Part V - Parliament • Article

Article 89 Simplified: The Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Council of States

This article confirms that the Vice-President is automatically the 'Boss' (Chairman) of the Rajya Sabha. The Rajya Sabha also chooses one of its own members to be the 'Deputy Chairman' to help the VP.

Official Text

(1) The Vice- President of India shall be ex officio Chairman of the Council of States. (2) The Council of States shall, as soon as may be, choose a member of the Council to be Deputy Chairman thereof and, so often as the office of Deputy Chairman becomes vacant, the Council shall choose another member to be Deputy Chairman thereof.

Simple Meaning

Explain Like Ten

The Rajya Sabha needs someone to run its meetings and keep order. That job belongs to the Vice-President of India — they automatically become the 'Chairman' (the boss of the RS) without any election. But the Rajya Sabha also chooses one of its own members to be the 'Deputy Chairman' to help the VP and take over when the VP is busy.

Student Mode

Article 89 establishes the leadership structure of the Rajya Sabha: (1) Vice-President = ex officio Chairman: The VP chairs the Rajya Sabha automatically by constitutional mandate — they don't need to be elected to this role. This dual role gives the VP a substantive function. (2) Deputy Chairman: The Rajya Sabha itself elects one of its members to be Deputy Chairman. This is important — when the VP is acting as President (Article 65) or when the VP's post is vacant, the Deputy Chairman presides.

Example

If an office-holder's power or duty is questioned, Article 89 clarifies how the chairman and deputy chairman of the council of states fits into Parliament's working rules.

Key Takeaway

The VP leads the Rajya Sabha as its Chairman.

FAQs

Who is the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha?

The Vice-President of India is the ex officio (by virtue of office) Chairman of the Rajya Sabha — this is automatic, not by election.

Who presides when the VP is acting as President?

When the VP is discharging Presidential functions (Article 65), the Deputy Chairman presides over the Rajya Sabha (covered by Article 91).

How is the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha different from the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha?

Both are elected by their respective Houses from among their own members. However, the Rajya Sabha's Chairman (VP) is not elected by the RS, while the Lok Sabha's Speaker is elected by the Lok Sabha from among its members.