Which institution elects the President and the Vice President of India and also participates in the process of removing judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts through impeachment?

Introduction / Context:
The Constitution of India assigns different roles to various institutions in electing high constitutional functionaries and in removing them from office when necessary. The President, the Vice President and the judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts all hold offices that require special procedures for appointment and removal. This question asks which institution is directly involved in electing the President and Vice President and also plays a central role in the removal of judges through impeachment like processes.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The President of India is elected by an electoral college that includes members of Parliament and of state legislatures.
The Vice President of India is elected by members of both Houses of Parliament.
Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts can be removed by a special majority resolution passed by both Houses of Parliament, commonly described as impeachment in the case of Supreme Court judges.
The options include Parliament, the Election Commission, the Union Cabinet and the Supreme Court.

Concept / Approach:
The key idea is that Parliament of India, consisting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, is central both to the election of the Vice President and to the removal of judges. While the President is elected by a wider electoral college including state legislatures, Parliament is still a core part of that college. In contrast, the Election Commission conducts elections but does not itself elect or remove these officials. The Union Cabinet is part of the executive and the Supreme Court is the apex judiciary; neither is the voting body for these functions. The approach is therefore to recognise Parliament as the body that elects the Vice President and passes the removal resolutions for judges, while being a major component of the electoral college for the President.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the President of India is elected by an electoral college consisting of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the states and certain Union Territories. Step 2: Remember that the Vice President is elected by the members of both Houses of Parliament voting together, which means Parliament as a whole functions as the electing body in that case. Step 3: For removal of judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, a special majority resolution must be passed by both Houses of Parliament after following the procedure laid down in the Judges Inquiry Act and related rules. Step 4: The Election Commission of India organises and supervises elections but does not itself elect or remove these constitutional functionaries. Step 5: The Union Cabinet advises the President but does not itself elect or impeach; the Supreme Court may be involved in inquiries but does not vote on removal of its own judges. Step 6: Thus, the institution that both elects the Vice President (and partly elects the President) and also removes judges through special resolutions is Parliament of India.

Verification / Alternative check:
Textbook descriptions of the Indian political system consistently show Parliament at the centre of these processes. Diagrams of the President electoral college list Parliament as a major component, while separate charts on the removal of judges indicate resolutions passed by both Houses. The Election Commission appears when discussing conduct of elections, and the Cabinet appears in the context of executive powers, not election or removal powers, confirming that Parliament is the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Election Commission of India: It conducts and supervises elections, ensures free and fair polls and prepares electoral rolls, but it does not itself elect or impeach high constitutional officials. Union Cabinet: The Cabinet is part of the executive, responsible for day to day administration and policy decisions. It may recommend certain actions, but it does not vote to elect the President or Vice President or remove judges. Supreme Court of India: The Supreme Court interprets the Constitution and may conduct inquiries related to removal of judges, but the formal act of removal is done by Parliament through special majority resolutions.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to assume that the Election Commission, because it deals with elections, must also be responsible for electing high officials. Another confusion is between nomination, recommendation and election. For example, the Cabinet may recommend names, but the actual election or removal is a legislative function. To avoid these errors, remember that Parliament is the central deliberative and voting body for such constitutional decisions, while the Election Commission is an independent administrative body and the Supreme Court is a judicial body.

Final Answer:
The institution that elects the President and the Vice President and participates directly in the removal of judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts is the Parliament of India.