UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — BJD seeks disqualification of MLAs who cross-voted in Rajya Sabha poll

Q1. Judicial review of a presiding officer's decision on disqualification under the Tenth Schedule became permissible following which one of the following?

  • A. Kihoto Hollohan v. Zachillhu (1992)
  • B. S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994)
  • C. Kuldip Nayar v. Union of India (2006)
  • D. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973)

Q2. In which year was the Tenth Schedule inserted into the Constitution, making the presiding officer the primary adjudicating authority on questions of defection?

  • A. 1985
  • B. 1988
  • C. 1992
  • D. 2003

Q3. Representatives of the States in the Rajya Sabha are elected by which one of the following methods?

  • A. Proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote
  • B. Proportional representation by the party-list system
  • C. First-past-the-post by the elected members of the Assembly
  • D. Direct election by universal adult franchise

Q4. The petitions seeking disqualification of the Odisha MLAs accused of cross-voting in the March 2026 Rajya Sabha poll were adjudicated by which authority?

  • A. The Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly
  • B. The Governor of Odisha
  • C. The Election Commission of India
  • D. The Odisha High Court

Q5. The task of conducting and superintending elections to fill Rajya Sabha seats is entrusted to which one of the following?

  • A. The Election Commission of India
  • B. The Rajya Sabha Secretariat
  • C. The State Election Commission
  • D. The presiding officer of the concerned State Legislative Assembly

Q6. The question whether a member has 'voluntarily given up the membership' of his political party under the Tenth Schedule is decided exclusively by which authority?

  • A. The presiding officer of the House concerned
  • B. The Election Commission of India
  • C. The President or Governor acting on the Election Commission's advice
  • D. The Supreme Court in the first instance

Q7. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) was founded in which year and by whom?

  • A. 1997, by Naveen Patnaik
  • B. 2000, by Naveen Patnaik
  • C. 1997, by Biju Patnaik
  • D. 1999, by Naveen Patnaik