Art. 69 Part V: The Union

Oath or Affirmation by the Vice-President

Exact text — Constitution of India

Every Vice-President shall, before entering upon his office, make and subscribe before the President, or some person appointed in that behalf by him, an oath or affirmation... 'I, A.B., do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established and that I will faithfully discharge the duty upon which I am about to enter.'

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article specifies the Vice-President's oath — administered by the President (or someone the President appoints for this purpose) — with wording focused on bearing 'true faith and allegiance' to the Constitution and faithfully discharging their duties, a somewhat different emphasis from the President's own oath, which specifically stresses 'preserving, protecting and defending' the Constitution.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why you'll see the Vice-President take their oath before the President (rather than the Chief Justice, who administers the President's own oath) — a small but meaningful hierarchical detail reflecting the relative constitutional standing of each office.

Read alongside this one

Art. 60 — Oath or Affirmation by the President

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 69

Why does the Vice-President's oath differ slightly from the President's?

The specific wording reflects each office's distinct constitutional role — the President's oath emphasises actively defending the Constitution given their head-of-state responsibilities, while the Vice-President's emphasises faithful allegiance and duty discharge, fitting their more procedural (Rajya Sabha Chairman) primary function.

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The text above reproduces Article 69 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.