UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — The ECI’s constitutional mandate is under strain

Q1. With reference to the Election Commission of India under Article 324 of the Constitution, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Commission's superintendence, direction and control extend to elections to the offices of President and Vice-President, besides elections to Parliament and State Legislatures.
  2. Article 324 itself fixes the Commission as a body of one Chief Election Commissioner and two other Election Commissioners.
  3. Once any other Election Commissioner is appointed, the Chief Election Commissioner acts as the Chairman of the Commission.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. The Election Commission of India has no large permanent field cadre of its own to conduct polls across the country. Which one of the following constitutional arrangements addresses this?

  • A. The Commission may requisition State government officers only after obtaining the prior approval of the Union Home Ministry.
  • B. Each State government conducts polls in its territory on its own and merely reports the final results to the Commission.
  • C. The President or a State Governor must, when the Commission so requests, make available the staff needed for its functions.
  • D. Parliament must constitute an all-India election service from which the Commission draws its officers for every poll.

Q3. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. The Chief Election Commissioner cannot be removed from office merely by an order of the President made on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers.
  2. The Constitution provides that the Chief Election Commissioner shall not be removed from office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court.
  • 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

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

  1. Under the Constitution, an Election Commissioner other than the Chief Election Commissioner enjoys the same protection against removal from office as the Chief Election Commissioner.
  2. The Constitution provides that an Election Commissioner other than the Chief Election Commissioner shall not 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

Q5. Consider the selection committee prescribed by the Supreme Court in Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India (2023) and the Selection Committee under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, and the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Chief Justice of India is a member of the committee under both arrangements.
  2. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha is a member of the committee under both arrangements.
  3. Under the 2023 Act, members of the Union executive form a majority of the Selection Committee.
  • A. 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q6. With reference to the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The Selection Committee is not confined to the panel prepared by the Search Committee and may consider other persons.
  2. The President makes the appointment on the recommendation of the Selection Committee.
  3. An appointment is necessarily invalidated if any seat on the Selection Committee was vacant when it made its recommendation.
  4. If no Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha is recognised, the leader of the single largest opposition party in that House takes the seat on the Selection Committee.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. With reference to the constitutional framework for electoral rolls in India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. There is one general electoral roll for every territorial constituency, which rules out separate rolls for religious or caste communities within it.
  2. Superintendence over the preparation of electoral rolls, and not merely over the conduct of polls, is vested in the Election Commission.
  3. The minimum voting age of eighteen years has been part of Article 326 since the Constitution came into force.
  • A. 3 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q8. Consider the following constitutional provisions: (I) There shall be one general electoral roll for every territorial constituency, and no person shall be ineligible for inclusion in it on grounds only of religion, race, caste or sex. (II) Every citizen not less than eighteen years of age, who is not disqualified under the Constitution or any law on grounds of non-residence, unsoundness of mind, crime or corrupt or illegal practice, is entitled to be registered as a voter. (III) Superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls is vested in the Election Commission. Which of the following inferences can validly be drawn from the above?

  1. A revision exercise that removes the name of an eligible adult citizen without any ground recognised by law would run contrary to the constitutional scheme of adult suffrage.
  2. Since exclusion on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex is barred, no other ground for excluding a person from the roll can be prescribed by law.
  3. Every revision of the electoral roll must, as a constitutional requirement, begin with a fresh house-to-house enumeration of all electors.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3