Article 68 of the Indian Constitution deals with the process and timing of filling vacancies in the office of the Vice-President of India.
📜 Text of Article 68 (Simplified)
Clause (1):
If the office of the Vice-President becomes vacant due to death, resignation, removal, or otherwise, an election must be held as soon as possible, and definitely within 6 months from the date of vacancy.
➡️ The new Vice-President elected in this way will serve a full 5-year term, starting from the date they enter office.
Clause (2):
If the Vice-President’s term is about to expire, the election to fill the office should be completed before the current term ends.
✅ Explanation of Article 68
Clause | Meaning |
---|---|
(1) – Unexpected Vacancy | If the Vice-President dies, resigns, or is removed, a new one must be elected within 6 months. |
(1) – New Term | The newly elected Vice-President will serve a full 5-year term, not just the remaining term. |
(2) – Term Completion | If the 5-year term is ending normally, the election must happen before the term ends. |
🧾 Real-Life Example
If the Vice-President resigns or dies, Parliament must hold a new election within 6 months.
During the interim period, the office may remain vacant, but the President can designate a person to discharge duties of Rajya Sabha Chairman under parliamentary rules.
📌 Summary of Article 68
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Vacancy due to unexpected reason | Election within 6 months |
Vacancy due to term completion | Election must be before the term ends |
Tenure of new Vice-President | Full 5 years, regardless of when elected |
Follow Us