UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Bombay HC upholds unopposed civic wins

Q1. In the Maharashtra municipal corporation elections held in January 2026, which one of the following civic bodies recorded the highest number of candidates declared elected unopposed, as confirmed by the State Election Commission?

• A. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation
• B. Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation
• C. Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation
• D. Jalgaon Municipal Corporation

Q2. In the context of the January 2026 Bombay High Court ruling on Maharashtra civic polls, the expression 'uncontested election' under Section 53(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 most precisely refers to a situation in which:

• A. the number of contesting candidates after the close of nominations is equal to the number of seats to be filled, allowing the returning officer to declare them duly elected without holding a poll
• B. the number of contesting candidates is less than the number of seats to be filled, requiring fresh nominations to be invited before a poll is held
• C. all candidates withdraw their nominations leading to countermanding of the election by the Election Commission
• D. only one candidate files a valid nomination, in which case a poll must still be held with the NOTA option mandatorily available to voters

Q3. The conduct of elections to the Maharashtra municipal corporations, in the course of which 65 candidates were declared elected unopposed in January 2026, is vested in which one of the following authorities?

• A. Election Commission of India
• B. State Election Commission of Maharashtra
• C. Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Secretariat
• D. Urban Development Department, Government of Maharashtra

Q4. With reference to the legal regime governing 'unopposed' or 'uncontested' elections that was at issue before the Bombay High Court in January 2026, consider the following statements: 1. Section 53(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 permits the returning officer to declare candidates elected without a poll when contesting candidates equal the seats to be filled, whereas Section 53(3) applies when contesting candidates are fewer than the seats. 2. The NOTA option, introduced pursuant to the Supreme Court's 2013 ruling in PUCL v. Union of India, is available to voters only where polling is actually held, and not in cases of declaration under Section 53(2). 3. Elections to municipal corporations in Maharashtra are conducted by the Election Commission of India under the same statute that governs Lok Sabha elections. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Section 53(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 permits the returning officer to declare candidates elected without a poll when contesting candidates equal the seats to be filled, whereas Section 53(3) applies when contesting candidates are fewer than the seats.
2. The NOTA option, introduced pursuant to the Supreme Court's 2013 ruling in PUCL v. Union of India, is available to voters only where polling is actually held, and not in cases of declaration under Section 53(2).
3. Elections to municipal corporations in Maharashtra are conducted by the Election Commission of India under the same statute that governs Lok Sabha elections.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. The statutory provision relied upon by the Bombay High Court in January 2026 to uphold the validity of declaring candidates 'elected unopposed' without holding a poll is contained in:

• A. Section 53(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951
• B. Section 33A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951
• C. Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951
• D. Article 324 of the Constitution of India