UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — The need to preserve the shine of Indian elections

Q1. 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 other than the Chief Election Commissioner can be removed only in like manner and on like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court.
  2. The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed only in like manner and on like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court.
  3. An Election Commissioner other than the Chief Election Commissioner cannot be removed from office except on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. A law that reduces the salary attached to the office of the Chief Election Commissioner cannot be applied to a Chief Election Commissioner already in office.
  2. Parliament has no power to make law on the conditions of service of the Election Commissioners, which are left entirely to rules made by the President.
  • 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

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

  1. The selection arrangement that the Supreme Court laid down in March 2023 for appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners ceased to operate once Parliament enacted a law on the subject.
  2. Article 324(2) makes the President's appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament in that behalf.
  • 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. With reference to the legal and administrative framework within which the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is carried out, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Claims and objections that electors file during the revision are decided by Electoral Registration Officers.
  2. The statutory power that the Election Commission of India invoked to order the revision is found in the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
  3. When the Election Commission so requests, the Governor of a State is constitutionally required to make available the staff the Commission needs for its functions, including the preparation of rolls.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q5. An intensive revision of electoral rolls is carried out with reference to a 'qualifying date'. In this context, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Constitution fixes the minimum voting age itself but leaves the date on which that age is reckoned to be fixed by or under law.
  2. A citizen who turns eighteen after the qualifying date is not entitled to be included in the roll prepared with reference to that date.
  3. Every intensive revision of electoral rolls must take 1 January of the year of revision as its qualifying date.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. During a revision of electoral rolls, an Electoral Registration Officer proposes to delete a person's name on the ground that the person no longer ordinarily resides in the constituency. In this context, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Constitution contemplates that a law may disqualify a person from registration as a voter on the ground of non-residence.
  2. The deletion would be barred by Article 325, because that Article forbids the exclusion of any person from the general electoral roll of a constituency.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. Both 1 and 2
  • D. Neither 1 nor 2