UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Top court registers Rahul’s plea on SIR, CEC

Q1. With reference to the security of tenure of members of the Election Commission of India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Chief Election Commissioner may be removed by the President on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers if the other Election Commissioners jointly recommend it.
  2. The Constitution bars the conditions of service of every Election Commissioner from being varied to his disadvantage after appointment.
  3. An Election Commissioner other than the Chief Election Commissioner can be removed only on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner, and no address by Parliament is required.
  • A. 3 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 2 only

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

  1. The Constitution gives the Chief Election Commissioner stronger protection of tenure than it gives the other Election Commissioners.
  2. In 2023, the Supreme Court took the view that it could not itself require parity in removal protection between the Chief Election Commissioner and the other Election Commissioners, and left any such extension to Parliament.
  • 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. With reference to the selection of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners under the Supreme Court's interim arrangement of 2023 (Anoop Baranwal case) and under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Under the 2023 Act, the Selection Committee can recommend a person only from the panel of names prepared by the Search Committee.
  2. The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha is a member of the selection panel under both the interim arrangement and the 2023 Act.
  3. Under the 2023 Act, the members of the Selection Committee drawn from the Union executive can outvote the remaining member.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q4. In 2023, the Supreme Court laid down an interim selection panel that included the Chief Justice of India for appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. Later that year, Parliament replaced it by an ordinary law with a panel that does not include the Chief Justice. Which one of the following best explains why Parliament could do this without amending the Constitution?

  • A. Parliament may nullify any Supreme Court judgment by passing an ordinary law that reverses it.
  • B. Article 324 vests the selection of the CEC in Parliament, acting through its presiding officers.
  • C. Article 324 makes the President's power of appointment subject to any law made by Parliament.
  • D. Directions under Article 142 lapse once a Bill on that subject is introduced in Parliament.

Q5. With reference to the Election Commission of India as a multi-member body, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Constitution fixes the number of Election Commissioners, other than the Chief Election Commissioner, at two.
  2. Once other Election Commissioners are appointed, the Chief Election Commissioner acts as the Chairman of the Election Commission.
  3. The rule that differences of opinion among the members of the Commission are settled by majority comes from the text of Article 324 itself.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. Consider the following facts about the Election Commission of India: I. The Commission currently has a Chief Election Commissioner and two other Election Commissioners, and the CEC acts as its Chairman. II. Under the 2023 Act, the Commission's business is to be transacted unanimously as far as possible, and any difference of opinion is decided by majority. III. An Election Commissioner can be removed only on the recommendation of the CEC, whereas the CEC can be removed only like a Supreme Court judge. Which of the following inferences can validly be drawn from the above facts?

  1. A course of action opposed by both the other Election Commissioners cannot validly be adopted as the Commission's decision on the strength of the CEC's view alone.
  2. As Chairman, the CEC has a vote that prevails whenever he is in a minority of one.
  3. An Election Commissioner who dissents from the CEC is in a weaker tenure position than a CEC who dissents from the other two.
  4. A recorded objection by the Election Commissioners automatically suspends a decision until a court reviews it.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q7. With reference to the preparation and revision of electoral rolls in India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. If an electoral roll is not revised before an election, the roll in force does not lose its validity for that reason alone.
  2. The preparation of electoral rolls is outside the scope of Article 324 and is governed only by the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
  3. A special revision directed by the Election Commission can be used to correct erroneous entries, transpose entries of electors who have moved within the constituency, and delete names of electors who have died or are no longer ordinarily resident.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q8. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. The Election Commission of India can direct a special revision of the electoral roll of a constituency even when no general election is due.
  2. Under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, an electoral roll may be revised only in the year immediately preceding a general election to the House of the People.
  • 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