---
type: LearningResource
title: "Vice Presidents of India: Complete List, Powers, and Constitutional Role (1952-2025)"
canonical: "https://www.easy2crack.com/study-materials/indian-polity/vice-presidents-india-complete-list-powers-UMD2zYpB"
subject: Indian Polity
format: null
free: true
updated: null
tags: ["study-material", "notes", "indian-polity"]
---
# Vice Presidents of India: Complete List, Powers, and Constitutional Role (1952-2025)

## First Vice Presidents of India

## Complete List of Vice Presidents of India (1952–2025)

| # | Vice President | Tenure | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Dr. S. Radhakrishnan | 1952–1962 | First Vice President; elected unopposed; later became President |
| 2 | Dr. Zakir Husain | 1962–1967 | Went on to become the first Muslim President of India |
| 3 | V.V. Giri | 1967–1969 | Resigned to contest the presidential election, which he won |
| 4 | Gopal Swarup Pathak | 1969–1974 | Former Governor of Mysore |
| 5 | B.D. Jatti | 1974–1979 | Served as Acting President in 1977 |
| 6 | Justice M. Hidayatullah | 1979–1984 | Former Chief Justice of India; had earlier been Acting President |
| 7 | R. Venkataraman | 1984–1987 | Later elected President of India |
| 8 | Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma | 1987–1992 | Only VP with prior service as Chief Minister, Cabinet Minister and INC President |
| 9 | K.R. Narayanan | 1992–1997 | Later became the first Dalit President of India |
| 10 | Krishan Kant | 1997–2002 | First Vice President to die in office |
| 11 | Bhairon Singh Shekhawat | 2002–2007 | Resigned after losing the 2007 presidential election |
| 12 | Mohammad Hamid Ansari | 2007–2017 | Only VP after Radhakrishnan to serve two full consecutive terms |
| 13 | M. Venkaiah Naidu | 2017–2022 | Former Union Minister and Rajya Sabha leader |
| 14 | Jagdeep Dhankhar | 2022–2025 | Former Governor of West Bengal; resigned in July 2025 |
| 15 | C.P. Radhakrishnan | 2025–present | Elected in the September 2025 vice-presidential election |

## Vice Presidential Firsts

| Milestone / First | Vice President | Details |
| --- | --- | --- |
| First Vice President of India | Dr. S. Radhakrishnan | Took office in 1952; elected unopposed |
| First Vice President to Die in Office | Krishan Kant | Died in 2002 while serving |
| First Vice President with Prior Experience as Chief Minister, Cabinet Minister and INC President | Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma | Held all three offices before becoming VP |
| First Vice President to Become President | Dr. S. Radhakrishnan | President of India, 1962–1967 |
| First Vice President to Resign Mid-Term | V.V. Giri | Resigned in 1969 to contest the presidential election |

## Powers and Constitutional Role

| Aspect | Provision | Details |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Constitutional Article | Article 63 | There shall be a Vice-President of India |
| Ex-officio Role | Chairman of the Rajya Sabha | Article 64 — presides over the Upper House |
| Election Method | Electoral college of both Houses of Parliament | Proportional representation by single transferable vote; State legislatures do NOT vote |
| Term of Office | 5 years | Eligible for re-election; no term limit |
| Minimum Age | 35 years | Must be qualified for election to the Rajya Sabha |
| Removal | Resolution of the Rajya Sabha passed by majority, agreed to by the Lok Sabha | Article 67(b); requires 14 days' notice |
| Acting as President | When the office of President is vacant | Discharges presidential functions until a new President is elected |

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