UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — General Election to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry - Schedule of Election
Q1. Under Article 324 of the Constitution, the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, elections to a State Legislative Assembly is vested in which one of the following bodies?
- A. The State Election Commission
- B. The Election Commission of India
- C. The Delimitation Commission
- D. The Ministry of Law and Justice
Q2. Which one of the following correctly describes the scope of elections placed under the Election Commission of India by Article 324?
- A. Elections to Parliament, State Legislatures and the offices of the President and Vice-President
- B. Elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, Panchayats and Municipalities
- C. Elections to Parliament and State Legislatures only
- D. Elections to Parliament, State Legislatures and to the office of the President only
Q3. With reference to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) enforced for the 2026 general election to the five Legislative Assemblies/UT, consider the following statements:
1. The MCC came into force immediately upon the announcement of the election schedule on 15 March 2026.
2. Unlike the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the MCC is a non-statutory instrument that derives its binding force from the Commission's powers rather than from a statute.
3. The MCC for these elections applies only to the State/UT Governments concerned and not to the Central Government.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The MCC came into force immediately upon the announcement of the election schedule on 15 March 2026.
- Unlike the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the MCC is a non-statutory instrument that derives its binding force from the Commission's powers rather than from a statute.
- The MCC for these elections applies only to the State/UT Governments concerned and not to the Central Government.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q4. Consider the following actions in the context of the directions issued for strict implementation of the Model Code of Conduct for the 2026 elections:
1. Issuance of advertisements at public expense for political publicity.
2. Misuse of official vehicles or Government accommodation by a party, candidate or connected person.
3. Announcement of new policy decisions by the Central Government for the poll-bound States/UT.
4. Conduct, by the Commission, of a bye-election to a casual vacancy in a State not covered by this schedule.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as restricted/prohibited under the MCC directions?
- Issuance of advertisements at public expense for political publicity.
- Misuse of official vehicles or Government accommodation by a party, candidate or connected person.
- Announcement of new policy decisions by the Central Government for the poll-bound States/UT.
- Conduct, by the Commission, of a bye-election to a casual vacancy in a State not covered by this schedule.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q5. With reference to the 2026 general election schedule announced by the Election Commission, consider the following statements:
1. Assam, Kerala and Puducherry went to the polls in a single phase on 9 April 2026.
2. Tamil Nadu was polled in two phases while West Bengal was polled in a single phase.
3. Counting of votes for all the polling States and the Union Territory was held on 4 May 2026.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Assam, Kerala and Puducherry went to the polls in a single phase on 9 April 2026.
- Tamil Nadu was polled in two phases while West Bengal was polled in a single phase.
- Counting of votes for all the polling States and the Union Territory was held on 4 May 2026.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q6. For the 2026 general election to its Legislative Assembly, in how many phases was polling in West Bengal conducted?
- A. One
- B. Two
- C. Three
- D. Four
Q7. In the West Bengal electoral roll figures released for the 2026 Assembly election, the count of 5,23,229 electors specifically denotes which category?
- A. Electors in the 18-19 age cohort (first-time voters)
- B. Electors aged 85 years and above
- C. Persons with Disabilities (PwD) electors
- D. Service and overseas electors
Q8. Among the special categories of electors enumerated for West Bengal for the 2026 Assembly election, which one is numerically the largest?
- A. Persons with Disabilities (PwD) electors
- B. Electors aged 85 years and above
- C. Electors in the 18-19 age cohort
- D. Home-voting electors who availed the facility
Q9. The Phase-II Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls undertaken by the Election Commission covered how many States and Union Territories?
- A. 6 States/UT in all
- B. 9 States and 3 Union Territories
- C. 11 States and 2 Union Territories
- D. 9 States and 2 Union Territories
Q10. With reference to Union Territories that have a Legislative Assembly, consider the following:
1. Puducherry
2. Delhi (National Capital Territory)
3. Jammu and Kashmir
4. Chandigarh
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as a Union Territory having a Legislative Assembly?
- Puducherry
- Delhi (National Capital Territory)
- Jammu and Kashmir
- Chandigarh
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 2 only
- C. 3 only
- D. 4 only
Q11. Consider the following statements regarding the term of a State Legislative Assembly and the timing of the 2026 elections:
1. Under Article 172, a State Legislative Assembly continues for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting, unless dissolved sooner.
2. During a Proclamation of Emergency, Parliament may by law extend the term of an Assembly, but not beyond one year at a time.
3. The five Assemblies that went to the polls in 2026 had last been constituted in 2021.
4. On the expiry of an Assembly's term, the conduct of the fresh election to that Assembly is the responsibility of the Governor of the State.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Under Article 172, a State Legislative Assembly continues for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting, unless dissolved sooner.
- During a Proclamation of Emergency, Parliament may by law extend the term of an Assembly, but not beyond one year at a time.
- The five Assemblies that went to the polls in 2026 had last been constituted in 2021.
- On the expiry of an Assembly's term, the conduct of the fresh election to that Assembly is the responsibility of the Governor of the State.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q12. For the 2026 general election to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, approximately how many companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were reported to have been deployed for law and order and free-and-fair polling?
- A. 280 companies
- B. 380 companies
- C. 480 companies
- D. 580 companies