UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Opposition MPs’ demand for meeting at Parliament Annexe ‘unusual’, says ECI

Q1. With reference to the procedure for appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners under the 2023 Act, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Selection Committee may recommend a person whose name does not figure in the panel prepared by the Search Committee.
  2. Only persons who are serving or retired judges of a High Court or the Supreme Court are eligible for appointment.
  3. A recommendation of the Selection Committee does not become invalid merely because there is a vacancy in the Committee.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q2. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Parliament could replace the Chief Justice of India with a Union Cabinet Minister on the panel recommending appointments to the Election Commission without amending the Constitution.
  2. Article 324(2) makes the President's appointment of the CEC and other ECs subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament, and the Supreme Court's Anoop Baranwal arrangement was to operate only until Parliament made such a law.
  • 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

Q3. With reference to Article 324 of the Constitution of India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The Election Commission's superintendence extends to elections to the offices of the President and the Vice-President.
  2. The President or the Governor of a State must, when requested by the Election Commission, make available to it the staff necessary for its functions.
  3. The Constitution fixes the strength of the Election Commission at a Chief Election Commissioner and two other Election Commissioners.
  4. When other Election Commissioners are appointed, the Chief Election Commissioner acts as the Chairman of the Election Commission.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q4. With reference to the constitutional safeguards for members of the Election Commission of India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office only in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court.
  2. An Election Commissioner other than the Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office only on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
  3. The conditions of service of the Chief Election Commissioner cannot be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q5. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Under the Constitution, the Chief Election Commissioner enjoys stronger protection against removal from office than the other Election Commissioners.
  2. Under the 2023 Act, the bar on re-appointment applies only to the Chief Election Commissioner and not to the other Election Commissioners.
  • 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

Q6. Consider the following statements comparing the appointment arrangement laid down in Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India (2023) with the one prescribed by the 2023 Act for the Election Commission: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The 2023 Act retained a judicial member on the panel but replaced the Chief Justice of India with a Supreme Court judge nominated by him.
  2. Under both arrangements, the President makes the appointment on the recommendation of a committee.
  3. The Supreme Court held that the presence of the Chief Justice of India on the panel is constitutionally mandatory, irrespective of any law that Parliament may make.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 2 only