| The vice president of India doesn't have a set salary for their role. Instead, he gets a monthly salary of ₹400,000 as the ex officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha, a change from the ₹125,000 he received in 2018. On top of that, they get benefits like a free home, medical care, travel, and other perks. If the vice president steps in as acting president, they receive the same pay and benefits as the president. When it comes to retirement, the vice president gets a pension that's half of his salary. Interestingly, he is the only top official who doesn't get a salary for being vice president itself (for his post). |
The Vice President of India is basically the second-in-command after the President of India. This role is the highest one can get after the president and is next in line to take over if needed. The Vice President also chairs the Rajya Sabha.
According to Article 66 of the Indian Constitution, the Vice President is chosen by an electoral college made up of members from both Houses of Parliament, not including state legislative assemblies. They use a voting system called proportional representation with single transferable votes, and elections are run by the Election Commission of India through a secret ballot. The Vice President of India also serves as the chancellor for Panjab University and Delhi University.
Salary of Indian Vice President
The Vice President of India receives the basic salary of ₹400,000 per month, as the ex officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The salary of 4 Lakhs per month came into force in 2028 and has not changed till now. Earlier, the salary was ₹ 1.25 lakh per month. There is no mention of Vice President of India Salary in that capacity. He is the highest paid government official in India, next just to the Indian President. He also gets multiple and various benefits.
Particulars | Highlights |
Post name in Hindi | Bhārata kē Uparāṣṭrapati |
Vice President Salary Per Month | ₹400,000 per month |
Residence | He gets an Official Residence. (Vice President's Enclave, located at 108, Church Road, New Delhi) |
Medical Facility | Comprehensive as per the provisions |
Travel Allowance | As per entitlements for official travel |
Office Expenses | Allowance for official expenses and office maintenance |
Hospitality Allowance | Provided for official functions and duties |
Vehicle and Transport | Chauffeur-driven official vehicles with fuel expenses |
Security | High-level security arrangements and personnel |
Staff and Secretarial Support | Personnel to help him in his official duties |
Pension and Retirement Benefits | 50% of the last received salary is given |
Compare the Vice President of India Salary with President of India Salary and Prime Minister of India Salary
Vice President Pay Revisions
The Constitution has not fixed any emoluments for the Vice-President in that capacity. He draws his regular salary in his capacity as the ex-officio
Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
- In 2018, the Parliament increased the salary of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha from ₹1.25 lakh to ₹4 lakh per month.
Earlier in 2008, the pension of the retired Vice-President was increased from ₹20,000 per month to 50% of his salary per month. - In addition, he is entitled to daily allowance, free furnished residence, medical, travel and other facilities.
- During any period when the Vice-President acts as President or discharges the functions of the President, he is not entitled to the salary or allowance payable to the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, but the salary and allowance of the President.
Compare: Chief Justice of India Salary
Benefits after Retirement
Once the Vice President of India retires, they get a bunch of benefits to help them live comfortably. These perks include free housing, usually in New Delhi, medical care for themselves and their family, and travel allowances for work or personal trips, based on government guidelines. They also receive a monthly pension that’s half of their last salary. These benefits are meant to honor the important role they held and can be updated by the Government of India.
Who is the Deciding Authority for Salary of Vice President of India?
- The Vice President of India’s salary is set by the Parliament. This is based on a law called the Salaries and Allowances of Officers of Parliament Act, 1953, which details the pay and benefits for the Vice President, who is also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
- There’s no automatic raise, so any change has to be approved by Parliament through a new law or an amendment.
- Their pay and allowances are adjusted according to recommendations, the state of the economy, and the need to stay aligned with other important figures like the President and Prime Minister.
Who is the Current Vice President of India?
Right now, Jagdeep Dhankhar from the Bharatiya Janata Party is the Vice President of India. He won the role in the 2022 elections against Margaret Alva from the Indian National Congress. He assumed office on 11 August 2022 and serving presently.
Who Elects the Vice President of India?
The Vice-President is elected not directly by the people but by the method of indirect election. He is elected by the members of an electoral college consisting of the members of both Houses of Parliament. Thus, this electoral college is different from the electoral college for the election of the President in the following two respects:
- It consists of both elected and nominated members of the Parliament (in the case of president, only elected members).
