UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Poll body suspends five police officials in West Bengal

Q1. When police personnel are deployed on election duty during an Assembly election, from the notification of the election until the declaration of results their superintendence and disciplinary control stands vested in which authority?

  • A. The Election Commission of India, under Article 324 of the Constitution
  • B. The State Home Department
  • C. The Director General of Police of the State
  • D. The Governor of the State

Q2. Following complaints of lapses in EVM strongroom security during the first phase of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls, how many police officials at Diamond Harbour did the Election Commission order to be suspended?

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

Q3. In the context of the EVM strongroom and counting protocol, what is a 'VVPAT'?

  • A. A printer unit attached to the EVM that generates a paper slip allowing the voter to verify the vote cast, which is retained for audit and matching
  • B. A battery back-up module that keeps the EVM control unit powered while stored inside the sealed strongroom
  • C. A biometric lock that secures the double-lock system of the strongroom door
  • D. A tamper-evident seal affixed to the EVM immediately after the close of poll

Q4. Consider the following features described as part of the Election Commission's EVM strongroom security arrangement: 1. 24x7 CCTV coverage of the sealed strongroom doors and corridors with continuous monitoring. 2. A double-lock system with a single entry/exit point to the strongroom. 3. Representatives/agents of contesting candidates being allowed to monitor the security through CCTV monitors. 4. The strongroom keys being held solely by the polling agent of the ruling party. Which of the above is/are NOT a correct feature of the protocol?

  1. 24x7 CCTV coverage of the sealed strongroom doors and corridors with continuous monitoring.
  2. A double-lock system with a single entry/exit point to the strongroom.
  3. Representatives/agents of contesting candidates being allowed to monitor the security through CCTV monitors.
  4. The strongroom keys being held solely by the polling agent of the ruling party.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4

Q5. Given that the Model Code of Conduct is not a law enacted by Parliament, its enforcement rests primarily on which source of power?

  • A. The plenary powers of the Election Commission under Article 324 of the Constitution
  • B. A dedicated Model Code of Conduct Act passed exclusively by Parliament that alone governs it
  • C. The Tenth Schedule of the Constitution
  • D. A binding obligation under an international electoral treaty ratified by India

Q6. Which single event marks the commencement — the starting point — from which the Model Code of Conduct becomes operational?

  • A. The announcement of the election schedule by the Election Commission
  • B. The issue of the formal poll notification by the President/Governor
  • C. The last date for withdrawal of candidatures
  • D. The declaration of results

Q7. A party was described as having secured an 'absolute majority' in the 294-member West Bengal Legislative Assembly. In this context, an absolute majority means:

  • A. Winning more than half of the total strength of the House, i.e., at least 148 of the 294 seats
  • B. Winning the largest number of seats among all parties, regardless of whether that number exceeds half of the House
  • C. Winning more than half of the total votes polled across the State
  • D. Winning every single seat in which the party fielded a candidate

Q8. The conduct of the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election was the constitutional responsibility of which body?

  • A. The Election Commission of India
  • B. The State Election Commission of West Bengal
  • C. The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal, acting independently of the Election Commission
  • D. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India

Q9. Consider the following statements about the repolling ordered during the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election cycle: 1. The Election Commission ordered a full repoll in the Falta constituency. 2. Booth-level repolling was also ordered in parts of Diamond Harbour. 3. The Commission's power to order a fresh poll where a poll has been vitiated flows from Article 324 read with the Representation of the People Act, 1951. 4. The repoll at Falta was ordered by the State Election Commission of West Bengal. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Election Commission ordered a full repoll in the Falta constituency.
  2. Booth-level repolling was also ordered in parts of Diamond Harbour.
  3. The Commission's power to order a fresh poll where a poll has been vitiated flows from Article 324 read with the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
  4. The repoll at Falta was ordered by the State Election Commission of West Bengal.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 and 2
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2 and 4

Q10. The Chief Electoral Officer of a State — whose report preceded the suspension of the five police officials — is designated in which of the following ways?

  • A. Nominated/designated by the Election Commission in consultation with the State Government, under Section 13A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950
  • B. Appointed directly by the State Government without reference to the Election Commission
  • C. Appointed by the Governor of the State under Article 324
  • D. Elected by the members of the State Legislative Assembly

Q11. Consider the following statements about the Election Commission's observer system: 1. General Observers are ordinarily drawn from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). 2. Expenditure Observers are ordinarily drawn from the central revenue services (e.g., the Indian Revenue Service). 3. Police Observers are ordinarily drawn from the Indian Police Service (IPS). 4. Election observers are appointed by the respective State Governments. Which of the statements given above is/are correctly identified?

  1. General Observers are ordinarily drawn from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
  2. Expenditure Observers are ordinarily drawn from the central revenue services (e.g., the Indian Revenue Service).
  3. Police Observers are ordinarily drawn from the Indian Police Service (IPS).
  4. Election observers are appointed by the respective State Governments.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q12. Unlike the Election Commission of India, which exercises superintendence over the entire electoral machinery including deputed police, the United States Federal Election Commission's principal mandate is confined chiefly to which single function?

  • A. Administering and enforcing federal campaign-finance law
  • B. Deploying federal police to secure polling stations across the country
  • C. Preparing and maintaining a single unified national electoral roll
  • D. Conducting and supervising the counting of votes in every State