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Home The Constitution Part V Article 66
Art. 66 Part V: The Union

Election of Vice-President

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) The Vice-President shall be elected by the members of an electoral college consisting of the members of both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot. (3) No person shall be eligible for election as Vice-President unless he—(a) is a citizen of India; (b) has completed the age of thirty-five years; and (c) is qualified for election as a member of the Council of States. (4) A person shall not be eligible for election as Vice-President if he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State or under any local or other authority subject to the control of any of the said Governments.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

Unlike the President's electoral college (which includes state Assembly members too), the Vice-President is elected exclusively by members of BOTH Houses of Parliament — reflecting the office's primary connection to the Rajya Sabha specifically. Eligibility criteria closely mirror the presidential requirements (citizenship, age 35+, no office of profit), but tied to Rajya Sabha membership qualifications rather than the Lok Sabha's.
Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why state MLAs don't get a vote in choosing the Vice-President, unlike the presidential election — the Vice-Presidential electorate is deliberately narrower, confined entirely to sitting Members of Parliament.

Related Articles

Read alongside this one

Art. 54 — Election of President
Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 66

Why is the Vice-President's electorate different from the President's?
The Vice-President's role is more specifically tied to Parliament (chairing the Rajya Sabha) rather than representing the full federal structure the way the President does, which is reflected in the narrower, Parliament-only electoral college for this office.
← PreviousArticle 65: The Vice-President to Act as President or to Discharge His Functions During Casual Vacancies in the Office, or During the Absence, of PresidentNext →Article 67: Term of Office of Vice-President

The text above reproduces Article 66 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.