- It does not include the members of the state legislative assemblies (in the case of President, the elected members of the state legislative
assemblies are included).
Read: Member of Parliament Salary 2025 and MLA Salary in Telangana
B.R. Ambedkar made the following important remark for the election of Vice President of India.
| “The President is the head of the State and his power extends both to the administration by the Centre as well as to the states. Consequently, it is necessary that in his election, not only members of Parliament should play their part, but the members of the state legislatures should have a voice. But, when we come to the Vice-President, his normal functions are to preside over the council of states. It is only on a rare occasion, and that too for a temporary period, that he may be called upon to assume the duties of the president. That being so, it does not seem necessary that the members of the state legislatures should also be invited to take part in the election of the Vice-President”. |
How is the Vice President Elected?
The Vice President’s election, like that of the President’s election, is held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the
single transferable vote and the voting is by secret ballot. All doubts and disputes in connection with election of the Vice-President are inquired into and decided by the Supreme Court whose decision is final. The election of a person as Vice-President cannot be challenged on the ground that the electoral college was incomplete (i.e., existence of any vacancy among the members of electoral college). If the election of a person as Vice President is declared void by the Supreme Court, acts done by him before the date of such declaration of the Supreme Court are not invalidated (i.e., they continue to remain in force).
Check: Judicial System in India
Do Read: Supreme Court, Hight Court, & District Judge Salary in India
Who Appoints Vice President of India?
The Vice President of India gets elected, not appointed. They are picked by an electoral college made up of members from both Houses of Parliament. The Election Commission of India runs the election, using a system where votes are counted in a way that makes sure representation is fair.
Qualifications to Become Vice President of India
To Become Vice President of India, he must meet the following prerequisites.
Requirements | Details |
Citizenship | He should be a citizen of India. |
Age | He should have completed 35 years of age. |
Qualification | He should be qualified for election as a member of the Rajya |
Office rules | He should not hold any office of profit under the Union government or any state government or any local authority or any other public |
A sitting President, Vice President, state governor, or minister isn't considered to hold an office of profit, so they can run for Vice President. Also, to be nominated for the Vice Presidency, a candidate needs at least 20 electors to support them as proposers and another 20 as seconders. Plus, each candidate must pay a security deposit of ₹15,000 to the Reserve Bank of India.
Oath or Affirmation
Before taking office, the Vice President has to take an oath or make an affirmation. In this oath, the Vice President promises to be loyal to the Constitution of India and to carry out the duties of the office honestly. The President, or someone chosen by the President, gives the oath to the Vice President.
Conditions of Office
The Constitution sets out two main rules for the Vice President's position:
1. The Vice President can't be a member of Parliament or any state legislature. If someone who's already in one of those positions becomes Vice President, they lose their seat the moment they take up the new role.
2. They also can't hold any other paid government position.
Term of Office
- The normal term is of 5 years from the date on which he swears.
- He can resign if he wishes. In this case, he should address a letter to the President.
- There is also a provision for removing him before he finishes his term.
- There is no need of formal impeachment to remove him.
- The Vice-President can be removed if both the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution with a majority and the Lok Sabha agrees to it. This means the Rajya Sabha needs an effective majority, while the Lok Sabha needs a simple majority to approve it.
- It’s important to note that in India, an effective majority is just a kind of special majority. Also, this resolution can only be introduced in the Rajya Sabha, and there needs to be at least 14 days’ notice before it can be moved.
- The Constitution doesn’t specify any reasons for his removal.
- The Vice-President can stay in office beyond the five-year term until the next person takes over, and he can run for re-election as many times as he wants.
Vacancy in Office
A Vice-President position can open up in several ways:
1. When their five-year term ends.
2. If they resign.
3. If they are removed from office.
4. If they pass away.
5. Or if they can’t hold the position anymore, like if their election is canceled.
If a vice-president's term is about to end, an election to fill that spot needs to happen before their term runs out.
If the position becomes vacant due to resignation, removal, or death, the election to find a replacement should happen as soon as possible. The new vice-president will serve a full five-year term starting from when they take office.
Vice President of India Vs Vice President of America
The table below compares the Vice President of India and the Vice President of America, with reference to salary, powers and functions comprehensively.
