CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby  consent to the  incorporation  by reference in the  Prospectuses  and
Statement of Additional  Information  constituting parts of this  Post-Effective
Amendment No. 72 to the registration  statement on Form N-1A (the  "Registration
Statement")  of our  reports  dated  January  29,  2001,  and  February 6, 2001,
relating to the financial  statements and financial  highlights appearing in the
December 31, 2000 Annual Reports to Shareholders of Vanguard Index Trust,  which
are also  incorporated  by reference into the  Registration  Statement.  We also
consent to the references to us under the heading "Financial  Highlights" in the
Prospectuses  and  under  the  headings  "Financial   Statements"  and  "Service
Providers--Independent Accountants" in the Statement of Additional Information.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Philadelphia, PA

April 24, 2001