“What Happens When the Vice President Quits Before Their Term Ends?”
Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation late on Monday night has led to an unusual situation — a mid-term vacancy in one of the highest constitutional positions in the country. The Vice-President is the second most important official in India, after the President, and such resignations are very rare. In fact, Dhankhar is only the third Vice-President in the history of independent India to resign before completing his full five-year term.
The only two others who did this were V.V. Giri and R. Venkataraman. Interestingly, both of them resigned because they wanted to contest the presidential elections. After Giri resigned, Gopal Swarup Pathak became the new Vice-President. When Venkataraman stepped down, he was succeeded by Shankar Dayal Sharma. (vice president resignation)
Now that Vice-President Dhankhar has stepped down, the question on everyone’s mind is — what happens next? Let’s break it down and see how this situation will be handled.
Q. Who takes over the Vice-President’s duties now? (vice president resignation)
The Constitution of India doesn’t mention anything about appointing an acting Vice-President when the post becomes empty. However, the Vice-President also has another important role — they are the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (the Upper House of Parliament). (vice president resignation) Since that seat is now vacant, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, who is currently Harivansh Narayan Singh, will step in to lead the House and handle its day-to-day proceedings until a new Vice-President is elected.
Q. When will the election for the new Vice-President be held? (vice president resignation)
Unlike the President’s post — where the Constitution clearly says that a new President must be elected within six months if the position becomes vacant — there is no such fixed time limit for choosing a new Vice-President. The only rule is that the election should be held “as soon as possible” after the resignation or vacancy. (vice president resignation)
The Election Commission of India is responsible for organizing the election and will announce the date and full schedule soon. The process is carried out under a law called the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952. According to usual practice, the Secretary General of either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha is chosen as the Returning Officer — the official in charge of conducting the election — and this is done on a rotation basis.
Q. How long will the new Vice-President serve? (vice president resignation)
The person who is elected as the new Vice-President will not just complete the remaining time left in Jagdeep Dhankhar’s term. Instead, they will begin a fresh five-year term starting from the day they officially take office. This means their tenure will be completely independent of Dhankhar’s and will run for a full five years, as laid out in the Constitution.
Even though the vacancy happened in the middle of Dhankhar’s term, the new Vice-President is treated as a completely new officeholder, with all the rights, responsibilities, and time of a full term. (vice president resignation)
Q. How is a new Vice-President elected? (vice president resignation)
The election for the Vice-President of India is held at Parliament House in New Delhi. Only the Members of Parliament (MPs) — from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, including nominated members — take part in the voting process. The general public does not vote in this election.
Voting is done through a secret ballot, which means MPs cast their votes privately, and no one can see who they voted for. The election uses a special system called proportional representation with a single transferable vote. This might sound complex, but here’s how it works in simple terms: (vice president resignation)
Each MP doesn’t just vote for one candidate. Instead, they rank the candidates in order of preference — first choice, second choice, third choice, and so on. All votes carry equal value, so each MP’s vote counts the same.
To win the election, a candidate must get a certain minimum number of votes. This number is called the quota. It is calculated by dividing the total number of valid votes cast by all MPs by two, and then adding one to the result. For example, if 780 MPs cast valid votes, the quota would be (780 ÷ 2) + 1 = 391. Note that if the result includes a fraction, it is ignored. (vice president resignation)
If a candidate gets more than the quota based on first-preference votes, they are declared the winner right away. But if no one crosses the quota in the first round, the process continues. The candidate with the least number of first-preference votes is eliminated, and their votes are then transferred to the remaining candidates based on the second preferences marked by MPs on those ballots.
This elimination and vote-transfer process continues in rounds until one candidate finally reaches the required quota. At that point, the candidate is declared elected as the new Vice-President of India.
Q. What are the eligibility criteria for candidates? (vice president resignation)
To contest the election for the post of Vice-President of India, a person must meet a few important qualifications laid down in the Constitution:
- They must be a citizen of India. Only Indian citizens are allowed to run for this high constitutional office. (vice president resignation)
- They must be at least 35 years old. This age limit ensures that candidates have enough maturity and experience for the role. (vice president resignation)
- They must be qualified to be elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha. This means they should meet all the requirements needed to become a member of the Upper House of Parliament. (vice president resignation)
- They must be registered as a voter in any parliamentary constituency across the country. In other words, they must be on the electoral roll and eligible to vote in Lok Sabha elections. (vice president resignation)
- They must not hold any “office of profit” under the central or state governments. This rule is meant to prevent conflicts of interest. However, there are a few exceptions. A candidate can still contest if they are currently serving as the President, Vice-President, Governor of a state, or a Minister (either at the Centre or in a state). (vice president resignation)
These conditions are put in place to ensure that only qualified and independent individuals can run for the Vice-President’s post.
A Rare Exit, a New Beginning (vice president resignation)
The resignation of a Vice-President mid-term is a rare event in India’s political landscape — one that brings both uncertainty and opportunity. As the nation awaits the announcement of a fresh election, this moment serves as a reminder of how the wheels of democracy keep turning, even when top positions fall vacant. While Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s unexpected exit has left a temporary gap, the robust constitutional process ensures a smooth and timely transition. (vice president resignation)
Soon, Parliament will gather to choose the next person to step into this important role — someone who will not just carry forward the duties of the office, but also represent the dignity and balance that the Vice-President’s chair demands. As history has shown, such moments often pave the way for new leaders and fresh chapters in India’s democratic journey.
How to Grow Your Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube Audience from Scratch!
Stay Informed, Stay Empowered
India’s democracy thrives on awareness and active participation. As the nation prepares to elect its next Vice-President, it’s more important than ever to understand how our constitutional processes work. (vice president resignation)
👉 Share this blog with friends, students, or anyone curious about Indian politics.
👉 Follow us for more easy-to-understand explainers on major political events.
👉 Leave a comment below and tell us what you think about this rare mid-term resignation — and who you believe could step into the role next.
Knowledge is power — and informed citizens are the true strength of any democracy.
FAQs: What Happens When the Vice President Quits Before Their Term Ends?
Q1. What happens when the Vice-President of India resigns mid-term?
When the Vice-President resigns before completing the five-year term, the position becomes vacant. The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha temporarily takes over the Vice-President’s responsibilities as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha until a new Vice-President is elected.
Q2. Is someone appointed as Acting Vice-President after a resignation?
No, the Constitution of India does not provide for an Acting Vice-President. However, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha manages the functioning of the Upper House in the Vice-President’s absence.
Q3. How soon must the new Vice-President be elected?
While there is no fixed deadline, the election must be held “as soon as possible.” The Election Commission of India is responsible for conducting the election and will announce the date and process.
Q4. Who conducts the Vice-Presidential election?
The Election Commission of India organizes the election. A Returning Officer — typically the Secretary General of either the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha — is appointed to oversee the process.
Q5. Who votes in the Vice-Presidential election?
Only Members of Parliament (MPs) from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including nominated members, are eligible to vote. The general public does not participate in this election.
Q6. What voting method is used in the Vice-Presidential election?
The election uses a system called proportional representation with a single transferable vote, conducted via secret ballot. MPs rank candidates by preference, and votes are counted in rounds until one candidate meets the winning quota.
Q7. How is the winning quota calculated in this election?
The quota is calculated using the formula:
(Total valid votes ÷ 2) + 1
For example, if 780 MPs vote, the quota is (780 ÷ 2) + 1 = 391.
Q8. Will the new Vice-President complete Dhankhar’s remaining term?
No. The new Vice-President will start a fresh five-year term from the day they take office, regardless of when the vacancy occurred.
