UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC upholds SIR as EC’s constitutional duty

Q1. In the context of Article 324 of the Constitution, the expression 'superintendence, direction and control' of elections has been judicially interpreted to mean which one of the following?

  • A. A reservoir of plenary power enabling the Election Commission to act, in areas unoccupied by legislation, to ensure free and fair elections — including the preparation and revision of electoral rolls — exercisable within statutory limits
  • B. A power confined to the conduct of polling and counting on election day, which does not extend to the preparation or revision of electoral rolls
  • C. An absolute power that overrides laws made by Parliament and is immune from judicial review
  • D. An advisory power to recommend electoral reforms to Parliament that becomes operative only upon parliamentary ratification

Q2. Under Article 324(1), the superintendence, direction and control vested in the Election Commission of India extends to the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, which of the following elections? 1. Elections to Parliament 2. Elections to the Legislature of every State 3. Elections to the offices of the President and Vice-President 4. Elections to municipalities and panchayats Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Elections to Parliament
  2. Elections to the Legislature of every State
  3. Elections to the offices of the President and Vice-President
  4. Elections to municipalities and panchayats
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q3. Under Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, the power to direct a special revision of the electoral roll for a constituency (or part of it) vests in which authority?

  • A. The Election Commission of India
  • B. The State Election Commission of the concerned State
  • C. The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India
  • D. The District Magistrate acting as District Election Officer

Q4. With reference to a special revision of electoral rolls directed under Section 21(3) of the RPA 1950, consider the following: 1. It may be directed by the Election Commission at any time, for reasons to be recorded. 2. The electoral roll in force at the time of the direction ceases to have effect immediately upon issue of the direction. 3. It may be confined to a part of a constituency. 4. It is carried out in such manner as the Election Commission may think fit. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It may be directed by the Election Commission at any time, for reasons to be recorded.
  2. The electoral roll in force at the time of the direction ceases to have effect immediately upon issue of the direction.
  3. It may be confined to a part of a constituency.
  4. It is carried out in such manner as the Election Commission may think fit.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q5. The Supreme Court's May 2026 judgment upholding the Special Intensive Revision of Bihar's electoral rolls held that the exercise flows from the Election Commission's powers under which of the following?

  • A. Article 324 of the Constitution read with Section 21(3) of the RPA 1950
  • B. Article 326 of the Constitution read with Section 62 of the RPA 1951
  • C. Article 243K of the Constitution read with Section 21 of the RPA 1950
  • D. Article 324 of the Constitution read with Section 62A of the RPA 1951

Q6. As characterised in the 2026 Supreme Court verdict, the 'Special Intensive Revision (SIR)' of electoral rolls is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. An intensive, verification-based revision of the entire electoral roll, distinct from a routine annual summary revision, directed by the Election Commission under Section 21(3) RPA 1950
  • B. A routine annual summary updating of the electoral roll carried out with a 1 January qualifying date
  • C. A fresh, de novo enumeration of citizens conducted as a final determination under the Citizenship Act, 1955
  • D. A one-time correction of clerical and printing errors in the roll carried out by the Registrar General of India

Q7. In the 2026 SIR verdict, the Supreme Court held that the Election Commission's power to make a limited inquiry into citizenship while preparing or revising electoral rolls is traceable to which provision?

  • A. Section 16 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950
  • B. Section 6 of the Citizenship Act, 1955, which empowers the Election Commission to conclusively and finally determine a person's citizenship
  • C. Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950
  • D. Article 5 of the Constitution of India

Q8. Per the 2026 verdict, where the Election Commission doubts an elector's citizenship, the final adjudication of citizenship must be made by the competent authority under the Citizenship Act, 1955 — a statute administered by which Union ministry?

  • A. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Law and Justice
  • C. Ministry of External Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

Q9. Periodic Special Summary Revisions of electoral rolls (for example, those carried out with reference to 01.01.2018 and 01.01.2019) are conducted with reference to a 'qualifying date', which under the RPA 1950 ordinarily is which of the following?

  • A. The 1st day of January of the year in which the roll is prepared or revised
  • B. The 1st day of April of the relevant financial year
  • C. The 1st day of July of the relevant calendar year
  • D. The last day of the year immediately preceding the revision

Q10. During a Special Summary Revision of the electoral roll of a constituency, the officer who actually prepares and revises the roll (subject to the superintendence of the Election Commission) is which of the following?

  • A. The Electoral Registration Officer
  • B. The District Magistrate, who alone finalises the roll for the district
  • C. The Returning Officer for the constituency
  • D. The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India

Q11. Under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, the Selection Committee that recommends the CEC and Election Commissioners to the President is chaired by whom?

  • A. The Prime Minister
  • B. The Chief Justice of India
  • C. The President of India
  • D. The Cabinet Secretary

Q12. With reference to the 2026 Supreme Court judgment on Bihar's SIR, consider the following: 1. The ruling will govern subsequent rounds of Special Intensive Revision undertaken in other States, and is not confined to Bihar. 2. Adopting a procedure different from the routine summary revision does not by itself render a revision unconstitutional. 3. The Court struck down Section 21(3) of the RPA 1950 as ultra vires Article 324. 4. The presumption of validity attaching to inclusion in the electoral roll is rebuttable, allowing the Election Commission to seek supporting material during verification. Which of the statements given above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The ruling will govern subsequent rounds of Special Intensive Revision undertaken in other States, and is not confined to Bihar.
  2. Adopting a procedure different from the routine summary revision does not by itself render a revision unconstitutional.
  3. The Court struck down Section 21(3) of the RPA 1950 as ultra vires Article 324.
  4. The presumption of validity attaching to inclusion in the electoral roll is rebuttable, allowing the Election Commission to seek supporting material during verification.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4 only