UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — ECI transfer controversy, top court’s clarifications

Q1. Under Article 324 of the Constitution, the superintendence, direction and control of how many distinct categories of elections are vested in the Election Commission of India?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five

Q2. With reference to the scope of the Election Commission's powers under Article 324, consider the following statements: 1. The Commission's power is plenary in fields not occupied by law, but where Parliament or a State Legislature has enacted a valid law relating to elections, the Commission must act in conformity with it. 2. Article 324 vests in the Commission the conduct of elections to Parliament and the State Legislatures as well as to the offices of the President and Vice-President. 3. Article 324 also vests in the Commission the conduct of elections to municipalities and panchayats. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Commission's power is plenary in fields not occupied by law, but where Parliament or a State Legislature has enacted a valid law relating to elections, the Commission must act in conformity with it.
  2. Article 324 vests in the Commission the conduct of elections to Parliament and the State Legislatures as well as to the offices of the President and Vice-President.
  3. Article 324 also vests in the Commission the conduct of elections to municipalities and panchayats.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. With reference to the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners, consider the following statements: 1. Under the 2023 Act, the Selection Committee comprises the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister. 2. The interim formula laid down by the Supreme Court in 2023 had included the Chief Justice of India in the appointment committee. 3. The 2023 Act repealed the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Under the 2023 Act, the Selection Committee comprises the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.
  2. The interim formula laid down by the Supreme Court in 2023 had included the Chief Justice of India in the appointment committee.
  3. The 2023 Act repealed the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Under the Constitution, the Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office only in the same manner as which one of the following?

  • A. A Judge of a High Court
  • B. A Judge of the Supreme Court
  • C. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India
  • D. The Attorney General of India

Q5. With reference to the Election Commission's action against senior West Bengal officials immediately after the announcement of the 2026 Assembly poll schedule, consider the following identifications: 1. Nandini Chakravorty — Chief Secretary removed by the ECI. 2. Dushyant Nariala — appointed as the new Chief Secretary of West Bengal. 3. Jagdish Prasad Meena — Home Secretary removed by the ECI. 4. Rajeev Kumar — Director General of Police removed by the ECI ahead of the 2026 polls. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified?

  1. Nandini Chakravorty — Chief Secretary removed by the ECI.
  2. Dushyant Nariala — appointed as the new Chief Secretary of West Bengal.
  3. Jagdish Prasad Meena — Home Secretary removed by the ECI.
  4. Rajeev Kumar — Director General of Police removed by the ECI ahead of the 2026 polls.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 4 only

Q6. The Election Commission's removal of West Bengal's Chief Secretary within hours of announcing the 2026 Assembly election schedule was an exercise of its powers under which provision of the Constitution?

  • A. Article 324
  • B. Article 356
  • C. Article 355
  • D. Article 320

Q7. The Supreme Court Bench that in 2026 upheld the Election Commission's authority under Article 324 to carry out the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls was led by which one of the following?

  • A. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant
  • B. Justice Joymalya Bagchi
  • C. Justice Vipul Pancholi
  • D. Justice Sanjiv Khanna

Q8. In the context of the 2026 electoral disputes before the Supreme Court, the 'Special Intensive Revision (SIR)' of electoral rolls refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A house-to-house re-verification of the electoral roll to enrol all eligible citizens and remove ineligible, duplicate, deceased or shifted electors
  • B. A revision of the boundaries of constituencies undertaken before each general election
  • C. A summary revision confined to adding only newly-eligible voters who have turned 18 on the qualifying date
  • D. The transfer of returning officers before the poll to ensure impartial conduct of the election

Q9. With reference to the Election Commission's policy on the transfer and posting of officials in poll-bound States, consider the following statements: 1. Officers directly connected with the conduct of elections are not to be posted in their home districts. 2. Officers who have completed three of the past four years in the same district are to be transferred out. 3. The transfer restrictions extend to police officers such as SPs, SSPs and range IGs responsible for poll security. 4. The Model Code of Conduct is a statutory code enacted under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and is by itself legally enforceable. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Officers directly connected with the conduct of elections are not to be posted in their home districts.
  2. Officers who have completed three of the past four years in the same district are to be transferred out.
  3. The transfer restrictions extend to police officers such as SPs, SSPs and range IGs responsible for poll security.
  4. The Model Code of Conduct is a statutory code enacted under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and is by itself legally enforceable.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 4 only

Q10. With reference to the States and Union Territory going to polls in 2026, consider the following statements: 1. West Bengal is the only participating State whose election is held in two phases. 2. Assam and Kerala vote in the first phase alongside West Bengal on 23 April 2026. 3. Puducherry is the only Union Territory among the jurisdictions going to polls in 2026. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. West Bengal is the only participating State whose election is held in two phases.
  2. Assam and Kerala vote in the first phase alongside West Bengal on 23 April 2026.
  3. Puducherry is the only Union Territory among the jurisdictions going to polls in 2026.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. In terms of its constitutional character, the Election Commission of India is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A constitutional body created directly by Article 324 of the Constitution
  • B. A statutory body constituted under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023
  • C. An attached office functioning under the Ministry of Law and Justice
  • D. A body set up by a Presidential order in 1989

Q12. Following the Supreme Court's 2023 verdict in Anoop Baranwal, the law now governing the appointment of the CEC and Election Commissioners was piloted by, and is administered by, which department of the Government of India?

  • A. The Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice
  • B. The Ministry of Home Affairs
  • C. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
  • D. The Department of Personnel and Training