UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Don’t stand in the way of students: Rahul to govt.

Q1. With reference to the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Search Committee prepares a panel of names, but the recommendation on which the President acts is made by the Selection Committee.
  2. The Selection Committee must confine its recommendation to the names included in the panel prepared by the Search Committee.
  3. A CEC who completes a term may be reappointed for a second term on a fresh recommendation of the Selection Committee.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. With reference to the security of tenure of members of the Election Commission of India under Article 324, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. An Election Commissioner, like the Chief Election Commissioner, can be removed only in the manner and on the grounds applicable to a judge of the Supreme Court.
  2. An Election Commissioner cannot be removed from office except on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
  3. The recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner is constitutionally required for the removal of a Regional Commissioner as well.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q3. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. The Chief Election Commissioner enjoys greater security of tenure than the other Election Commissioners.
  2. The Chief Election Commissioner is appointed on the recommendation of a Selection Committee, whereas the other Election Commissioners are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
  • 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

Q4. A constitutional provision makes an appointment 'subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament'. Parliament has not legislated, and the Supreme Court prescribes an interim selection mechanism that is expressly meant to operate until Parliament makes such a law. Parliament later enacts a law with a different mechanism. Applying these principles, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Once Parliament enacts the law, the Court-prescribed interim mechanism ceases to operate by its own terms.
  2. Parliament's law must retain the composition prescribed by the Court, because the Court's interim directions bind Parliament's legislative choices on the subject.
  3. The enactment of the law does not prevent the Supreme Court from examining whether the new law is itself constitutionally valid.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1 only

Q5. With reference to the right to assemble under Article 19(1)(b) of the Constitution of India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The right is guaranteed only to citizens of India.
  2. The State can curtail the right only through reasonable restrictions imposed by law, not merely by executive action that lacks a legal basis.
  3. An assembly that is peaceful but whose participants carry arms falls within the protection of the right.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q6. Which one of the following offices rests on a statutory rather than a constitutional basis?

  • A. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha
  • B. Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha
  • C. Comptroller and Auditor-General of India
  • D. Attorney-General for India

Q7. Compare the interim selection panel prescribed by the Supreme Court in Anoop Baranwal (2023) with the Selection Committee under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, and consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha (or the leader of the largest opposition party) is a member under both arrangements.
  2. Under the 2023 Act, members drawn from the Union executive form a majority of the Selection Committee.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. Both 1 and 2
  • D. Neither 1 nor 2