UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Political Parties to get advertisements pre-certified by MCMC

Q1. In the context of election regulation by the ECI, the abbreviation 'MCMC' refers to which one of the following bodies?

  • A. Media Compliance and Monitoring Cell
  • B. Media Certification and Monitoring Committee
  • C. Media Content and Messaging Council
  • D. Media Communication and Mediation Committee

Q2. Which officer chairs the State-level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (and also heads the State-level appellate committee on advertisement pre-certification)?

  • A. District Election Officer
  • B. Returning Officer
  • C. Chief Electoral Officer
  • D. Chief Election Commissioner

Q3. The ECI's mandatory pre-certification of electronic-media political advertisements traces to an ECI order issued following a Supreme Court direction of which year?

  • A. 1998
  • B. 2004
  • C. 2012
  • D. 2019

Q4. The Media Certification and Monitoring Committees are constituted and operationalised by which one of the following authorities?

  • A. Press Council of India
  • B. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
  • C. Election Commission of India
  • D. News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority

Q5. Under which provision of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 is the display of election matter by television or similar apparatus barred during the 48-hour silence period before the close of poll?

  • A. Section 123
  • B. Section 125
  • C. Section 126
  • D. Section 127A

Q6. With reference to the categories of media requiring MCMC pre-certification under the ECI's 2026 orders, consider the following: 1. Audio-visual displays at public places 2. Bulk SMS and pre-recorded voice messages 3. Content posted as advertisements on candidates' authentic social media accounts 4. Private one-to-one personal telephone calls made by party workers Which of the above is/are correctly identified as requiring pre-certification?

  1. Audio-visual displays at public places
  2. Bulk SMS and pre-recorded voice messages
  3. Content posted as advertisements on candidates' authentic social media accounts
  4. Private one-to-one personal telephone calls made by party workers
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. Which medium was the first to be brought under MCMC pre-certification when the regime originated in 2004?

  • A. Bulk SMS and voice messages
  • B. Social media platforms
  • C. Television and cable network advertisements
  • D. E-papers

Q8. Regarding the evolution and present scope of the MCMC pre-certification regime, consider the following statements: 1. The original 2004 mandate covered television and cable advertisements. 2. Candidates are required to declare details of their authentic social media accounts at the time of nomination. 3. For the 2026 Assembly polls, print advertisements require pre-certification on the poll day and one day prior to it. 4. All routine news bulletins broadcast by All India Radio require MCMC pre-certification before airing. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The original 2004 mandate covered television and cable advertisements.
  2. Candidates are required to declare details of their authentic social media accounts at the time of nomination.
  3. For the 2026 Assembly polls, print advertisements require pre-certification on the poll day and one day prior to it.
  4. All routine news bulletins broadcast by All India Radio require MCMC pre-certification before airing.
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q9. Among the States/UT going to Legislative Assembly polls under the ECI's 2026 schedule, which one alone votes in two phases?

  • A. Kerala
  • B. Assam
  • C. Tamil Nadu
  • D. West Bengal

Q10. Under the ECI's 2026 order, pre-certification of advertisements in the print media is mandatory on which of the following occasions?

  • A. Throughout the entire campaign period
  • B. On the poll day and one day prior to the poll day
  • C. Only during the 48-hour silence period before close of poll
  • D. Only on the day of counting of votes