It’s not every day that a Vice-President decides to step down before completing their term. But if it does happen, what’s the actual process that follows?

Let’s break it down in simple terms.

When the Vice-President of India resigns mid-term, the first thing that happens is the submission of a formal resignation letter. This letter is addressed directly to the President of India. Once the resignation is accepted, the seat of the Vice-President becomes officially vacant.

Now, the big question: who fills in next?

The Indian Constitution has a clear process for this. A new Vice-President must be elected within six months from the date the seat becomes vacant. The election is conducted by the Election Commission of India. Members of both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) vote to choose the new Vice-President using a system called “single transferable vote” through secret ballot.

Until a new Vice-President is elected, the responsibilities of the office—especially the role of presiding over the Rajya Sabha—are usually handled by a senior member of the House or the Deputy Chairman, depending on the situation.

It’s worth noting that a Vice-President resigning does not directly affect the functioning of the central government. But since the Vice-President plays a crucial legislative role, especially in the Rajya Sabha, their absence can be felt during key parliamentary sessions.

So while it’s rare, the system is prepared for it—keeping things stable and moving forward.