UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — EC deploys more observers in Bengal; CM tells counting agents to remain vigilant

Q1. In the context of the conduct of the 2026 Legislative Assembly elections, what does the term 'ECINET' refer to?

  • A. A unified single-point digital platform of the Election Commission of India that consolidates over 40 existing IT applications used by election stakeholders
  • B. An encrypted inter-state network for real-time transmission of EVM control unit data to the ECI headquarters
  • C. A public-facing portal maintained exclusively for downloading and objecting to draft electoral rolls
  • D. A secure intra-government tracker maintained by the CBDT for monitoring election expenditure of candidates

Q2. Which one of the following is the supreme constitutional authority empowered to 'superintend, direct and control' the conduct of elections to Parliament and the State Legislatures, under which the deployment of Counting Observers and Police Observers in West Bengal (2026) was ordered?

  • A. The President of India acting through the Ministry of Law and Justice
  • B. The Election Commission of India
  • C. The Chief Electoral Officer of the State concerned
  • D. The Returning Officer of the constituency concerned

Q3. With reference to the Election Commission of India's arrangements for the counting of votes in the 2026 Legislative Assembly elections as compared to its earlier practice, consider the following statements: 1. The QR-code based Photo Identity Card system for entry into counting centres was first applied to the counting held on 4 May 2026 and is to be extended to all future general and bye-elections. 2. Following amendments to the Representation of the People Act, 1951 in 1996, the appointment of Observers became a statutory appointment under the Act, whereas earlier it was made under the plenary powers of the Commission. 3. In West Bengal in 2026, Additional Counting Observers were appointed only for those Assembly Constituencies which had a single Counting Hall. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The QR-code based Photo Identity Card system for entry into counting centres was first applied to the counting held on 4 May 2026 and is to be extended to all future general and bye-elections.
  2. Following amendments to the Representation of the People Act, 1951 in 1996, the appointment of Observers became a statutory appointment under the Act, whereas earlier it was made under the plenary powers of the Commission.
  3. In West Bengal in 2026, Additional Counting Observers were appointed only for those Assembly Constituencies which had a single Counting Hall.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the statutory authority empowered to nominate officers of Government as Observers (including those overseeing counting and law-and-order around counting centres) for an election is:

  • A. The Election Commission of India
  • B. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
  • C. The Department of Legal Affairs in the Ministry of Law and Justice
  • D. The Chief Electoral Officer of the State concerned
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