India has had 14 Vice Presidents so far. The first vice-president of India was Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He took the oath on 13 May 1952. On July 16, 2022, Jagdeep Dhankar became the Vice President of India. However, due to health problems, he resigned in 2025.
The President of India is the highest constitutional office in India. The office of the vice-president of India is the second-highest constitutional authority in the country. The vice-president plays a key role in India’s parliamentary system. Additionally, the Vice President of India serves as the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
In this article, we will look into the 2025 updated list of the vice-presidents of India. We will also look into the roles and responsibilities of the Vice-President of India.
Exam Relevance
If you are an aspirant preparing for government competitive exams like Bank, SSC, TNPSC, UPSC, CDS, NDA, or CAPF, this guide is for you. It also caters to those interested in exploring the Indian parliament and its political structure.
Vice-President of India
The Vice President in India occupies the second-highest office in the country. This position comes after that of the President of India. The Vice President is the second-most important authority in the Indian political system.
1. According to Article 65 of the Indian Constitution, the Vice President has specific responsibilities that arise during contingencies, such as:
- Resignation of the Indian President
- Removal of the Indian President
- Death of the Indian President
- Impeachment of the Indian President
- Inability of the President to discharge duties or functions
2. The Vice President of India serves as the Ex-Officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
3. Responsibilities include presiding over sessions of the Rajya Sabha and ensuring smooth proceedings in the Upper House of Parliament.
4. The role of the Vice President has been established since 1950 with the adoption of the Indian Constitution.
5. As of 2025, 14 eminent personalities have held the office of the Vice President of India.
6. Vice Presidents play a crucial role in both executive and legislative functions in the country.
1. How is the Vice-President of India Elected?
The people do not directly elect the Vice President of India. Instead, he is elected by the members of an electoral college. This electoral college consists of the members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Both of these are houses of the Indian Parliament. The election method used is an indirect election.
- The electoral college for electing the Vice President of India consists of both elected and nominated members of the Indian Parliament.
- Members of state legislative assemblies are not included in the electoral college.
- The Vice President Election in India is similar to the election of the President of India.
- The election is conducted using proportional representation through the single transferable vote by secret ballot.
- All disputes regarding the Vice President election are inquired into and decided by the Supreme Court of India.
- The Election Commission of India conducts the Vice President Election.
- Elections are typically held no later than 60 days before the expiry of the outgoing Vice President’s term.
- If a Vice President resigns, the vacant post must be filled as soon as possible.
2. What are the Qualifications of the Vice-President of India?
The following eligibility requirements are required for a person to be elected as Vice President in India. There are specific criteria that must be met. These requirements ensure that candidates are qualified for the role.
- Should be a citizen of India.
- Should have completed 35 years of age.
- Should have qualified for elections as a member of the Rajya Sabha.
- Should not hold any office or profit under the Indian Government or any state government.
- Should not also hold any office of profit in any local authority or any other public authority in India.
The nomination of a candidate for election to the office of Vice President in India requires support from at least 20 members of Parliament as proposers. Additionally, 20 members of Parliament must act as seconders. The candidate must also make a security deposit of ₹15,000 in the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
3. What are the Powers and Functions of the Vice President of India?
- He/She is the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The Rajya Sabha is the upper house of the Indian Parliament. His/her powers and functions as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha are similar to those of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
- If the Indian President resigns, is removed from office, dies, or becomes incapacitated, the Vice President becomes the Acting President. The Vice President can only hold this office for a maximum of six months. During this time, a new President must be elected.
- The Vice President also assumes additional responsibilities. These responsibilities are taken on when the Indian President is absent. This can happen during travel, if the President is unwell, or if they are otherwise unable to perform their duties. The Vice President continues in this role until the President can resume their duties.
List of the Vice-Presidents of India [2025 Updated List]
Below is the vice-presidents of India list who served the country. The list begins in 1952. It extends to the year 2025. This list includes the first Vice President up to the 15th Vice President.
| Vice-President | Tenure (From) | Tenure (To) | President | |
| 1 | Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan | 13 May 1952 | 12 May 1962 | Dr. Rajendra Prasad |
| 2 | Dr. Zakir Hussain | 13 May 1962 | 12 May 1967 | Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan |
| 3 | Varahagiri Venkata Giri | 13 May 1967 | 20 July 1969 | Dr. Zakir Hussain |
| 4 | Gopal Swarup Pathak | 31 August 1969 | 30 August 1974 | V. V. Giri |
| Dr. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed | ||||
| 5 | Basappa Danappa Jatti | 31 August 1974 | 30 August 1979 | Dr. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed |
| Neelam Sanjiva Reddy | ||||
| 6 | Justice Muhammad Hidayatullah | 31 August 1979 | 30 August 1984 | Neelam Sanjiva Reddy |
| Giani Zail Singh | ||||
| 7 | Ramaswamy Venkataraman | 31 August 1984 | 24 July 1987 | Giani Zail Singh |
| 8 | Shankar Dayal Sharma | 7 September 1987 | 24 July 1992 | Ramaswamy Venkataraman |
| 9 | Kocheril Raman Narayanan | 21 August 1992 | 24 July 1997 | Shankar Dayal Sharma |
| 10 | Krishan Kant | 21 August 1997 | 27 July 2002 | Kocheril Raman Narayanan |
| A. P. J. Abdul Kalam | ||||
| 11 | Bhairon Singh Shekhawat | 19 August 2002 | 21 July 2007 | A. P. J. Abdul Kalam |
| 12 | Mohammad Hamid Ansari | 11 August 2007 | 10 August 2017 | Pratibha Patil |
| Pranab Mukherjee | ||||
| Ram Nath Kovind | ||||
| 13 | M Venkaiah Naidu | 11 August 2017 | 11 August 2022 | Ram Nath Kovind |
| 14 | Jagdeep Dhankhar | 11 August 2022 | 21 July 2025 | Droupadi Murmu |
| 15 | C. P. Radhakrishnan | 09 September 2025 | Incumbent | Droupadi Murmu |
Current Vice-President of India
The Vice-Presidential elections were held on August 6, 2022. The Election Commission of India announced the results shortly after. Jagdeep Dhankhar was elected as the Vice President of India on July 16, 2022. However, on July 21, 2025, he resigned from his position. His resignation was due to health issues. He did not complete his five-year term.
CP Radhakrishnan has been elected as the 15th Vice President of India. He won the election by securing 452 votes, surpassing the required margin of 391 votes by 152 votes.
Key Highlights
- The post of Vice-President of India is taken from the US Constitution.
- Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was the first Vice-President of India.
- The current salary of the Vice President is Rs. 4 lakh per month (exclusive of allowances).
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who was the first Vice President of India?
Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was the first Vice President of India, serving from 1952 to 1962.
2. Who is the current Vice President of India? (as of July 2025)
The Vice President of India position is vacant as of 21 July 2025, following Jagdeep Dhankar’s resignation under Article 67(a) of the Constitution. Members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will elect a new Vice President.
3. What is the qualification for the position of Vice President of India?
To contest the election for Vice President of India, a candidate must be an Indian citizen, at least 35 years old, eligible for Rajya Sabha membership, and not hold any office of profit.
4. What is the salary of the Vice President of India?
The Vice President of India earns Rs. 4 lakh per month (excluding allowances).
5. How many presidents were there in India from 1947 to 2025?
There have been 15 presidents of India. This count has been in place since the post was established. The post was created when India was declared a republic. This declaration coincided with the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1950.
