Question

Consider the following statements regarding the Vice President of India:
1. The Vice-President is elected by an electoral college consisting of all the members of both the Houses of Parliament.
2. The Constitution is silent about a person who is to discharge the duties of the Vice-President during the period of vacancy.
Which of these statements is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 or 2

Answer 1

Hint: The Vice-President of India occupies the second-highest office in the country after the President. The Vice-President is given a rank next to the President and this office is fashioned on the lines of the American Vice-President.

Complete step by step answer:
Like the President of India, the Vice-President is elected not directly by the people but by a method of indirect election whereby he is elected by the members of an electorate college having members of both the houses from the Parliament.
It also does not include the members of the state legislative assemblies, unlike the President where elected members of the state legislature are required.
The election of the Vice-President is held in accordance with the system of proportional representation where by means of a single transferable vote and the voting is done by a single ballot.
On the other hand, the Constitution does not provide who is to discharge or execute the duties while the seat of the Vice-President holds vacant.
The Constitution only provides the time of holding an election during the time of vacancy so as to fill the vacancy in the office of the Vice-President and the term of office a person will be elected in order to fill the vacancy.
So, the correct answer is Option C.

Note: Article 63 of the Indian Constitution deals with the Vice-President and his tenure to the office. The vice-president is the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha and he acts as a President when a vacancy occurs in the office of the President.