exercises the powers and duties of the President during that period.
  5. Removal Process: The Vice President can be removed from office by a resolution passed by a majority of the members of the Rajya Sabha, but only if the resolution is agreed upon by the Lok Sabha as well.
  6. Qualifications: To be eligible for the position, a candidate must be an Indian citizen, at least 35 years old, eligible to be elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha, and shouln't hold any office of profit.
  7. Vice Presidents List: India has had several Vice Presidents since the position was established in 1950, with the first Vice President being Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
  8. Role in Legislation: The Vice President plays a crucial role in the legislative process by casting the deciding vote in case of a tie in the Rajya Sabha.
  9. Neutrality: While candidates may have political affiliations, the Vice President is expected to be non-partisan and uphold the dignity and integrity of the office.
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Vice Presidents of India 2025 FAQs

Who is the first woman Vice-President of India?

India never had a female Vice-President

Who is the 14th Vice President of India?

Jagdeep Dhankhar is the 14th vice President of India.

Who was the first Vice-President of India? -

Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was the first Vice-President of India.

Who is the longest-serving Vice President of India?

Mohammad Hamid Ansari is the longest-serving Vice President of India.
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