List of Indian Vice Presidents from 1950 to 2025, Full details, updated list
List of Indian Vice Presidents
The Vice President of India holds the second most important position in the country’s Constitution, just after the President. He/she is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Since the adoption of the Constitution of India, several distinguished personalities have held this prestigious position.
Here is the updated list of Vice Presidents of India from 1952 to 2025:
| S.No | Name | Term Start | Term End | President During Tenure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan | 13 May 1952 | 12 May 1962 | Dr. Rajendra Prasad |
| 2 | Dr. Zakir Husain | 13 May 1962 | 12 May 1967 | Dr. S. Radhakrishnan |
| 3 | V. V. Giri | 13 May 1967 | 3 May 1969 | Dr. Zakir Husain |
| 4 | Gopal Swarup Pathak | 31 Aug 1969 | 30 Aug 1974 | V. V. Giri |
| 5 | B. D. Jatti | 31 Aug 1974 | 30 Aug 1979 | Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy |
| 6 | M. Hidayatullah | 31 Aug 1979 | 30 Aug 1984 | Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, Zail Singh |
| 7 | R. Venkataraman | 31 Aug 1984 | 24 July 1987 | Zail Singh |
| 8 | Shankar Dayal Sharma | 3 Sep 1987 | 24 July 1992 | R. Venkataraman |
| 9 | K. R. Narayanan | 21 Aug 1992 | 24 July 1997 | Shankar Dayal Sharma |
| 10 | Krishan Kant | 21 Aug 1997 | 27 July 2002 | K. R. Narayanan |
| 11 | Bhairon Singh Shekhawat | 19 Aug 2002 | 21 July 2007 | A. P. J. Abdul Kalam |
| 12 | Mohammad Hamid Ansari | 11 Aug 2007 | 11 Aug 2017 | Pratibha Patil, Pranab Mukherjee |
| 13 | M. Venkaiah Naidu | 11 Aug 2017 | 10 Aug 2022 | Ram Nath Kovind |
| 14 | Jagdeep Dhankhar | 11 Aug 2022 | Incumbent | Droupadi Murmu |
Table of Contents
Key Facts about the Vice President of India
- Election: Elected by members of both Houses of Parliament using the single transferable vote system.
- Term: 5 years; eligible for re-election.
- First Vice President: Dr. S. Radhakrishnan (1952–1962)
- Longest-serving Vice President: Mohammad Hamid Ansari (10 years)
- As of 2025, Jagdeep Dhankhar is serving as the Vice President of India. He took office on 11th August 2022.
Constitutional Role of the Vice President
- Also serves as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India’s Parliament.
- Steps in as the President of India if the position becomes vacant or the President is unable to perform duties.
- Represents the dignity of the Parliament and maintains parliamentary decorum.
5 Important Things to Remember
- The public doesn’t vote directly for the Vice President, he or she is chosen through an electoral process by members of Parliament.
- The position does not have executive powers like the President.
- He/she ensures smooth functioning of Rajya Sabha proceedings.
- Often becomes the next President (e.g., Radhakrishnan, Sharma, Narayanan).
- Jagdeep Dhankhar is the current Vice President as of 2025.
Final thoughts
The post of Vice President of India has always been held by leaders of immense caliber, scholarship, and statesmanship. Their role, though not as highlighted as the President’s, is vital in maintaining the democratic structure and legislative balance of the country.