UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — ‘Opposition failed to provide proof of charges against CEC’
Q1. A motion for the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner, if admitted, must be adopted by each House of Parliament by a majority of its total membership and, in addition, by a majority of not less than what fraction of the members present and voting?
- A. One-half
- B. Three-fifths
- C. Two-thirds
- D. Three-fourths
Q2. Under Article 324(5), the Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office only in like manner and on like grounds as which one of the following functionaries?
- A. The President of India
- B. A Judge of the Supreme Court
- C. A Judge of a High Court
- D. The Attorney-General for India
Q3. The notice seeking a motion for the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, filed in March 2026, was signed by how many members of the Rajya Sabha?
Q4. With reference to the 2026 proceedings for the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, consider the following statements:
1. The removal notices were rejected by the Rajya Sabha Chairman and the Lok Sabha Speaker in April 2026 for failing to establish proof of misbehaviour.
2. It was the first-ever attempt to initiate the removal of a serving Chief Election Commissioner in India.
3. The notices had been filed by the Opposition members in December 2025.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The removal notices were rejected by the Rajya Sabha Chairman and the Lok Sabha Speaker in April 2026 for failing to establish proof of misbehaviour.
- It was the first-ever attempt to initiate the removal of a serving Chief Election Commissioner in India.
- The notices had been filed by the Opposition members in December 2025.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q5. Under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 — the procedure borrowed for the CEC's removal — who constitutes the three-member committee to investigate the charges once a removal motion is admitted?
- A. The President of India
- B. The Chief Justice of India
- C. The Speaker or the Chairman of the House in which the motion is admitted
- D. The Union Minister of Law and Justice
Q6. The statutory machinery for investigating charges of 'misbehaviour or incapacity' against a Supreme Court judge — and, by extension, the Chief Election Commissioner — is laid down under which one of the following?
- A. The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971
- B. The Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968
- C. The Judges (Protection) Act, 1985
- D. The Judicial Standards and Accountability Act, 1969
Q7. Under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, the CEC and ECs hold office for a maximum term of how many years, or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier?
- A. 5 years
- B. 6 years
- C. 4 years
- D. 3 years
Q8. Under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, the body headed by the Cabinet Secretary that prepares a panel of five names for consideration is designated as the:
- A. Selection Committee
- B. Search Committee
- C. Search-cum-Selection Committee
- D. Appointments Collegium
Q9. In the context of the removal of the CEC and a Supreme Court judge, the expression 'proved misbehaviour or incapacity' is best understood as:
- A. The only constitutionally permitted grounds on which removal can be initiated, which must be established through the prescribed parliamentary process
- B. Any conduct considered improper by the party in power at the time
- C. Automatic vacation of office that follows a conviction by any court of law
- D. Grounds to be determined at the sole discretion of the President
Q10. Consider the following functionaries and the manner of their removal:
1. Comptroller and Auditor-General of India — removable in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Supreme Court judge.
2. Chief Election Commissioner — removable in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Supreme Court judge.
3. Governor of a State — removable in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Supreme Court judge.
4. An Election Commissioner (other than the CEC) — removable in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Supreme Court judge.
Which of the pairs given above is/are NOT correctly matched?
- Comptroller and Auditor-General of India — removable in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Supreme Court judge.
- Chief Election Commissioner — removable in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Supreme Court judge.
- Governor of a State — removable in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Supreme Court judge.
- An Election Commissioner (other than the CEC) — removable in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Supreme Court judge.
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 3 and 4
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 3 only
Q11. Under Article 324 of the Constitution, the number of Election Commissioners (other than the Chief Election Commissioner) in the Election Commission of India is:
- A. Fixed at two by the Constitution itself
- B. Such number as the President may from time to time fix
- C. Determined by the Chief Election Commissioner
- D. Fixed by Parliament by law
Q12. Following the procedure applicable to the removal of a judge (and thereby to the CEC), a notice of motion for removal introduced in the Lok Sabha must bear the signatures of not less than how many members?