UPSC Prelims 2008 Q37: Indian Polity – Union & State Executive
Who among the following have held the office of the Vice - President of India?
1. Mohammad Hidayatullah
2. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed
3. Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
4. Shankar Dayal Sharma
Select the correct answer
using the code given below:
- (a) 1, 2, 3 and 4
- (b) 1 and 4 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 3 and 4 only
Answer: (b) 1 and 4 only
Explanation
Who among these held the office of Vice-President of India
Among these four names, we need to verify who actually served specifically as Vice-President.
| Person | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Mohammad Hidayatullah | Correct | Served as Vice-President of India (1979-84) |
| 2. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed | Incorrect | Served as President of India, NOT Vice-President |
| 3. Neelam Sanjiva Reddy | Incorrect | Served as President of India (and earlier as Lok Sabha Speaker), NOT Vice-President |
| 4. Shankar Dayal Sharma | Correct | Served as Vice-President of India (1987-92) before later becoming President |
Correct Vice-Presidents among these:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vice-Presidents | Hidayatullah and Shankar Dayal Sharma |
| NOT Vice-Presidents (were Presidents instead) | Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy |
Answer: (b) 1 and 4 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Persons 2 and 3 (Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy) were Presidents, not Vice-Presidents, so 'all four' is wrong.
- (b) CORRECT. Only Hidayatullah and Shankar Dayal Sharma actually served as Vice-President among these four.
- (c) Incorrect. Persons 2 and 3 were Presidents, not Vice-Presidents, so '2 and 3 only' is wrong.
- (d) Incorrect. Person 3 (Neelam Sanjiva Reddy) was a President, not Vice-President, so '3 and 4 only' is wrong.
Key point
Among these four, only Mohammad Hidayatullah and Shankar Dayal Sharma actually served as Vice-President of India — Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed and Neelam Sanjiva Reddy both served as President instead.
Remember
Vice-Presidents among these four: Mohammad Hidayatullah and Shankar Dayal Sharma — the other two were Presidents.
Common mistakes
- Confusing Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed and Neelam Sanjiva Reddy's actual Presidential terms with Vice-Presidential service.
- Not knowing Shankar Dayal Sharma's earlier Vice-Presidential term before becoming President.
- Assuming all four prominent historical figures held the same constitutional office.
Exam tip
Hidayatullah and Shankar Dayal Sharma = Vice-Presidents. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed and Neelam Sanjiva Reddy = Presidents (not VPs). Keep these distinct.
Sources
- Rajya Sabha Secretariat — Vice-Presidents of India: M. Hidayatullah (1979–84) and Shankar Dayal Sharma (1987–92)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Mohammad Hidayatullah