UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — At sixes and sevens, the ECI’s growing credibility crisis

Q1. With reference to the selection of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners under the interim arrangement laid down in Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India (2023) and under the law enacted by Parliament later in 2023, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Both arrangements placed the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha on the selection panel.
  2. Under the 2023 law, members drawn from the Union executive form a majority of the selection panel.
  3. The interim arrangement in Anoop Baranwal was to remain in force irrespective of any subsequent law made by Parliament on the subject.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 only

Q2. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Election Commissioners other than the Chief Election Commissioner enjoy the same constitutional protection against removal from office as the Chief Election Commissioner.
  2. Under Article 324(5), an Election Commissioner cannot be removed from office except on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q3. Consider the following hypothetical measures relating to registration of voters for Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assembly elections: Which of the measures given above would be inconsistent with the Constitution of India?

  1. Maintaining, in each constituency, a separate electoral roll for members of a particular religious community.
  2. A law made by the appropriate Legislature disqualifying a person of unsound mind from being registered as a voter.
  3. A law made by the appropriate Legislature disqualifying from registration a person who is not resident in the constituency.
  4. A law barring persons of a particular caste from being registered in the general roll of a constituency.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Q4. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. The result of an election to a State Legislative Assembly can be called in question only by an election petition presented in the manner provided by law.
  2. The Constitution vests the superintendence, direction and control of the conduct of elections to State Legislatures in the Election Commission.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q5. With reference to Article 326 of the Constitution of India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Article 326 itself specifies the grounds on which a person may be disqualified by law from being registered as a voter.
  2. Article 326 governs elections to the Rajya Sabha and State Legislative Councils as well as to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. Both 1 and 2
  • D. Neither 1 nor 2

Q6. Consider the following facts: Rules framed under an Act of Parliament govern which election papers are open to public inspection; in December 2024, after a High Court directed disclosure of election documents, these rules were amended so that video footage of polling is no longer open to public inspection under them. Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above?

  1. Public access to such election records rests on subordinate legislation and can be altered without amending the Constitution.
  2. The amendment takes away the power of the court hearing an election petition to examine such records.
  3. The Election Commission's superintendence under Article 324 now extends only to matters expressly listed in these rules.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only