Article 63 of the Constitution of India provides that there shall be a Vice-President of India Articles 64 and 89 (1) provide that the Vice-President of India shall be ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States i.e., Rajya Sabha and shall not hold any other office of profit. In the constitutional set-up, the holder of the office of Vice-President is part of the Executive but as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha he is a part of Parliament. He has thus a dual capacity and holds two distinct and separate offices.

To be qualified for election as Vice-President, Article 66(3), a person has to be a citizen of India, has completed the age of 35 years and must be qualified to be elected as a member of Rajya Sabha.

Vice-President's Functions as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha:

As the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the Vice-President presides over the meetings of the House. As the Presiding Officer, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is the unchallenged guardian of the prestige and dignity of the House. He is also the principal spokesman of the House and represents the collective voice to the outside world. He ensures that the proceedings of the House are conducted in accordance with the relevant constitutional provisions, rules, practices and conventions and that decorum is maintained in the House. He is the custodian and guardian of the rights and privileges of the House and its members. Due to several pressing and urgent engagements and preoccupations as Vice-President he may not be able to devote full time as Presiding Officer of the Rajya Sabha, but in practice he presides during the first hour of the sitting of the House which is the Question Hour. This lively and occasionally tumultuous period is one of the high points of the day during each Session where the accountability of Government is most obviously on display. He deftly handles the situation, ensures that Members' rights of asking questions and receiving complete replies is well enforced and gives rulings on privilege matters and other procedural points. Whenever important debates or landmark discussions such as on Constitution Amendment Bills take place, he is invariably in the Chair. He has no vote except when there is a tie (article 100). The Chairman's rulings constitute precedents which are of a binding nature. The Chairman is not bound to give reasons for his decisions. The Chairman's rulings cannot be questioned or criticised and to protest against the ruling of the Chairman is a contempt of the House.

In his task as Chairman, he is assisted by the Deputy Chairman who is a member of the House and elected by it. The Deputy Chairman presides over the Rajya Sabha in the absence of the Chairman and performs the duties of the office of the Chairman if the Vice-President is acting as President or if there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice-President. There is also a panel of six Vice-Chairmen, which is constituted every year. A Vice-Chairman presides over the meeting of the Rajya Sabha in the absence of the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman. There is a Secretariat of the Rajya Sabha headed by a Secretary-General to assist the Chairman in the discharge of his functions.

The Past Chairmen:

It is said that institutions make men: it is equally true that men mould institutions. This is singularly true in case of Chairmen of the Rajya Sabha who held the august office and lent lustre and dignity to the Rajya Sabha since inception in 1952 under the Constitution of India. An important factor which has contributed to the Rajya Sabha occupying the present position is the eminence, wisdom and learning of its successive and successful Presiding Officers. All these persons have been great leaders in their fields and have played significant and often crucial roles in the affairs of the Nation. By their presence in the House, they enhanced its dignity, by their words of wisdom from the Chair, they enriched the understanding of the members. They laid down high traditions and were instrumental in helping the House develop its distinct personality and establish its corporate prestige.

Dr. S. Radhakrishnan (13.5.52-12.5.62) the first Vice-President/Chairman of the Rajya Sabha was a philosopher and scholar of world repute. He guided the deliberations of the House with a philosopher's impartiality and sage's dignity.
Dr. Zakir Husain (13.5.62-12.5.67) was an eminent educationist.

Shri V. V. Giri (13.5.67-3.5.69) was a great labour leader.

Dr. Gopal Swarup Pathak (31.8.69-30.8.74) was a legal luminary. Shri B.D. Jatti (31.8.74-30.8.79) was an eminent social and political worker. Shri M. Hidayatullah (31.8.79-30.8.84) was a leading light of law and former Chief Justice of India. Shri R. Venkataraman (31.8.84-24.7.87) was an able and experienced administrator. Dr. Shanker Dayal Sharma(3.9.87-24.7.92) was known for scholarly wisdom. Shri Krishan Kant (21.08.1997 - 27.7.2002, passed away while in office) was an experienced parliamentarian and an able administrator.

Present Chairman:

Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat is presently Vice-President and Chairman, Rajya Sabha