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. 84 to the registration  statement on Form N-1A (the  "Registration
Statement")  of our reports  dated  January 31, 2002,  relating to the financial
statements  and financial  highlights  appearing in the December 31, 2001 Annual
Reports to Shareholders of Vanguard Index Funds,  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 5, 2002