UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — EC issues directive on political ads in newspapers

Q1. The Election Commission's power to issue directives such as pre-certification of political advertisements through the MCMC is an operationalisation of its plenary mandate under which one of the following provisions of the Constitution?

  • A. Article 243K
  • B. Article 324
  • C. Article 329
  • D. Article 326

Q2. Under the ECI directive for the 2026 Assembly elections, an application for pre-certification of a political advertisement in a newspaper must be submitted to the MCMC not later than how many days prior to the proposed date of publication?

  • A. 1 day
  • B. 2 days
  • C. 3 days
  • D. 7 days

Q3. Which one of the following is the principal statutory provision that prohibits displaying election matter by television or similar apparatus during the 48 hours before the conclusion of poll?

  • A. Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951
  • B. Section 125 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951
  • C. Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951
  • D. Section 127A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951

Q4. Under the Election Commission's April 2026 directive, pre-certification by the MCMC of a political advertisement in a newspaper is mandatory on which of the following?

  • A. Only on polling day
  • B. Only on the day immediately before polling
  • C. On polling day and the day immediately preceding it
  • D. On every day from the announcement of the schedule until counting of votes

Q5. The ECI's April 2026 pre-certification directive was issued ahead of the General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of five States/UTs. Which of the following are correctly identified as among those States/UTs going to Assembly polls in 2026?

  1. Assam
  2. Puducherry
  3. Karnataka
  4. West Bengal
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q6. The schedule for the 2026 General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal was announced by which one of the following authorities?

  • A. The Election Commission of India
  • B. The respective State Election Commissions
  • C. The Ministry of Home Affairs
  • D. The Ministry of Law and Justice

Q7. In which year did the Election Commission of India issue the notification directing the constitution of District-level and State-level Media Certification and Monitoring Committees (MCMC)?

  • A. 2010
  • B. 2012
  • C. 2014
  • D. 2004

Q8. Under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, the Search Committee that shortlists candidates for the posts of CEC and Election Commissioners is headed by which one of the following?

  • A. The Union Minister of Law and Justice
  • B. The Cabinet Secretary
  • C. The Prime Minister
  • D. The Chief Justice of India