On 17 July 2022, the United Progressive Alliance along with some other non-UPA opposition parties nominated her for the post of Vice President of India in the 2022 election.

[5] Alva combined her work as an advocate with involvement in welfare organisations, eventually becoming president of the Young Women's Christian Association.

[7] Niranjan Alva ran a successful export business, which gave his wife a financial security that proved beneficial in her later career.

She also served on various House committees, which garnered her a considerable degree of procedural expertise,[4] and was briefly Minister for Science and Technology.

[6] In her HRD role, between 1985 and 1989,[8] Alva oversaw the Rajiv Gandhi-led government's 28-point plan intended to improve the rights and involvement of women and children.

[4][9] Alva has also been involved with women's issues and related matters such as population growth on the international stage, notably through various United Nations bodies and in writings.

[4][10] Alva was elected to the 13th Lok Sabha as a Member of Parliament in 1999 for the Uttara Kannada constituency, serving a five-year term.

[6] In November 2008, Alva said that Congress seats for the elections in Karnataka were open to bidders rather than subject to meritocratic appointment.