UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Panel of ex-judges to inquire into SIR aftermath
Q1. With reference to the constitutional framework governing the preparation and revision of electoral rolls in India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Article 324 vests the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for elections to Parliament and State Legislatures in the Election Commission.
- Parliament's power under Article 327 to make laws on the preparation of electoral rolls operates independently of, and is not subject to, the other provisions of the Constitution.
- Since the Election Commission's power under Article 324 is plenary, the manner in which it conducts a revision of electoral rolls is outside the scope of judicial review.
- A. 2 and 3 only
- B. 1 only
- C. 1 and 2 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q2. During a revision of electoral rolls, an Electoral Registration Officer has to decide whether certain persons, all aged above 18 years, can be kept on the roll consistently with Article 326 of the Constitution. Consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A citizen who has been disqualified, under a law made by the appropriate Legislature, on the ground of unsoundness of mind may be excluded from the roll without violating Article 326.
- Article 326 permits non-residence to be a ground for denying registration to a citizen, provided the disqualification is laid down by the Constitution or by a law made by the appropriate Legislature.
- Article 326 allows an adult citizen to be denied registration only on grounds laid down in the Constitution or in a law made by the appropriate Legislature, and not on grounds the roll-revising authority itself devises.
- A. 2 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. In upholding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in 2026, the Supreme Court addressed the extent to which the Election Commission may look into the citizenship of persons on the rolls. Consider the following statements in this regard: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The Election Commission may examine a person's citizenship status during roll revision, but only for the purpose of deciding eligibility for inclusion in the electoral roll.
- Any final adjudication of whether a person is an Indian citizen remains with the authorities functioning under the Citizenship Act, not with the electoral machinery.
- Because Article 324 is a plenary power, the Commission may depart from the statutory framework for roll revision without having to justify the departure by reference to the objective of the exercise.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q4. Consider the following facts relating to the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar in 2025: the Election Commission told the Supreme Court that the Aadhaar card cannot be used as proof of citizenship; the Court asked the Commission to consider Aadhaar, ration cards and electoral photo identity cards as documents in the exercise; and the Commission later agreed to accept Aadhaar as a proof of identity. Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above?
- Accepting a document for establishing identity does not, by itself, settle whether the holder satisfies the citizenship condition for registration.
- Once the Court's direction was issued, any elector producing an Aadhaar card had to be retained on the roll without further verification.
- Where citizenship is in doubt, an elector's continued inclusion on the roll may depend on material other than the Aadhaar card.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 2 only
Q5. A panel of former Supreme Court and High Court judges constituted by a private lawyers' association is to be distinguished from a Commission appointed under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952. In this context, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A Commission under the 1952 Act can be appointed only by the Union Government, even where the matter under inquiry relates exclusively to an entry in the State List.
- A panel of retired judges constituted by a private association acquires the powers of a civil court to summon witnesses because its members previously held judicial office.
- A Commission under the 1952 Act can require the discovery and production of documents and can receive evidence on affidavits.
- A. 3 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 2 and 3 only
Q6. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- An Election Commissioner other than the Chief Election Commissioner cannot be removed from office except on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
- Article 324(5) extends to every Election Commissioner the same procedure and grounds of removal as apply to a Judge of the Supreme Court.
- 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
Q7. Consider the following assertion: 'The Constitution insulates the Chief Election Commissioner from pressure by the political executive.' Which of the statements given below support/supports the above assertion?
- The conditions of service of the Chief Election Commissioner cannot be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment.
- The Chief Election Commissioner cannot be removed from office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court.
- Parliament may by law make provision for the preparation of electoral rolls and the delimitation of constituencies.
- The Election Commission's conduct of a revision of electoral rolls is amenable to judicial review for procedural fairness.
- A. 1, 2, 3 and 4
- B. 1, 3 and 4 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1 and 2 only