Question

Consider the following statements:

a. The original Constitution provided that the Vice-President would be elected by the two Houses of Parliament assembled at a joint meeting.

b. The 11th Constitutional amendment, 1961 changed the procedure of election of the Vice-President.

c. The Vice-President is elected by the members of an electoral college consisting of the elected members only of both the Houses.

d. The election of the Vice-President cannot be challenged on the grounds that the electoral college was incomplete.

1. Statements a, b are correct, c and d are false
2. Statements b, c, d are correct, a is false
3. Statements a, b, d are correct, c is false
4. Statements b, c are correct, a and d are false

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : Statements a, b, d are correct, c is false

 Statements a, b, d are correct, c is false.

• Vice President is elected indirectly, by an electoral college consisting of members (elected as well as nominated) of both houses of the Parliament. Hence statement c is false.
• The original Constitution provided that the Vice-President would be elected by the two Houses of Parliament assembled at a joint meeting.
• The 11th Constitutional amendment, 1961 changed the procedure of election of the Vice-President.
• The election of the Vice-President cannot be challenged on the grounds that the electoral college was incomplete.
• Hence statements a, b and d are correct.

• 11th Constitutional amendment, 1961.
  • It provided that the Vice-President shall be elected by the members of an electoral college consisting of the members of both Houses of the Parliament, thereby dispensing with the earlier requirement of a joint meeting of members of both Houses of Parliament assembled for the said purpose. 
  • Inserted a new clause (4) in Article 71 of the Constitution to clarify that the election of President or Vice-President cannot be challenged on the ground of the existence of any vacancy for whatever reason in the appropriate electoral college.

Election	Electoral college
For the office of President	All Elected members of both the Houses of the Parliament (MP) and all elected members of Assembly and Council of states and union territory with assembly(Delhi, Puducherry).
For the office of Vice -President	Members (elected as well as nominated) of both the houses of the Parliament.