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                                                                 Exhibit-99.CERT

Advantus Index 500 Fund, Inc.
Exhibit 10(a)(2) to Form N-CSR

                                  CERTIFICATION
            PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Dianne M. Orbison, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of the Advantus Index 500 Fund,
Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not
misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this report, and other financial information included in
this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition,
results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial
statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant
as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and
have:

         (a)     Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused
                 such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under
                 our supervision, to ensure that material information relating
                 to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is
                 made known to us by others within those entities, particularly
                 during the period in which this report is being prepared;
         (b)     Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
                 controls and procedures and presented in this report our
                 conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls
                 and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing
                 date of this report based on such evaluation; and
         (c)     Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's
                 internal control over financial reporting that occurred during
                 the registrant's most recent fiscal half-year (the registrant's
                 second fiscal half-year in the case of an annual report) that
                 has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
                 affect, the registrant's internal control over financial
                 reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed to the
registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of
directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

         (a)     All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the
                 design or operation of internal control over financial
                 reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the
                 registrant's ability to record, process, summarize, and report
                 financial information; and

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         (b)     Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
                 other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
                 internal control over financial reporting.

                                       /s/ Dianne M. Orbison
                                          ----------------------------------
Date:    September 29, 2003            Dianne M. Orbison
                                       President of Advantus Funds

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                                                                      EX-99.CERT

                                  CERTIFICATION
            PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Gary M. Kleist, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of the Advantus Index 500 Fund,
Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not
misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this report, and other financial information included in
this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition,
results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial
statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant
as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and
have:

         (a)     Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused
                 such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under
                 our supervision, to ensure that material information relating
                 to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is
                 made known to us by others within those entities, particularly
                 during the period in which this report is being prepared;
         (b)     Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
                 controls and procedures and presented in this report our
                 conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls
                 and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing
                 date of this report based on such evaluation; and
         (c)     Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's
                 internal control over financial reporting that occurred during
                 the registrant's most recent fiscal half-year (the registrant's
                 second fiscal half-year in the case of an annual report) that
                 has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
                 affect, the registrant's internal control over financial
                 reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed to the
registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of
directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

         (a)     All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the
                 design or operation of internal control over financial
                 reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the
                 registrant's ability to record, process, summarize, and report
                 financial information; and

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         (b)     Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
                 other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
                 internal control over financial reporting.

                                  /s/ Gary M. Kleist
                                     -----------------------------------------
Date:    September 29, 2003       Gary M. Kleist
                                  Vice President and Treasurer - Advantus Funds