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Indian Polity MCQs – 22 (Election Commission of India)

Election Commission of India MCQs with answers and explanations for preparation of UPSC, BPSC, UPPSC and other State PSC Examinations

1. Which of the following is not a feature of the election system in India?

(a) Universal Adult Franchise

(b) Secret Voting

(c) Reservation of seats in the legislature for the members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes

(d) Communal Electorate

Correct answer –  (d) Communal Electorate

  • Universal Adult Franchise, Secret Voting, Reservation of seats in the legislature for the members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are the salient features of the election system in India.
  • The Communal Electorate system in India was first introduced by the Indian Councils Act of 1909 also known as the Minto- Morley reforms. However, this system is not part of the Indian constitution and election system.

2. Elections in India for Parliament and State Legislatures are conducted by which among the following ?

(a) President

(b) State Election Commission

(c) Governor

(d) Election Commission of India

Correct answer – (d) Election Commission of India

  • As per the Indian constitution, The Election Commission of India, established as a permanent Constitutional Body, has been entrusted by the Constitution with the superintendence, direction, and control of the entire electoral process for Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of the President and Vice-President of India.
  • Election Commission of India does not deal with the elections to the Municipalities and Panchayats in the states. For this purpose, a separate provision for the State Election Commission has been provided by the Constitution of India.

3. Which of the following is not a constitutional authority?

(a) Election Commission of India

(b) State Finance Commission

(c) Zila Panchayat

(d) Niti Aayog

Correct answer – (d) Niti Ayog

  • Provisions for Election Commission of India, State Finance Commission,  Panchayats have been provided by the constitution.
  • Niti Ayog is not a constitutional authority.

4. Members of the Election Commission of India are appointed by which among the following ?

(a) President of India

(b) Prime Minister of India

(c) Elected by the people

(d) Chief Justice of India

Correct answer – (a)  President of India

  • According to Article 324 of the Constitution of India, President appoints Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners.

5. Which article of the Indian constitution says that there will be an election commission in India?

(a)  Article 124

(b)  Article 342

(c)  Article 324

(d)  Article 115

Correct answer – (c)  Article 324

  • The Constitution of India provides for an election commission under article 324. 
  • Article 124 deals with the Establishment and constitution of the Supreme Court of India.
  • Article 115 of the Indian Constitution provides for supplementary, additional, or excess grants.  This demand for additional grants is made when the expenditure has been incurred after a financial year has expired.
  • Article 342 provides for specification of tribes or tribal communities as Scheduled Tribes. The President may  specify the tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within tribes or tribal communities as Scheduled Tribes however, Parliament may by law include in or exclude from the list of Scheduled Tribes any tribe or tribal community or part of or group within any tribe or tribal community

6. While deciding any question relating the disqualification of a member of Parliament, the President shall obtain the opinion of 

(a) Chief Justice of India

(b) Election Commission of India

(c) Attorney General of India

(d) Speaker of the Lok Sabha

Correct answer – (b) Election Commission of India

  • Article 102 of Indian Constitution defines the Disqualification of Members in Parliament. 
  • If any question arises as to whether a Member of Parliament has become subject to any of the disqualifications mentioned in Article 102, the question shall be referred to the President for his decision, which shall be final.
  • Before giving any decision on any such question, the president should obtain the opinion of the Election Commission of India and act according to its opinion.

7. Currently, there are how many members in the Election Commission?

(a) 1

(b) 2

(c) 3

(d) 4

Correct answer – (c) 3

  • From its inception in 1950 and till 15 October 1989, the election commission of India was a one-member body with only the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) as its only member.
  • In 1989, two more election commissioners were appointed by the president. However, the two posts of election commissioners were eliminated in January 1990 and the Election Commission was reverted to the previous position.
  • However, in October 1993, the president again appointed two more election commissioners. 
  • Since then, the Election Commission functions as a multi-member body consisting of 3 commissioners( Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners).

8. What is the tenure of office for the Chief Election Commissioner?

(a) 5 years or 65 years, whichever is earlier

(b) 6 years or 60 years, whichever is earlier

(c) 6 years or 65 years, whichever is earlier

(d) 5 years or 60 years, whichever is earlier

Correct answer – (c) 6 years or 65 years, whichever is earlier

  •  The Election Commission of India consists of the Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners.
  • The President appoints CEC and Election Commissioners.
  • They have a fixed tenure of six years, or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
  • They enjoy the same status and receive salary and perks similar to Judges of the Supreme Court (SC) of India.

9. Delimitation of constituencies and determination of constituencies reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are done by ?

(a) Election Commission

(b) Delimitation Commission

(c) Planning Commission

(d) Election Commission with the assistance of Delimitation Commission

Correct answer – (d) Election Commission with the assistance of Delimitation Commission

  • Delimitation commission of India is a Commission established by Government of India under the provisions of the Delimitation Commission Act. 
  • The main task of the commission is to redraw the boundaries of the various assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies based on a recent census. 
  • The representation from each state is not changed during this exercise. However, the number of SC and ST seats in a state can change in accordance with the census.

10. The Election Commissioner can be removed by the ?

(a) Chief Election Commissioner

(b) Prime Minister

(c) President on the recommendation of the chief Election Commissioner

(d) Chief Justice of India

Correct answer – (c) President on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner

  • The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office only through a process of removal similar to that of a Supreme Court judge by Parliament.
  • Other Election Commissioners can be removed by the President of India on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner

11. Who recognizes the political parties in India?

(a) President of India

(b) Election Commission of India

(c) Ministry of Law and Justice

(d) Speaker of the Lok Sabha

Correct answer – (b) Election Commission of India

  • Election Commission of India grants recognition to the political parties and allocates them election symbols
  • It also register political parties and grant them the status of national or state parties

12. The power to decide the date of an election to a State Legislative Assembly rests with which among the following ?

(a) President of India

(b) Chief Minister and his/her Cabinet

(c) Election Commission of India

(d) Parliament

Correct answer – (c) Election Commission of India

Following are the main functions/powers of the Election Commission of India:

  • Supervising the machinery of elections throughout the country to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections.
  • To decide the date of an election for Lok sabha and state legislative assemblies
  • Preparing and periodically revising electoral rolls and registering all eligible voters
  • Granting recognition to the political parties and allocating them election symbols
  • Settle the disputes concerning the granting of recognition to political parties and allocating election symbols to the parties
  • Determining the code of conduct to be followed by the political parties and candidates during elections
  • Advising the President on matters related to the disqualification of MPs.
  • Advising the Governor on matters  related to the disqualification of MLAs.
  • Registering political parties and granting them the status of national or state parties

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