Question

Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. Who is administering the oath of office, and to whom?
2. State the qualifications necessary to become the Vice-President of India.
3. How does the Vice-President act as the ex-office Chairman of the Rajya Sabha?

Answer 1

1. The President of India (Smt. Droupadi Murmu) is administering the oath of office to the Vice-President of India (Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar).
2. Qualifications to become the Vice-President:
   To be eligible for election as the Vice-President of India, a person must fulfil the following criteria:
   • Citizenship: Must be a citizen of India.
   • Age: Must be at least 35 years old.
   • Legislative Eligibility: Must be qualified for election as a member of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States).
   • No Office of Profit: Must not hold any office of profit under the Central Government, any State Government, or any local or public authority.
3. Functioning as the Ex-Officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha:
   The Vice-President acts as the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha through the following responsibilities:
   • Presiding Officer: They preside over all meetings, regulate debates, maintain discipline, and ensure that proceedings are conducted according to parliamentary rules.
   • Decisional Authority: They decide on the admissibility of resolutions, questions, and motions, and interpret the rules of the House when a point of order is raised.
   • Casting Vote: Since they are not an elected member of the House, they do not vote on matters in the first instance; however, they possess the power to cast a decisive vote in the event of a tie to break the deadlock.