UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC to hear plea for CEC’s suspension next week

Q1. With reference to the removal 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 can be removed from office only in the same manner and on the same grounds as a judge of the Supreme Court.
  2. The tenure of the Chief Election Commissioner is more insulated from executive action than the tenure of an Election Commissioner.
  3. The removal safeguard of the Chief Election Commissioner is conferred by the 2023 Act on appointments and service conditions, and can therefore be altered by an ordinary Act of Parliament.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

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

  1. Election Commissioners other than the Chief Election Commissioner do not enjoy security of tenure equivalent to that of a Supreme Court judge.
  2. Election Commissioners are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
  • 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. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. After the Anoop Baranwal judgment (2023), the Chief Justice of India's membership of the committee recommending Election Commission appointments became a permanent constitutional requirement.
  2. The Supreme Court stated that its committee arrangement for such appointments would operate only until Parliament enacted a law on the subject.
  • 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

Q4. Consider the following facts: The Election Commission of India at present consists of a Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. The law governing its business provides that if the Chief Election Commissioner and the other Election Commissioners differ in opinion on any matter, the matter shall be decided according to the opinion of the majority. A petition before the Supreme Court seeks a declaration that the Commission's business be conducted only through unanimous decisions. Which of the following inferences can validly be drawn from the above?

  1. Under the present law, the two Election Commissioners acting together can prevail over the Chief Election Commissioner on a matter.
  2. If the petitioner's prayer were granted, any single member could prevent the Commission from taking a decision.
  3. Under the present law, a decision taken by the Chief Election Commissioner alone, against the view of both Election Commissioners, binds the Commission.
  4. The present law does not prevent the Commission from reaching its decisions unanimously.
  • A. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 4 only

Q5. With reference to elections to Panchayats, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The superintendence, direction and control of the conduct of Panchayat elections is vested in a State Election Commission.
  2. The State Election Commissioner is appointed by the President on the advice of the Election Commission of India.
  3. The preparation of electoral rolls for Panchayat elections falls within the authority of the Election Commission of India under Article 324.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q6. A petition before the Supreme Court seeks that future appointments of the Chief Election Commissioner be made on the recommendation of a committee that includes the Chief Justice of India, in the manner of the Anoop Baranwal (2023) arrangement. If such a change were made in place of the present statutory panel, which of the following would be its most direct consequence?

  • A. The executive would lose its majority in the body recommending appointees.
  • B. The formal power to appoint the CEC would pass from the President to the CJI.
  • C. The Commission would be bound to decide every matter by a unanimous vote.
  • D. The grounds for removing a CEC would become identical to those for an EC.

Q7. Suppose the President, acting under Article 324(2), were to reduce the number of Election Commissioners so that the Chief Election Commissioner became the sole member of the Commission, as briefly happened in 1990. Consider the following statements about the consequences of such a step: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Chief Election Commissioner would thereafter be removable without following the procedure applicable to a Supreme Court judge.
  2. The statutory rule that differences of opinion are settled by majority would cease to have any practical application.
  3. The appointment of a new Chief Election Commissioner would cease to require a recommendation from the Selection Committee.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 2 only