Early Life and Education

Jagdeep Dhankhar was born on May 18, 1951, in Kithana, a village in the Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan, into a Hindu Rajasthani Jat family. He completed his primary education at the local government schools in Kithana and Ghardhana. In 1962, he joined the Sainik School, Chittorgarh, on a full merit scholarship, where he completed his schooling. He then pursued a B.Sc. (Honours) in Physics from Maharaja’s College, Jaipur, affiliated with the University of Rajasthan. Later, he earned a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from the University of Rajasthan.

Legal Career

Dhankhar enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Rajasthan in 1979. The High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan designated him as a Senior Advocate in 1990. He primarily practiced in the Supreme Court of India, focusing on steel, coal, mining, and international commercial arbitration. He also appeared in various High Courts across the country and held the position of senior-most designated Senior Advocate of Rajasthan until he assumed office as Governor in 2019.

Political Career

Dhankhar began his political journey in 1989 when he won the Lok Sabha election from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, as a member of the Janata Dal. He served as the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in the government led by Chandra Shekhar. The government appointed him as Governor of West Bengal in 2019. During his tenure, he frequently confronted the state’s Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government. His assertive approach and interventions in state matters led to significant political tensions.

Vice Presidency

On August 11, 2022, Dhankhar took the oath as the 14th Vice President of India and assumed office as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. He secured 528 votes against 182 for his opponent, Margaret Alva, marking the highest winning margin in the last six vice-presidential elections.

During his tenure as Vice President, Dhankhar also served as ex-officio Chancellor of several universities, including Delhi University, Panjab University, and Pondicherry University, and acted as Visitor of Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication, Bhopal. He held key positions such as President of the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) and the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA). He chaired the Selection Committee of the Prasar Bharati Board and served as Chairman of the Committee for selecting the Chairman of the Press Council of India.

Key Initiatives and Contributions

As Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Dhankhar reconstituted the panel of Vice-Chairpersons to include 17 women members during the 260th session, taking a significant step toward better representation of women in parliamentary proceedings. This move gained special attention during discussions of the Nari Shakti Vandan Vidheyak Bill, 2023, which aimed to reserve seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.

He also played a pivotal role in the transition from the old Parliament House to the new one. On September 19, 2023, he addressed a joint session of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in the Central Hall of Parliament, marking the end of the Indian Parliament’s use of the historic building.

Resignation

On July 21, 2025, Dhankhar resigned from his position as Vice President of India, citing health concerns and the need to prioritize healthcare. President Droupadi Murmu accepted his resignation. Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan Singh, took temporary charge of presiding over the Rajya Sabha’s proceedings.

Personal Life

Dhankhar married Dr. Sudesh Dhankhar, a postgraduate in Economics from Banasthali Vidyapeeth, a prestigious university in rural Rajasthan. She actively pursues social work, organic farming, child education, and upliftment. They have a daughter, Kamna, who married Kartikeya Vajpayee, son of the late Shri Vijay Shankar Vajpayee and Smt. Abha Vajpayee.

Legacy

Dhankhar’s career trajectory—from a village in Rajasthan to the Vice Presidency of India—reflects his dedication to public service and his assertive approach to governance. He marked his tenure as Vice President with significant initiatives to enhance women’s representation in parliamentary proceedings and oversaw a historic transition in the Indian Parliament.