UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Mamata terms EC ‘Tughlaqi’, backs suspended officials

Q1. Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), whose suspension in West Bengal in 2026 triggered a Centre–State row over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, are designated/appointed under which one of the following statutes?

  • A. The Representation of the People Act, 1950
  • B. The Representation of the People Act, 1951
  • C. The Conduct of Election Rules, 1961
  • D. The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023

Q2. With reference to the constitutional powers of the Election Commission of India invoked during the West Bengal Special Intensive Revision (SIR) row of 2026, consider the following statements regarding functions vested in the ECI under Article 324: Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for elections to Parliament and State Legislatures.
  2. Conduct of elections to Parliament and to the Legislature of every State.
  3. Conduct of elections to municipalities and panchayats.
  4. Conduct of elections to the offices of the President and Vice-President of India.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. In January 2026, in the run-up to the West Bengal Special Intensive Revision row, the Election Commission of India directed the State authorities to file FIRs against exactly how many suspended State officials for alleged irregularities in the electoral rolls?

  • A. Three
  • B. Five
  • C. Seven
  • D. Eleven

Q4. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, at the centre of the 2026 West Bengal controversy, is conducted and operationally supervised in the States by which one of the following authorities?

  • A. The Ministry of Home Affairs through the Registrar General of India
  • B. The Ministry of Law and Justice through the Legislative Department
  • C. The Election Commission of India through the Chief Electoral Officer of the State
  • D. The State Election Commission of the concerned State

Q5. During the 2026 West Bengal SIR dispute, which one of the following was identified by the Supreme Court as the primary authority whose direction must prevail for the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls to continue without hindrance?

  • A. The Election Commission of India
  • B. The State Election Commission of West Bengal
  • C. The Chief Secretary of the State Government
  • D. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India