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Daily Mains Question – GS 2 – 24th July 2025

  • Writer: TPP
    TPP
  • Jul 24
  • 4 min read
Daily Mains Question – GS 2 – 24th July 2025

Welcome to your daily Mains Model Answer — crafted to unravel the constitutional safeguards ensuring legislative continuity in India’s parliamentary system, as required in GS Paper 2. Today’s question examines the institutional mechanism activated during a Vice-Presidential vacancy, and how the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha upholds the functional integrity of the Upper House in such scenarios.

The Vice-President of India, as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, plays a pivotal role in presiding over the proceedings of the Upper House. However, the Constitution does not envisage an acting Vice-President. Instead, it provides for the Deputy Chairman to preside in the event of a vacancy, illness, or absence. This layered institutional design ensures procedural continuity and balances federal and parliamentary responsibilities. With a recent vacancy in this high constitutional office, the question acquires immediate significance for GS Paper 2 (Polity and Governance), while also intersecting with themes of constitutional design, federalism, legislative functioning, and democratic stability — areas with strong potential for Essay and Ethics integration as well.


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QUESTION

In the absence of an acting Vice-President, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha discharges the functions of the presiding officer of the Upper House. Examine how this constitutional arrangement ensures legislative continuity and institutional balance within the framework of Indian parliamentary democracy.

Answer: The Vice-President of India, elected by an electoral college comprising members of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha (including nominated members), holds the second-highest constitutional office in India. The Vice-President is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, responsible for presiding over the proceedings of the Upper House. The election process follows a system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote, ensuring representative legitimacy.


While the Constitution provides detailed procedures for the election and functions of the Vice-President, it does not provide for an acting Vice-President. In the event of a vacancy in the Vice-President’s office, Article 90 and Article 91 of the Constitution, read with the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Rajya Sabha, provide a mechanism to ensure continuity of legislative functions through the office of the Deputy Chairman.


1. Constitutional and Procedural Framework for Continuity:

  • The Constitution of India (Article 89(1)) designates the Vice-President as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

  • In case of vacancy, absence, or inability of the Vice-President to discharge duties, Article 90(b) enables the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha to perform the functions of the Chairman.

  • Further, if the Deputy Chairman is also unavailable, a member from the Panel of Vice-Chairpersons (nominated by the Chairman under Rule 8 of the Rajya Sabha Rules) may preside.

This layered mechanism ensures that no legislative vacuum is created in the Rajya Sabha due to the absence of the Vice-President, thereby upholding the continuity of parliamentary proceedings.

 

2. Upholding Legislative Continuity:

  • The Rajya Sabha, being a permanent House (Article 83(1)), is not subject to dissolution. Hence, mechanisms for its continuous functioning are crucial.

  • During a vacancy in the Vice-President’s office:

    • Debates, question hours, motions, and legislative business continue to be conducted without interruption.

    • The Deputy Chairman, elected from among the Rajya Sabha members under Article 89(2), ensures that the proceedings follow constitutional protocols and procedural decorum.

  • This continuity prevents legislative delays and sustains the efficacy of bicameralism, especially when the Rajya Sabha plays a critical role in reviewing, amending, and deliberating laws passed by the Lok Sabha.

 

3. Balancing Institutional Power and Federal Equilibrium:

  • The Rajya Sabha represents the federal structure of India by giving voice to the states and Union Territories.

  • Ensuring smooth functioning of the Upper House maintains a balance of power between the two Houses of Parliament, especially in a polity where the Lok Sabha enjoys numerical superiority.

  • The provision for the Deputy Chairman to preside in the absence of the Vice-President:

    • Prevents executive dominance or ad hoc centralization.

    • Preserves parliamentary sovereignty by safeguarding the House’s autonomy.

 

4. Legal and Electoral Safeguards:

  • The Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952 governs the election of the Vice-President. The Election Commission of India is mandated to conduct elections “as soon as possible” after a vacancy arises.

  • However, unlike the President’s office, which must be filled within six months (Article 62), the Constitution does not specify a strict timeline for filling the Vice-President’s vacancy.

  • Despite this, the presence of the Deputy Chairman as an interim presiding officer ensures that parliamentary work is not stalled, and no extraordinary provisions (such as emergency or ordinance) are invoked for basic functioning.

 

5. Structural Support and Hierarchical Continuity:

  • The Deputy Chairman is elected from among the Rajya Sabha members and is constitutionally empowered to preserve order, interpret rules, and decide procedural disputes.

  • The Panel of Vice-Chairpersons, appointed under the Rules of Procedure, further ensures continuity if both the Vice-President and Deputy Chairman are absent.

  • This structure acts as a built-in institutional redundancy, ensuring resilience and stability within parliamentary operations.


The absence of an acting Vice-President provision is effectively mitigated by the Deputy Chairman's constitutional role, reinforcing the principle of continuity in governance. This mechanism reflects the foresight of the Constitution in balancing procedural flexibility with institutional robustness, thereby upholding the democratic ethos, federal character, and operational stability of the Indian Parliament.


It is through such structural arrangements that the Rajya Sabha continues to function without disruption, even amidst vacancies in high offices—ensuring that legislative processes remain uninterrupted and that the bicameral framework retains its integrity.


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