UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Lawyer moves EC to register Cockroach Janta Party

Question 1

Under the Election Commission's guidelines for registration of a party under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the application must be supported, without exception, by individual sworn affidavits from a minimum of how many members, each certifying that he/she is a registered elector and not a member of any other registered party?

Accepted Answer

100

Answer

50

Answer

200

Answer

300

Question 2

The registration of political parties in India is carried out by the Election Commission strictly under which one of the following provisions?

Accepted Answer

Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951

Answer

Section 29 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951

Answer

Section 77 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951

Answer

Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950

Question 3

The field-level verification enquiries into registered unrecognised political parties that preceded the Election Commission's 2025 delisting drive were operationalised chiefly through which functionaries?

Accepted Answer

Chief Electoral Officers of the States

Answer

Returning Officers of parliamentary constituencies

Answer

District Magistrates acting for the Home Ministry

Answer

The Central Bureau of Investigation

Question 4

When the Election Commission is described as a 'quasi-judicial' authority in matters of party registration and symbol disputes, the expression 'quasi-judicial' most precisely means that the body—

Accepted Answer

exercises powers resembling those of a court, adjudicating disputes and observing principles of natural justice, though it is not itself a court of law

Answer

is a subordinate court whose orders are appealable directly to the High Court as of right

Answer

can frame binding laws having the same force as statutes passed by Parliament

Answer

acts purely in an advisory capacity with no power to decide disputes between parties

Question 5

With reference to the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, consider the following:
1. Recognised National and State parties are allotted reserved symbols.
2. Registered unrecognised parties may be allotted a common symbol under Para 10B as a one-time concession.
3. Where two candidates in a constituency opt for the same free symbol, the Returning Officer decides by draw of lots.
4. A new or unrecognised party is entitled to reserve a bird or animal as its symbol.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

4 only

Answer

1 and 2

Answer

2 and 3

Answer

3 and 4

Question 6

Under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, the reserved symbols of recognised political parties are allotted by which one of the following authorities?

Accepted Answer

The Election Commission of India

Answer

The Returning Officer of the constituency

Answer

The District Election Officer

Answer

The Chief Electoral Officer of the State

Question 7

Under Article 324 of the Constitution, the superintendence, direction and control vested in the Election Commission extends to elections to which of the following? Consider:
1. The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
2. The Legislative Assemblies and Legislative Councils of the States.
3. The offices of the President and Vice-President.
4. The municipalities and panchayats.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

4 only

Answer

1 and 2

Answer

3 only

Answer

2 and 4

Question 8

With reference to Article 324 and the constitutional position of the Election Commission, consider the following statements:
1. The superintendence, direction and control of the conduct of elections is vested in the Election Commission.
2. The Constitution itself fixes the number of Election Commissioners at two, besides the Chief Election Commissioner.
3. The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office in the same manner as a Judge of the Supreme Court.
4. An Election Commissioner cannot be removed except on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 3 and 4

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2, 3 and 4

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 9

The recognition of a registered party as a 'State party' or a 'National party', and the reservation of its symbol, is governed primarily under which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968

Answer

Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951

Answer

Article 324 of the Constitution of India

Answer

The Representation of the People Act, 1950

Question 10

Consider the following statements distinguishing recognised parties from registered unrecognised parties:
1. Unlike a recognised party, a registered unrecognised party is not entitled to an exclusively reserved election symbol.
2. To be recognised as a National party on the strength of State recognition, a party must be a recognised State party in at least four States.
3. Unlike a State party, a National party's reserved symbol is exclusive only within the single State in which it contests.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 11

With reference to the recent move to register the satirical 'Cockroach Janta Party' (CJP), consider the following statements:
1. The registration application before the Election Commission was filed by lawyer Sudhir Jakhar, who listed himself as its National Convener.
2. The original satirical platform behind the CJP was founded by the Boston-based Abhijeet Dipke.
3. Because the application was duly filed under Section 29A, the CJP invariably stands registered as a political party from the date of filing.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 12

With reference to the Election Commission's framework for registering and regulating political parties, consider the following statements:
1. The PPRTMS is an online portal enabling applicants to track the status of their party-registration application.
2. An applicant must publish the proposed party name in two national and two local dailies, inviting objections within 30 days.
3. In 2025 the Commission delisted several hundred registered unrecognised parties found non-compliant with registration conditions.
4. A registration application must be filed within 90 days of the party's formation.
Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3

Answer

2, 3 and 4

Answer

1 and 4 only

Answer

1, 2 and 4

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Lawyer moves EC to register Cockroach Janta Party

Q2. The registration of political parties in India is carried out by the Election Commission strictly under which one of the following provisions?

Q3. The field-level verification enquiries into registered unrecognised political parties that preceded the Election Commission's 2025 delisting drive were operationalised chiefly through which functionaries?

Q4. When the Election Commission is described as a 'quasi-judicial' authority in matters of party registration and symbol disputes, the expression 'quasi-judicial' most precisely means that the body—

Q6. Under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, the reserved symbols of recognised political parties are allotted by which one of the following authorities?

Q9. The recognition of a registered party as a 'State party' or a 'National party', and the reservation of its symbol, is governed primarily under which one of the following?