.JPG)
Article 66 of the Indian Constitution deals with the election of the Vice-President of India — how the Vice-President is chosen, who elects them, and under what rules.
📜 Text of Article 66 (Simplified)
Clause (1):
The Vice-President is elected by the members of an electoral college consisting of the members of both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha), using the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote, and voting is done by secret ballot.
Clause (2):
The Vice-President cannot be a member of either House of Parliament or of a State Legislature. If elected, their seat automatically becomes vacant.
Clause (3):
The qualifications, conditions, and procedure for the election are defined by Parliament by law.
✅ Explanation of Article 66
| Clause | Meaning |
|---|---|
| (1) | The Vice-President is indirectly elected by MPs of both Houses |
| (2) | Cannot be an MP or MLA at the time of becoming Vice-President |
| (3) | Parliament makes laws about the details of the election |
🗳️ Electoral College for Vice-President
| Includes | Excludes |
|---|---|
| ✅ All elected and nominated MPs of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha | ❌ MLAs of State Legislative Assemblies |
✅ Note: This is different from the Presidential election, where only elected MPs and MLAs vote.
📌 Summary of Article 66
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type of election | Indirect election through Electoral College |
| Voters | All members of Parliament (elected + nominated) |
| Election method | Proportional representation with single transferable vote |
| Ballot type | Secret ballot |
| Membership restriction | Cannot hold seat in Parliament or State Legislature if elected |
| Rules governing election | Made by Parliament through law |
Follow Us