UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — West Bengal tribunals dispose of 657 cases, 139 allowed to vote

Q1. In the context of electoral roll management in India, the term 'Special Intensive Revision (SIR)' most accurately refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A house-to-house enumeration in which the electoral roll is prepared afresh rather than being merely updated on the existing roll
  • B. An annual updation of the roll confined only to additions, deletions and corrections without any field verification
  • C. A revision undertaken exclusively to shift voters between polling stations after every delimitation
  • D. A one-time verification restricted solely to newly enrolled voters aged 18-19 years

Q2. During a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, the door-to-door field enumeration of households is primarily carried out by which one of the following functionaries?

  • A. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) of the Election Commission's machinery
  • B. Patwaris / village accountants of the State revenue department
  • C. Officers of the Registrar General of India (Census organisation)
  • D. Assistant Returning Officers deputed by the State Election Commission

Q3. With reference to the Supreme Court's directions in 2026 on West Bengal's SIR appellate tribunals, consider the following statements: 1. Voters whose exclusion appeals were allowed by the tribunals were permitted to vote even though the electoral rolls had been frozen after scrutiny of candidates. 2. Voters whose appeals were still pending before the tribunals were also, per the Court's directions, allowed to cast their votes in the concerned phase. 3. The Supreme Court directed the tribunals to give out-of-turn (priority) hearing to deleted voters. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Voters whose exclusion appeals were allowed by the tribunals were permitted to vote even though the electoral rolls had been frozen after scrutiny of candidates.
  2. Voters whose appeals were still pending before the tribunals were also, per the Court's directions, allowed to cast their votes in the concerned phase.
  3. The Supreme Court directed the tribunals to give out-of-turn (priority) hearing to deleted voters.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Each of the 19 Appellate Tribunals constituted for hearing the electoral-roll deletion appeals in West Bengal was headed by a person of which one of the following ranks?

  • A. A retired judge of a High Court
  • B. A sitting judge of the Calcutta High Court
  • C. A retired judge of the Supreme Court
  • D. A serving District and Sessions Judge

Q5. The bodies set up at Joka, Kolkata for the West Bengal SIR disputes were described as 'appellate' tribunals. In this context, their essential function was to:

  • A. Hear appeals against orders excluding (or including) names in the revised electoral roll
  • B. Conduct afresh the entire door-to-door verification of every household in the State
  • C. Try criminal offences of impersonation and booth-capturing committed during polling
  • D. Decide election petitions challenging the result of a returned candidate

Q6. The 19 Appellate Tribunals that adjudicated the West Bengal electoral-roll deletion appeals were constituted pursuant to the directions of which one of the following authorities?

  • A. The Supreme Court of India
  • B. The Calcutta High Court
  • C. The Governor of West Bengal on the aid and advice of the State Cabinet
  • D. The Election Commission of India acting solely under Article 324

Q7. With reference to Article 324 of the Constitution, consider the following statements: 1. It vests the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for Parliament and State Legislatures in the Election Commission of India. 2. The preparation of electoral rolls for elections to panchayats and municipalities is also vested in the Election Commission of India under Article 324. 3. Article 324 extends to elections to the offices of the President and the Vice-President. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It vests the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for Parliament and State Legislatures in the Election Commission of India.
  2. The preparation of electoral rolls for elections to panchayats and municipalities is also vested in the Election Commission of India under Article 324.
  3. Article 324 extends to elections to the offices of the President and the Vice-President.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. The Supreme Court has interpreted Article 324(1) as conferring on the Election Commission a 'reservoir of power'. This principle most accurately means that the Commission:

  • A. May act to fill a vacuum and issue suitable directions where enacted law is silent on a matter connected with the conduct of elections
  • B. May override any provision of a law made by Parliament whenever it considers such law inconvenient
  • C. May enact substantive election law independently of Parliament
  • D. Enjoys the power to itself adjudicate and finally decide all election petitions

Q9. Under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, the electoral roll for each Assembly constituency is prepared and revised by which one of the following officers?

  • A. The Electoral Registration Officer (ERO)
  • B. The Chief Electoral Officer of the State
  • C. The Returning Officer of the constituency
  • D. The District Election Officer of the district

Q10. With reference to the fallout of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls, consider the following statements: 1. Around 91 lakh names were deleted from the electoral rolls during the revision. 2. Over 34 lakh appeals were filed against the exclusions. 3. In Phase 1, the tribunals disposed of 657 cases, after which 139 additional voters were allowed to vote. 4. The deleted names amounted to nearly 45 per cent of the State's pre-revision electorate. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Around 91 lakh names were deleted from the electoral rolls during the revision.
  2. Over 34 lakh appeals were filed against the exclusions.
  3. In Phase 1, the tribunals disposed of 657 cases, after which 139 additional voters were allowed to vote.
  4. The deleted names amounted to nearly 45 per cent of the State's pre-revision electorate.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q11. Unlike other poll-bound States, Assam undertook a 'Special Revision (SR)' rather than a Special Intensive Revision of its electoral rolls. The distinguishing feature of Assam's exercise was that it:

  • A. Did not tie voter eligibility to the legacy data of a past intensive revision, being conducted for the first time after the State's NRC process
  • B. Was carried out entirely without any house-to-house verification
  • C. Was based solely on the National Population Register with no field visits at all
  • D. Excluded all citizens enrolled after the year 2003 from the rolls

Q12. With reference to the appointment of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of a State, which one of the following statements is correct?

  • A. The CEO is an officer of the State Government nominated/designated by the Election Commission of India in consultation with the State Government
  • B. The CEO is appointed by the Governor of the State on the recommendation of the State Cabinet
  • C. The CEO is elected by the State Legislative Assembly for a fixed tenure
  • D. The CEO is appointed by the President of India by warrant under his hand and seal