Discuss the role of the Vice-President of India as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. (Answer in 150 words)

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

राज्य सभा के सभापति के रूप में भारत के उप-राष्ट्रपति की भूमिका की विवेचना कीजिए। (150 शब्दों में उत्तर दीजिए)

The question as printed in the 2022 General Studies paper

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Model answer

Drafted with AI by UPSC Answer Check against this question's marking rubric, to the 150-word length. UPSC does not publish answers for Mains — this is one way to score well, not an official key. How we build rubrics and answers.

Under Articles 64 and 89, the Vice-President serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Unlike the Lok Sabha Speaker, the Chairman is not an elected member of the House, which reinforces institutional neutrality.

Presiding and Committee Functions: The Chairman regulates proceedings, recognizes speakers, decides points of order, and exercises disciplinary powers including adjournment. Under Article 100, the Chairman holds no deliberative vote in the first instance, exercising only a casting vote in the event of an equality of votes. The Chairman also heads key panels, including the Business Advisory Committee and the Rules Committee, and appoints the Panel of Vice-Chairpersons.

Limitations and Federal Significance: Unlike the Speaker, the Chairman cannot certify Money Bills or preside over Joint Sittings. Furthermore, under Article 92, the Chairman cannot preside during resolutions for their own removal. When the Vice-President acts as President under Article 65, he does not perform the Chairman's duties, and the Deputy Chairman presides. With salary charged directly on the Consolidated Fund of India, the office maintains financial independence, serving as an anchor of federal balance in the Council of States.

How this answer will be evaluated

Framework: GS2 Paper 2: Institutions (Mandate, Powers, Challenges, Reforms)

What earns full marks: Precise constitutional powers (Art 66, 110, 111) with a critical view on the office's utility.

Evaluation rubric

Each sub-part is marked on its own, against the marks and word limit printed on the paper.

The answer Analyze the Vice-President's constitutional powers and procedural role as Chairman of Rajya Sabha. 10 marks · 150 words

discuss— intro → 3-4 dimensions → example → balanced close
Must cover
- Articles 64 and 89: the Vice-President is ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
- Presides over sittings, keeps order, decides points of order and admissibility; casting vote only in a tie (Article 100), no vote otherwise
- Article 92: does not preside while a resolution for his removal is under consideration; Article 65: acts as President in a vacancy
- Compare with the Speaker: Money Bill certification (Article 110), presiding over joint sittings (Article 118), anti-defection decisions for Lok Sabha members are the Speaker's, not the Chairman's
Loses marks
- Attributing the Speaker's powers (joint sitting, Money Bill certification) to the Vice-President
- Reciting Article 66 (election) without functions
- Ending without an assessment of the office's significance
Earns more
- Rajya Sabha committees: the Chairman nominates members and refers bills to Select Committees of the House
- Independence of the office: not a member of either House, salary drawn as Chairman
- Illustrative rulings or episodes (e.g. Chairmen Hamid Ansari, Venkaiah Naidu, Jagdeep Dhankhar)
Extra mark
- Cite 2nd ARC recommendation on VP's role
- Reference specific Supreme Court judgment on casting vote

What "Discuss" is asking you to do

Lay the issue out from more than one side — how it arose, what is claimed for it, what is held against it, and where it now stands. UPSC attaches discuss to broad topics with several live dimensions, so coverage of the dimensions earns more than the strength of your opinion.

Structure that answers it

Set the issue up → the case as it is made → the case against → the dimension both sides leave out → where the balance now lies

Where marks are lost

Listing facts with no thread between them, or arguing one side throughout and calling it a discussion.

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