UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Election petitions must be decided on basis of material on record: SC

Q1. Under which section of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 does an appeal lie to the Supreme Court from an order of the High Court passed in an election petition?

  • A. Section 116A
  • B. Section 100
  • C. Section 80A
  • D. Section 98

Q2. The provision that no election to either House of Parliament shall be called in question except by an election petition presented to the authority prescribed by law is contained in which one of the following?

  • A. Article 329(b)
  • B. Article 324
  • C. Article 243-O
  • D. Article 226

Q3. An election petition questioning the election of a member of a State Legislative Assembly is required to be presented to which one of the following forums?

  • A. The High Court of the State concerned
  • B. The State Election Commission
  • C. The Election Commission of India
  • D. A special election tribunal constituted by the Election Commission of India

Q4. In the Supreme Court's April 2026 ruling, the direction that an election petition must be 'decided on the material on record' most precisely means that the court is required to:

  • A. adjudicate on the evidence and pleadings already presented before the tribunal, without directing the collection of fresh evidence not earlier raised
  • B. decide the dispute solely on the basis of the official record maintained by the returning officer
  • C. confine its findings to documents authenticated by the State Election Commission
  • D. defer its decision until the record of a court-ordered fresh recount is placed before it

Q5. Where there is an equality of votes between candidates and the addition of one vote would entitle one of them to be declared elected, who is empowered under the Representation of the People Act, 1951 to decide the matter by lot?

  • A. The Returning Officer
  • B. The Chief Electoral Officer of the State
  • C. The Election Commission of India
  • D. The District Magistrate

Q6. The trial of an election petition under the Representation of the People Act, 1951 relating to a Lok Sabha seat is conducted by which one of the following?

  • A. A single judge of the High Court designated by the Chief Justice
  • B. A Division Bench of the High Court
  • C. The full court of the High Court
  • D. A special election tribunal separate from the High Court

Q7. Under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, the body vested with the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to the Panchayats is:

  • A. The State Election Commission constituted under Article 243K
  • B. The Election Commission of India under Article 324
  • C. The State Legislature acting under Article 243-O
  • D. The District Election Officer appointed by the State Government