Deputy Prime Minister of India

Deputy Prime Minister of India भारत के ऊपप्रधान मंत्री (Bhārat kē Uppradhānamantrī)
State Emblem of India
Flag of India
Incumbent Vacant
Member of	Parliament of India Union Council of Ministers
Nominator	Prime Minister of India
Appointer	President of India
Inaugural holder	Vallabhbhai Patel (1947–1950)
Formation	15 August 1947; 77 years ago (1947-08-15)

The Deputy Prime Minister of India (IAST: Bhārat kē Uppradhānamantrī) is the deputy head of the Government of India. It is the second highest ranking member of the Union Council of Ministers.^[1] A deputy prime minister usually also holds a cabinet portfolio such as the home minister, defence minister or finance minister. In the parliamentary system of government, the prime minister is treated as the "first among equals" in the cabinet; the position of deputy prime minister is used to bring political stability and strength within a coalition government or in times of national emergency, when a proper chain of command is necessary.

The office is having been occupied for a little more than 11 years out of the 73 years since its establisment.

1. ↑ Rajendran, S. (2012-07-13). "Of Deputy Chief Ministers and the Constitution". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 November 2017.