UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Onus on SC to protect faith in democracy

Q1. Under Article 324(1), the superintendence, direction and control vested in the Election Commission of India extends to the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, elections to how many of the following categories — (i) Parliament, (ii) the Legislature of every State, (iii) the office of the President, (iv) the office of the Vice-President?

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

Q2. At the Union level, the nodal ministry that deals with electoral laws and matters relating to the Election Commission of India is:

  • A. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Law and Justice (Legislative Department)
  • C. Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

Q3. Mohinder Singh Gill v. Chief Election Commissioner (1978), the leading authority on the plenary character of Article 324, was decided by a Constitution Bench comprising how many judges?

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

Q4. With reference to Mohinder Singh Gill v. Chief Election Commissioner (1978), consider the following statements: 1. Article 324 was described as a plenary reservoir of power that the ECI may draw upon where enacted law is silent. 2. The Commission must observe the rules of natural justice while exercising such power. 3. The dispute arose from an order for a repoll made during the 1977 general election. 4. The Court held that decisions taken by the ECI under Article 324 are wholly immune from judicial review. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Article 324 was described as a plenary reservoir of power that the ECI may draw upon where enacted law is silent.
  2. The Commission must observe the rules of natural justice while exercising such power.
  3. The dispute arose from an order for a repoll made during the 1977 general election.
  4. The Court held that decisions taken by the ECI under Article 324 are wholly immune from judicial review.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q5. With reference to the position before and the mechanism laid down in Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India (2023), consider the following statements: 1. Before the judgment, the CEC and ECs were appointed by the President on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers. 2. The Court's interim mechanism required a committee of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India. 3. The judgment made the earlier executive-only appointment process permanent and constitutionally unalterable. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Before the judgment, the CEC and ECs were appointed by the President on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers.
  2. The Court's interim mechanism required a committee of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India.
  3. The judgment made the earlier executive-only appointment process permanent and constitutionally unalterable.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. Consider the following functionaries: 1. The Prime Minister 2. The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha 3. The Chief Justice of India 4. A Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister As per the interim Selection Committee mandated by the Supreme Court in Anoop Baranwal (2023) for appointing the CEC and ECs, which of the above is/are correctly identified as members?

  1. The Prime Minister
  2. The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha
  3. The Chief Justice of India
  4. A Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 2, 3 and 4

Q7. With reference to the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023 and the position it replaced, consider the following statements: 1. It substituted the Chief Justice of India in the selection committee with a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister. 2. It repealed the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991. 3. Under it, a Search Committee headed by the Leader of the Opposition prepares a panel of names for the Selection Committee. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It substituted the Chief Justice of India in the selection committee with a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.
  2. It repealed the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991.
  3. Under it, a Search Committee headed by the Leader of the Opposition prepares a panel of names for the Selection Committee.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. Under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, the Search Committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary prepares a panel of how many names for consideration by the Selection Committee?

  • A. Three
  • B. Five
  • C. Six
  • D. Ten

Q9. When the Supreme Court holds that 'free and fair elections' form part of the basic structure of the Constitution, what does this precisely imply?

  • A. A constitutional amendment that damages or destroys this feature can be declared void by the courts
  • B. No ordinary law can ever regulate the conduct of elections in any manner
  • C. Elections must always be held every year without exception
  • D. Decisions of the Election Commission can never be examined by any court

Q10. Under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the house-to-house field verification of electors is carried out on the ground primarily by:

  • A. Booth Level Agents (BLAs)
  • B. Booth Level Officers (BLOs)
  • C. Presiding Officers
  • D. Assistant Returning Officers

Q11. An Election Commissioner (other than the Chief Election Commissioner) can be removed from office only on the recommendation of which authority?

  • A. The President acting on the advice of the Council of Ministers
  • B. The Chief Election Commissioner
  • C. Parliament, by a resolution passed by a special majority
  • D. The Supreme Court, in exercise of its writ jurisdiction

Q12. The rule that an election to Parliament or a State Legislature can be called in question only by an election petition, and not by ordinary court proceedings while the election is in progress, flows from which provision of the Constitution?

  • A. Article 324(1)
  • B. Article 329(b)
  • C. Article 226
  • D. Article 32