UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — What did Trump say about India’s voting system?
Q1. With reference to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act being pressed in the United States Congress, consider the following:
1. Documentary proof of United States citizenship at the time of registration as a voter for federal elections
2. Production of a valid photo identification in order to cast a ballot in a federal election
3. Restriction of mail-in balloting, with exceptions carved out for illness, disability, military service and travel
4. Creation of a single national election authority, on the model of the Election Commission of India, in place of the Federal Election Commission
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as provisions of the Act?
- Documentary proof of United States citizenship at the time of registration as a voter for federal elections
- Production of a valid photo identification in order to cast a ballot in a federal election
- Restriction of mail-in balloting, with exceptions carved out for illness, disability, military service and travel
- Creation of a single national election authority, on the model of the Election Commission of India, in place of the Federal Election Commission
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2, 3 and 4
- C. 1, 2 and 3
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q2. Consider the following statements comparing the SAVE America Act with Executive Order 14248, 'Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections':
1. The Executive Order required persons registering to vote in federal elections to present documentary proof of United States citizenship, a requirement the SAVE America Act seeks to place in statute.
2. Going beyond the Executive Order, the SAVE America Act would additionally require production of a valid photo identification at the time of casting a ballot in a federal election.
3. The SAVE America Act would be enforced by the Federal Election Commission, which already administers voter registration and the counting of ballots in federal elections.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The Executive Order required persons registering to vote in federal elections to present documentary proof of United States citizenship, a requirement the SAVE America Act seeks to place in statute.
- Going beyond the Executive Order, the SAVE America Act would additionally require production of a valid photo identification at the time of casting a ballot in a federal election.
- The SAVE America Act would be enforced by the Federal Election Commission, which already administers voter registration and the counting of ballots in federal elections.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. The Unique Disability ID (UDID) card, one of the documents that an elector may display at an Indian polling station in place of the Electors Photo Identity Card, is issued by which one of the following?
- A. Registrar General of India, functioning under the Ministry of Home Affairs
- B. National Health Authority under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- C. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India
- D. Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India
Q4. Consider the following documents:
1. Official identity card issued to Members of Parliament, MLAs and MLCs
2. Voter Information Slip issued by the Election Commission of India
3. Smart card issued by the Registrar General of India under the National Population Register
4. Pension document bearing a photograph
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as documents that an elector whose name is on the roll may display for identification at the polling station in place of the EPIC?
- Official identity card issued to Members of Parliament, MLAs and MLCs
- Voter Information Slip issued by the Election Commission of India
- Smart card issued by the Registrar General of India under the National Population Register
- Pension document bearing a photograph
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 1, 2 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q5. Postal-ballot voting by absentee voters in India is regulated by Part IIIA of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961. Amendments to these Rules are notified by which one of the following?
- A. Election Commission of India, by regulations framed under Article 324 of the Constitution
- B. Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, on the advice of the Commission
- C. Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India
- D. Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India
Q6. Consider the following categories of electors:
1. Senior citizens above 85 years of age who are so marked in the electoral roll
2. Electors marked in the roll as persons with disabilities having a benchmark disability of not less than 40 per cent
3. Persons employed in essential services, as notified by the Election Commission in consultation with the Government
4. Non-resident Indians registered as overseas electors, who may mail their ballots from their country of residence
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as falling within the category of 'absentee voters' entitled to vote by postal ballot in India?
- Senior citizens above 85 years of age who are so marked in the electoral roll
- Electors marked in the roll as persons with disabilities having a benchmark disability of not less than 40 per cent
- Persons employed in essential services, as notified by the Election Commission in consultation with the Government
- Non-resident Indians registered as overseas electors, who may mail their ballots from their country of residence
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2 and 4
Q7. Consider the following statements comparing electoral administration in the United States and in India:
1. Under Article I, Section 4 of the United States Constitution, the legislature of each State prescribes the times, places and manner of holding federal elections, but Congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations.
2. The Federal Election Commission exercises superintendence over voter registration, balloting and counting in all federal elections in the United States, in the same manner as the Election Commission of India does in India.
3. Voter identification requirements for federal elections in the United States differ from State to State, whereas in India the list of photo identity documents acceptable at the polling station is prescribed uniformly for the whole country by the Election Commission.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Under Article I, Section 4 of the United States Constitution, the legislature of each State prescribes the times, places and manner of holding federal elections, but Congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations.
- The Federal Election Commission exercises superintendence over voter registration, balloting and counting in all federal elections in the United States, in the same manner as the Election Commission of India does in India.
- Voter identification requirements for federal elections in the United States differ from State to State, whereas in India the list of photo identity documents acceptable at the polling station is prescribed uniformly for the whole country by the Election Commission.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q8. In the United States, the actual work of registering voters, issuing ballots and counting votes in federal elections is carried out primarily by which one of the following?
- A. State and local election officials acting under laws made by the State legislatures
- B. The Federal Election Commission, an independent agency of the federal government
- C. The United States Election Assistance Commission set up under the Help America Vote Act
- D. The Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice
Q9. Under the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, the President appoints the Chief Election Commissioner on the recommendation of a Selection Committee consisting of which one of the following?
- A. The Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India
- B. The Vice-President, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India
- C. The Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha
- D. The Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Q10. With reference to the security of tenure enjoyed by members of the Election Commission of India, which one of the following correctly describes the position?
- A. The Chief Election Commissioner is removable only in the like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court, while an Election Commissioner is removable only on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner
- B. An Election Commissioner is removable only in the like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court, while the Chief Election Commissioner is removable on the recommendation of the Union Council of Ministers
- C. Both the Chief Election Commissioner and every other Election Commissioner are removable only in the like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India
- D. The Chief Election Commissioner is removable on the recommendation of the Selection Committee headed by the Prime Minister, and an Election Commissioner at the pleasure of the President of India
Q11. The electoral roll of about 97.97 crore electors used for the last general election to the Lok Sabha was prepared under the superintendence, direction and control of which authority, and by virtue of which constitutional provision?
- A. The Election Commission of India, by virtue of Article 324
- B. The Election Commission of India, by virtue of Article 327
- C. The Registrar General of India, by virtue of Article 325
- D. The State Election Commissions, by virtue of Article 243K
Q12. Consider the following statements regarding the Election Commission's notification of 7 October 2025 on identification of electors at polling stations:
1. It permitted documents other than the Electors Photo Identity Card to be used for identification at the polling station for the first time; until then the EPIC alone was valid.
2. Of the documents listed in it, the smart card issued under the National Population Register comes from the Registrar General of India, while the health insurance smart card comes from a scheme of the Ministry of Labour.
3. Along with the notification, the Commission directed Chief Electoral Officers to ensure that EPICs are delivered to new voters within fifteen days of the final publication of the electoral rolls.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It permitted documents other than the Electors Photo Identity Card to be used for identification at the polling station for the first time; until then the EPIC alone was valid.
- Of the documents listed in it, the smart card issued under the National Population Register comes from the Registrar General of India, while the health insurance smart card comes from a scheme of the Ministry of Labour.
- Along with the notification, the Commission directed Chief Electoral Officers to ensure that EPICs are delivered to new voters within fifteen days of the final publication of the electoral rolls.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3