One of the key roles of Jagdeep Dhankhar, who took oath as the 14th Vice President of India on Thursday, will be to chair Rajya Sabha, the Council of States.
By holding the second-highest constitutional office in the country, the Vice President also acts as the President in case of death, resignation or removal of the incumbent, until a new president is elected.
The Vice President serves a five year term but can continue to be in office, irrespective of the expiry of the term, until the successor assumes office.
During this period, the Vice President has all the powers, immunities and privileges of the President and receives emoluments and allowances payable to the president.
According to the official website of the Vice President, the Constitution is silent on who performs the duties of the Vice President, when a vacancy occurs in the office before the expiry of the term, or when the Vice President acts as the President of India.
The only provision in the Constitution is with regard to the Vice President's function as the chairperson of Rajya Sabha, which is performed, during the period of such vacancy, by the Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha, or any other member of the upper house authorised by the President of India.
The Vice President can resign from his office by submitting his resignation to the President of India. The resignation becomes effective from the day it is accepted.
The Vice President can be removed from office by a resolution of Rajya Sabha, passed by a majority of its members at that time and agreed to by Lok Sabha. A resolution for this purpose can be moved only after a notice of at least a minimum of 14 days has been given of such an intention.
The Vice President is the ex-officio chairperson of Rajya Sabha and does not hold any other office of profit. During any period when the Vice President acts as, or discharges the functions of the President, he does not perform the duties of the office of the chairperson of the Council of States and is not entitled to any salary or allowances payable to the chairperson of Rajya Sabha.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
After Himachal Tie Loss, Abhishek Singhvi Up For Telangana Rajya Sabha Seat Money Laundering Charges Against Trinamool's Saket Gokhale: Probe Agency "Keep Watch": Veep On Congress Leader's "Bangladesh Can Happen Here" Remark Nurse Raped, Killed On Way Home, Body Found 9 Days Later In UP "Don't Expect Anything From Me": Kolkata Hospital's New Principal Loses Cool This US City Has Been Declared America's Least Desirable, Survey Finds Trump To Hold Press Conference, His Campaign Adds Senior Advisers Left, BJP, Creating Unrest: Mamata Banerjee On Midnight Attack At Hospital 'Don't Club Us With Others,' Says Manipur's Thadou Tribe, Waits For Peace Plan Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.