UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Over 22 lakh Bengal voters filed appeals against exclusion: EC

Q1. With reference to the procedure followed by the Election Commission of India in a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, consider the following statements: 1. Every elector on the existing roll as on the notified baseline date is supplied a partially pre-filled Enumeration Form, which may be returned either through the Booth Level Officer or online. 2. Booth Level Officers are required to visit each household at least three times for the distribution and collection of Enumeration Forms. 3. An elector aggrieved by an order of the Electoral Registration Officer may appeal to the District Magistrate within fifteen days of that order. 4. Booth Level Officers are appointed by the Chief Electoral Officer from among serving judicial officers posted in the district. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Every elector on the existing roll as on the notified baseline date is supplied a partially pre-filled Enumeration Form, which may be returned either through the Booth Level Officer or online.
  2. Booth Level Officers are required to visit each household at least three times for the distribution and collection of Enumeration Forms.
  3. An elector aggrieved by an order of the Electoral Registration Officer may appeal to the District Magistrate within fifteen days of that order.
  4. Booth Level Officers are appointed by the Chief Electoral Officer from among serving judicial officers posted in the district.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q2. In the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, what does the expression 'qualifying date' denote?

  • A. The last date by which duly filled Enumeration Forms must reach the Booth Level Officer or be uploaded online
  • B. The date with reference to which a person's age must be eighteen years for enrolment as an elector
  • C. The date of the existing electoral roll used as the baseline for issuing pre-filled Enumeration Forms
  • D. The date of publication of the draft roll, from which the period for claims and objections begins

Q3. Consider the following statements comparing the Supreme Court's engagement with the Special Intensive Revision in its May 2026 ruling and in the earlier Bihar round: 1. In May 2026 the Court upheld SIR as constitutionally valid and tied electoral-roll revision to free and fair elections, whereas in the Bihar round it had declined to stay publication of the draft roll. 2. The clarification that the mere pendency of an appeal does not by itself restore an excluded person's right to vote came from the Election Commission's own instructions rather than from the Court. 3. In the Bihar round the Court directed that Aadhaar be accepted as one of the admissible documents, a position the Commission had initially resisted. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. In May 2026 the Court upheld SIR as constitutionally valid and tied electoral-roll revision to free and fair elections, whereas in the Bihar round it had declined to stay publication of the draft roll.
  2. The clarification that the mere pendency of an appeal does not by itself restore an excluded person's right to vote came from the Election Commission's own instructions rather than from the Court.
  3. In the Bihar round the Court directed that Aadhaar be accepted as one of the admissible documents, a position the Commission had initially resisted.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. With reference to the Supreme Court's May 2026 pronouncement on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, consider the following propositions: 1. It held the exercise to be constitutionally valid and essential to the conduct of free and fair elections. 2. It required that the exercise remain fair, inclusive and non-arbitrary, and be backed by adequate appellate mechanisms. 3. It held that an excluded elector's name is restored only when a tribunal's order is given effect through a supplementary revised roll. 4. It laid down that in roll-revision proceedings the burden of establishing citizenship rests on the individual elector rather than on the electoral authorities. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It held the exercise to be constitutionally valid and essential to the conduct of free and fair elections.
  2. It required that the exercise remain fair, inclusive and non-arbitrary, and be backed by adequate appellate mechanisms.
  3. It held that an excluded elector's name is restored only when a tribunal's order is given effect through a supplementary revised roll.
  4. It laid down that in roll-revision proceedings the burden of establishing citizenship rests on the individual elector rather than on the electoral authorities.
  • A. 2 only
  • B. 3 and 4
  • C. 1 and 2
  • D. 4 only

Q5. How many Appellate Tribunals have been constituted in West Bengal to decide appeals arising out of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls?

  • A. 9
  • B. 12
  • C. 19
  • D. 24

Q6. The Appellate Tribunals hearing appeals against voter exclusions in West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision were constituted by which one of the following authorities?

