Why in News? 

CP Radhakrishnan defeated former SC Judge B Sudershan Reddy in the election 

Points to Remember 

• About: Occupies the second highest office in the country after the President. Power of conducting elections to the office of VP rests with the ECI (Article 324) 
• Origin: Modeled on the lines of the American Vice-President 
• Constitutional Provisions: Governed by Article 63-71 
• Election: Indirectly elected by an electoral college - consists of the elected members of LS and RS + nominated members of RS but not the members of State LAs (unlike electoral college for Presidential election) 
• Qualification: Citizen of India - at least 35 years of age 
• Term of Office: 5 years; eligible for re-election 
• Removal from Office 
  • VP may resign 
  • Removal by an effective majority of RS (all the members) and LS agreeing to it (simple majority); Resolution for removal is introduced only in RS 
  • Constitution mentions no ground for removal 
• Powers 
  • Ex-officio Chairman of RS - Powers and functions similar to the LS Speaker 
  • Acts as President (max 6 months) - when a vacancy occurs in his office