UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — How one seat will test the MVA’s unity
Q1. In the context of the Rajya Sabha, the term 'biennial election' most precisely refers to which one of the following?
- A. The election held once every two years to fill the seats of the roughly one-third of members who retire on completion of their six-year term
- B. The election held twice in every calendar year to replace one-half of the members
- C. The single general election of the entire House conducted once every six years
- D. The by-election held to fill a casual vacancy caused by the resignation or death of a member
Q2. With reference to the composition of the Rajya Sabha, consider the following statements:
1. Of its maximum strength of 250, as many as 238 are representatives of the States and Union Territories while 12 are nominated by the President.
2. Unlike the elected representatives of the States, the twelve nominated members are not chosen through the single transferable vote system.
3. One-third of the total members of the Rajya Sabha retire at the end of every year.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Of its maximum strength of 250, as many as 238 are representatives of the States and Union Territories while 12 are nominated by the President.
- Unlike the elected representatives of the States, the twelve nominated members are not chosen through the single transferable vote system.
- One-third of the total members of the Rajya Sabha retire at the end of every year.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. With reference to the method of voting in a Rajya Sabha election, consider the following statements:
1. Unlike direct elections to the Lok Sabha, voting by MLAs in a Rajya Sabha election is conducted by open ballot.
2. An MLA voting in a Rajya Sabha election must show the marked ballot paper to the authorised agent of his political party.
3. The open ballot system for Rajya Sabha elections was introduced through a constitutional amendment in 1985.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Unlike direct elections to the Lok Sabha, voting by MLAs in a Rajya Sabha election is conducted by open ballot.
- An MLA voting in a Rajya Sabha election must show the marked ballot paper to the authorised agent of his political party.
- The open ballot system for Rajya Sabha elections was introduced through a constitutional amendment in 1985.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q4. In a Rajya Sabha election in which 7 seats are to be filled from a State and 285 valid first-preference votes are cast by the MLAs, the quota — the minimum number of votes a candidate must secure to be declared elected — is closest to which one of the following?
Q5. With reference to the 2026 biennial Rajya Sabha election in Maharashtra, consider the following statements:
1. Seven Rajya Sabha seats from Maharashtra were due to be filled in this cycle.
2. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprises the Shiv Sena (UBT), the Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (NCP-SP).
3. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP is a constituent of the Maha Vikas Aghadi.
4. The ruling Mahayuti was placed to win the bulk of the seats, leaving the MVA realistically contesting only one seat.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- Seven Rajya Sabha seats from Maharashtra were due to be filled in this cycle.
- The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprises the Shiv Sena (UBT), the Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (NCP-SP).
- The Ajit Pawar-led NCP is a constituent of the Maha Vikas Aghadi.
- The ruling Mahayuti was placed to win the bulk of the seats, leaving the MVA realistically contesting only one seat.
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 3 only
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 2 only
Q6. The conduct of the 2026 biennial Rajya Sabha elections in Maharashtra — issuing the notification, fixing the poll schedule and appointing the Returning Officer — was the responsibility of which one of the following?
- A. Election Commission of India
- B. State Election Commission of Maharashtra
- C. Governor of Maharashtra acting on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers
- D. Rajya Sabha Secretariat under the Chairman
Q7. Who became the Chief Minister of Maharashtra when the Maha Vikas Aghadi government was first formed in November 2019?
- A. Uddhav Thackeray
- B. Eknath Shinde
- C. Devendra Fadnavis
- D. Sharad Pawar
Q8. Consider the following events in Maharashtra politics and the years in which they occurred:
1. Formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi — 2019
2. Split in the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde — 2022
3. Split in the Nationalist Congress Party led by Ajit Pawar — 2023
4. The Mahayuti's sweeping victory in the Maharashtra Assembly election — 2021
Which of the above are correctly matched?
- Formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi — 2019
- Split in the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde — 2022
- Split in the Nationalist Congress Party led by Ajit Pawar — 2023
- The Mahayuti's sweeping victory in the Maharashtra Assembly election — 2021
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1, 2 and 4
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q9. The suffix 'SP' in 'NCP-SP', the party of the retiring Rajya Sabha member Sharad Pawar, stands for which one of the following?
- A. Sharadchandra Pawar
- B. Samajwadi Party
- C. Socialist Party
- D. Sarvodaya Party
Q10. With reference to the method by which members of the Rajya Sabha are chosen, consider the following statements:
1. Its members representing the States are elected indirectly by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies.
2. Its members representing the States are elected on the basis of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.
3. Its members representing the States are elected directly by the people through universal adult suffrage.
4. Its nominated members owe their seats to the President rather than to any electorate.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- Its members representing the States are elected indirectly by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies.
- Its members representing the States are elected on the basis of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.
- Its members representing the States are elected directly by the people through universal adult suffrage.
- Its nominated members owe their seats to the President rather than to any electorate.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 3 only
- D. 1 and 4
Q11. With reference to the anti-defection law and party discipline in Rajya Sabha elections, consider the following statements:
1. A political party cannot issue a whip to its MLAs directing them how to vote in a Rajya Sabha election.
2. Voting in a Rajya Sabha election is by open ballot, and an MLA must show the marked ballot to the party's authorised agent.
3. The Tenth Schedule was inserted into the Constitution by the 52nd Amendment in 1985.
4. The anti-defection provisions of the Tenth Schedule apply to how a member votes in a Rajya Sabha election, so cross-voting there automatically attracts disqualification.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- A political party cannot issue a whip to its MLAs directing them how to vote in a Rajya Sabha election.
- Voting in a Rajya Sabha election is by open ballot, and an MLA must show the marked ballot to the party's authorised agent.
- The Tenth Schedule was inserted into the Constitution by the 52nd Amendment in 1985.
- The anti-defection provisions of the Tenth Schedule apply to how a member votes in a Rajya Sabha election, so cross-voting there automatically attracts disqualification.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 2, 3 and 4
- C. 1 and 4 only
- D. 2 and 3 only