Who was elected as the 13th Vice President of India in the year 2017?

Introduction / Context:
The office of the Vice President of India is the second highest constitutional office in the country. The Vice President is also the ex officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. Questions about the numerical order of Presidents and Vice Presidents are common in competitive examinations. This question asks specifically about the individual who became the 13th Vice President of India in 2017.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The post is Vice President of India, not President.
- The question refers to the 13th person to hold this office.
- The year of election mentioned is 2017.
- The options include well known political figures like M Venkaiah Naidu, Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Hamid Ansari, Ram Nath Kovind, and Pranab Mukherjee.

Concept / Approach:
M Venkaiah Naidu, a senior leader and former Union Minister, was elected as the 13th Vice President of India in 2017. He succeeded Hamid Ansari, who had served as the 11th and 12th Vice President in two consecutive terms. Ram Nath Kovind was elected as the 14th President of India in 2017, while Pranab Mukherjee was the preceding President. Gopalkrishna Gandhi was the opposition candidate in the 2017 Vice Presidential election but did not win. By matching these facts with the question, one can easily identify the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that in 2017, India held both Presidential and Vice Presidential elections. Step 2: Remember that Ram Nath Kovind was elected as the 14th President of India in 2017, while the separate election for Vice President resulted in M Venkaiah Naidu becoming the 13th Vice President. Step 3: Note that Hamid Ansari had already completed two terms as Vice President and was therefore not the newly elected 13th Vice President in 2017. Step 4: Gopalkrishna Gandhi was the opposition candidate in the Vice Presidential election and did not win. Step 5: Pranab Mukherjee was the outgoing President in 2017, not the Vice President. Step 6: Therefore, the correct answer is M Venkaiah Naidu.

Verification / Alternative check:
This information can be verified from official notifications of the Election Commission of India and media reports from 2017, which clearly state that M Venkaiah Naidu was elected as the 13th Vice President of India after securing a majority of votes in the Electoral College for the post of Vice President.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Gopalkrishna Gandhi: He was the opposition candidate in the 2017 Vice Presidential election but lost to M Venkaiah Naidu.
Hamid Ansari: He served as Vice President before 2017 and completed two terms but was not elected as the 13th Vice President in that year.
Ram Nath Kovind: Elected as the 14th President of India in 2017, not as Vice President.
Pranab Mukherjee: Served as President of India before Ram Nath Kovind and was never the 13th Vice President.

Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to confuse the numbering of Presidents and Vice Presidents or to mix up the roles held by leaders around the same time. For example, some candidates may incorrectly choose Ram Nath Kovind because they remember that he was elected in 2017 but forget that the question is about the Vice President, not the President. Careful reading of the post and number in the question helps avoid this confusion.

Final Answer:
The 13th Vice President of India, elected in 2017, is M Venkaiah Naidu.