Understanding the Vice-President's Term

The question asks about the correct term length for which the Vice-President of India is elected. Understanding the duration of the Vice-President's office is crucial when studying the Indian political system.

Constitutional Provision for Vice-President's Term

The term of office for the Vice-President is specified in the Constitution of India. According to Article 67 of the Indian Constitution, the Vice-President holds office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office.

Analyzing the Given Options

Let's examine each option based on the constitutional provision:

• Option 1: The Vice-President is elected for a term of five years. This aligns directly with Article 67 of the Constitution, which states that the Vice-President's term is five years.
• Option 2: The Vice-President is elected for a term of four years. This is incorrect. The constitutional term for the Vice-President is five years, not four years.
• Option 3: The Vice-President is elected for a term of seven years. This is also incorrect. Seven years is not the constitutionally specified term for the Vice-President.
• Option 4: The Vice-President is elected for a term of six years. This is incorrect. Six years is often associated with the term of members of the Rajya Sabha or Legislative Councils, but not the Vice-President.

Based on the analysis, the correct statement regarding the Vice-President's term is that it is five years.

Election of the Vice-President

The Vice-President is elected by the members of an electoral college. This electoral college consists of:

• Members of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States)
• Members of the Lok Sabha (House of the People)

The election is held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote, and the voting is by secret ballot.

Key Facts About the Vice-President's Term

Here are some important points about the Vice-President's term:

• The normal term is five years.
• The Vice-President continues in office until his successor enters upon his office, even if the five-year term has expired.
• The Vice-President can resign from his office by writing to the President.
• The Vice-President can be removed from office by a resolution of the Rajya Sabha passed by a majority of all the then members of the Council and agreed to by the Lok Sabha.

Revision Table: Vice-President of India

Additional Information: Role of Vice-President

Besides holding office for a five-year term, the Vice-President of India serves important functions:

• The Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States). In this capacity, the Vice-President presides over the meetings of the Rajya Sabha.
• The Vice-President acts as President during a vacancy in the office of President due to death, resignation, removal, or otherwise. In such cases, the Vice-President acts as President for a maximum period of six months, during which a new President must be elected.
• When acting as President, the Vice-President does not perform the duties of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Those duties are performed by the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Understanding the term and functions of the Vice-President is key to understanding the structure of the Indian government.