Mr. Reddy is running for the Vice-President's post. Which of the following…

Concept

Eligibility for the office of Vice-President of India is governed by Article 66 of the Constitution. It works in two parts: a candidate must satisfy three positive qualifications, and must NOT fall under the office-of-profit bar.

• Qualifications (all required): be a citizen of India; have completed 35 years of age; and be qualified for election as a member of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States).

• Disqualification: a person who holds any office of profit under the Government of India, a State Government, or a local/other authority under their control is NOT eligible. (Holding the office of President, Vice-President, Governor, or a Minister is expressly exempted.)

Application

Test each stated attribute of Mr. Reddy against the rule:

1. Qualified for election as a member of the Council of States — this satisfies a required qualification, so it supports eligibility.

2. Has completed 35 years of age — this meets the mandatory minimum age, so it supports eligibility.

3. Is the District Commissioner of Guntur, an office of profit under the Government of Andhra Pradesh — this falls squarely within the office-of-profit bar, which removes eligibility.

4. Is a citizen of India — this satisfies the citizenship qualification, so it supports eligibility.

Cross-check

Three of the four attributes are precisely the qualifications Article 66 demands, so none of them can make a candidate ineligible. Only the attribute describing a State-Government office of profit triggers the constitutional bar, making Mr. Reddy ineligible to contest the Vice-Presidential election.