485BXT 1 vit485bxt1218.txt VANGUARD INDEX FUNDS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM N-1A REGISTRATION STATEMENT (NO. 2-56846) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 82 AND REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 AMENDMENT NO. 83 VANGUARD INDEX TRUST (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN DECLARATION OF TRUST) P.O. BOX 2600, VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482 (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE) REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER (610) 669-1000 R. GREGORY BARTON, ESQUIRE P.O. BOX 876 VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482 It is proposed that this filing become effective on December 27, 2001, pursuant to Rule (b)(i)(v) of Rule 485. This post-effective amendment is being made to extend the date of effectiveness for previously filed post-effective amendments (Post-Effective Amendment No. 75, 76, 77, 79, and 80). December 18, 2001 U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20549 RE: VANGUARD INDEX FUNDS (THE TRUST) FILE NO. 2-56846 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Commissioners: Pursuant to Rule 485(b)(i)(v) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, we are submitting this filing for the sole purpose of extending the pending effective date of the 75th, 76th, 77th, 79th, and 80th Post-Effective Amendments to the Trust's Registration Statement. Post-Effective Amendment No. 75 originally requested an effective date of August 28, 2001. Post-Effective Amendments No. 76 77, 79, and 80 requested extension dates of September 26, 2001, October 25, 2001, November 23, 2001, and December 21, 2001, respectively. It is proposed that this filing become effective on December 27, 2001, pursuant to Rule (b)(i)(v) of rule 485. The contents of the Post-Effective Amendment No. 75, which we filed under Rule 485(a) on June 29, 2001, are hereby incorporated by reference into this letter. Please contact me at (610) 503-2398 if you have any questions concerning this amendment or the requested effective date. Thank you. Sincerely, Barry A. Mendelson Principal and Associate Counsel cc: Christian Sandoe, Esq., U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant hereby certifies that it meets all requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Town of Valley Forge and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on the 18th day of December, 2001. VANGUARD INDEX FUNDS BY:_____________(signature)________________ (HEIDI STAM) JOHN J. BRENNAN* CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated: SIGNATURE TITLE DATE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By:/S/ JOHN J. BRENNAN President, Chairman, Chief December 18, 2001 ---------------------------Executive Officer, and Trustee (Heidi Stam) John J. Brennan* By:/S/ JOANN HEFFERNAN HEISEN Trustee December 18, 2001 --------------------------- (Heidi Stam) JoAnn Heffernan Heisen* By:/S/ BRUCE K. MACLAURY Trustee December 18, 2001 --------------------------- (Heidi Stam) Bruce K. MacLaury* By:/S/ BURTON G. MALKIEL Trustee December 18, 2001 --------------------------- (Heidi Stam) Burton G. Malkiel* By:/S/ ALFRED M. RANKIN, JR. Trustee December 18, 2001 --------------------------- (Heidi Stam) Alfred M. Rankin, Jr.* By:/S/ JAMES O. WELCH, JR. Trustee December 18, 2001 --------------------------- (Heidi Stam) James O. Welch, Jr.* By:/S/ J. LAWRENCE WILSON Trustee December 18, 2001 --------------------------- (Heidi Stam) J. Lawrence Wilson* By:/S/ THOMAS J. HIGGINS Treasurer and Principal December 18, 2001 --------------------------- (Heidi Stam) Financial Officer and Principal Thomas J. Higgins* Accounting Officer *By Power of Attorney. See File Number 33-32548, filed on July 24, 2001. Incorporated by Reference.