  • A. The Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, exercising powers under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960
  • B. The Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, on a reference made by the Election Commission
  • C. The Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, acting pursuant to directions of the Supreme Court
  • D. The Governor of West Bengal, in consultation with the State Election Commission of West Bengal

Q7. Consider the following statements about the constitutional and statutory basis of electoral rolls in India: 1. Article 324 vests the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for elections to Parliament and to State legislatures in the Election Commission. 2. Article 326 provides that elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assemblies of States shall be on the basis of adult suffrage, the qualifying age being eighteen years. 3. Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 enables the Election Commission to direct a special revision of the electoral roll of a constituency. 4. Article 325 requires a separate electoral roll to be maintained for each religious and caste community, such rolls being prepared by the Electoral Registration Officer. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Article 324 vests the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for elections to Parliament and to State legislatures in the Election Commission.
  2. Article 326 provides that elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assemblies of States shall be on the basis of adult suffrage, the qualifying age being eighteen years.
  3. Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 enables the Election Commission to direct a special revision of the electoral roll of a constituency.
  4. Article 325 requires a separate electoral roll to be maintained for each religious and caste community, such rolls being prepared by the Electoral Registration Officer.
  • A. 1 and 4
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3
  • D. 3 only

Q8. Which one of the following best describes a Booth Level Agent in the electoral roll revision machinery?

  • A. A government servant designated by the Election Commission to decide claims and objections relating to a polling station area
  • B. An official drawn from a local authority and deputed to carry out house-to-house enumeration and collect Enumeration Forms
  • C. An observer deputed by the Chief Electoral Officer to supervise the conduct of enumeration across a district
  • D. A representative appointed by a recognised political party for a polling station area, who may submit and verify claims and objections

Q9. The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls carried out in Bihar in 2025 was directed under the authority of which one of the following?

  • A. The State Election Commission of Bihar, in exercise of its powers under Article 243K of the Constitution
  • B. The Election Commission of India, in exercise of its powers under Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950
  • C. The Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice, acting through the State government of Bihar
  • D. The Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar, in exercise of powers conferred by the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960

Q10. Consider the following statements about the 2025 Special Intensive Revision in Bihar and its relation to the later phases of the exercise: 1. Bihar formed part of Phase-II of the Special Intensive Revision, which covered nine States and three Union Territories with 1 January 2026 as the qualifying date. 2. Of about 7.89 crore electors on the Bihar roll as on 24 June 2025, more than 7.24 crore submitted Enumeration Forms during the enumeration phase. 3. The Commission prescribed a list of eleven documents for establishing eligibility in Bihar, to which Aadhaar came to be added following the Supreme Court's intervention. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Bihar formed part of Phase-II of the Special Intensive Revision, which covered nine States and three Union Territories with 1 January 2026 as the qualifying date.
  2. Of about 7.89 crore electors on the Bihar roll as on 24 June 2025, more than 7.24 crore submitted Enumeration Forms during the enumeration phase.
  3. The Commission prescribed a list of eleven documents for establishing eligibility in Bihar, to which Aadhaar came to be added following the Supreme Court's intervention.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. Under the law of 2023 governing appointments to the Election Commission of India, what is the 'Search Committee'?

  • A. A committee of Parliament that examines the conduct of an Election Commissioner before a motion for removal is moved
  • B. A panel headed by the Chief Justice of India that verifies the antecedents and integrity of persons already shortlisted
  • C. A panel headed by the Cabinet Secretary that prepares a shortlist of five names for the Selection Committee's consideration
  • D. A body within the Election Commission that identifies serving officers for appointment as Chief Electoral Officers of States

Q12. The Election Commission's second affidavit before the Supreme Court set out the following figures relating to the Special Intensive Revision in West Bengal: 1. Appeals filed by voters excluded from the roll — 22,21,118. 2. Electors marked ineligible on the ground of 'logical discrepancies' — about 27 lakh. 3. Electors whose entries were taken up for scrutiny in the exercise — about 6 lakh. 4. Electors confirmed eligible after scrutiny — over 32 lakh. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Appeals filed by voters excluded from the roll — 22,21,118.
  2. Electors marked ineligible on the ground of 'logical discrepancies' — about 27 lakh.
  3. Electors whose entries were taken up for scrutiny in the exercise — about 6 lakh.
  4. Electors confirmed eligible after scrutiny — over 32 lakh.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4