UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — EC deploys over 1,000 central observers

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the deployment of 1,111 Central Observers by the Election Commission of India (March 2026): 1. The deployment covers Legislative Assembly elections in five States/UTs and bye-elections in six States. 2. West Bengal accounts for more than half of the General Observers deployed nationwide for this round. 3. The 1,111 figure includes Special Observers appointed exclusively for the Union Territory of Puducherry. 4. Observers were directed to be stationed in their assigned Assembly constituencies by 18 March 2026. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The deployment covers Legislative Assembly elections in five States/UTs and bye-elections in six States.
  2. West Bengal accounts for more than half of the General Observers deployed nationwide for this round.
  3. The 1,111 figure includes Special Observers appointed exclusively for the Union Territory of Puducherry.
  4. Observers were directed to be stationed in their assigned Assembly constituencies by 18 March 2026.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q2. In the Election Commission of India's March 2026 deployment of Central Observers, which one of the following States/UTs received the highest number of General Observers — at the level of one General Observer for every Assembly constituency?

  • A. Tamil Nadu
  • B. Kerala
  • C. West Bengal
  • D. Assam

Q3. Under Section 20B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, an Observer nominated by the Election Commission of India is specifically empowered to do which one of the following?

  • A. Reject a candidate's nomination on the ground of a false declaration in the affidavit
  • B. Direct the Returning Officer to stop the counting of votes, or to not declare the result, if booth capturing has taken place at a large number of polling stations
  • C. Order re-polling in an Assembly constituency without reference to the Election Commission
  • D. Suspend the operation of the Model Code of Conduct in a constituency for a specified period

Q4. With reference to the Election Commission of India's Central Observer deployment for the March 2026 Assembly elections as compared with earlier rounds, consider the following statements: 1. The March 2026 deployment covers the same set of five States/UTs — Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal — that went to Assembly polls together in 2021. 2. The total number of Central Observers deployed in March 2026 is higher than the number deployed for the 2022 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur. 3. The 2026 deployment retains the layered architecture in which Special Observers (senior IAS/IPS officers) sit above the General, Police and Expenditure Observer tiers for high-sensitivity States. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The March 2026 deployment covers the same set of five States/UTs — Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal — that went to Assembly polls together in 2021.
  2. The total number of Central Observers deployed in March 2026 is higher than the number deployed for the 2022 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur.
  3. The 2026 deployment retains the layered architecture in which Special Observers (senior IAS/IPS officers) sit above the General, Police and Expenditure Observer tiers for high-sensitivity States.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3
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