Indian Polity › Elections & Electoral Reforms – UPSC Prelims PYQs

23 questions · 1995–2025 · answers as per the UPSC key

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Consider the following statements : I. If any question arises as to whether a Member of the House of the People has become subject to disqualification under the 10th Schedule, the President’s decision in accordance with the opinion of the Council of Union Ministers shall be final. II. There is no mention of the word ‘political party’ in the Constitution of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) I only
(b) II only
(c) Both I and II
(d) Neither I nor II
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Answer: (d) Neither I nor II

How many Delimitation Commissions have been constituted by the Government of India till December 2023 ?

(a) One
(b) Two
(c) Three
(d) Four
Show answer
Answer: (d) Four

With reference to anti-defection law in India, consider the following statements :

  1. The law specifies that a nominated legislator cannot join any political party within six months of being appointed to the House.
  2. The law does not provide any time-frame within which the presiding officer has to decide a defection case.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (b) 2 only

Consider the following statements :

  1. In India, there is no law restricting the candidates from contesting in one Lok Sabha election from three constituencies.
  2. In 1991 Lok Sabha Election, Shri Devi Lal contested from three Lok Sabha constituencies.
  3. As per the existing rules, if a candidate contests in one Lok Sabha election from many constituencies, his/her party should bear the cost of bye-elections to the constituencies vacated by him/her in the event of him/her winning in all the constituencies.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: No single answer
Note: Cancelled by UPSC — marks awarded to all candidates

For election to the Lok Sabha, a nomination paper can be filed by

(a) anyone residing in India.
(b) a resident of the constituency from which the election is to be contested.
(c) any citizen of India whose name appears in the electoral roll of a constituency.
(d) any citizen of India.
Show answer
Answer: (c) any citizen of India whose name appears in the electoral roll of a constituency.

Right to vote and to be elected in India is a

(a) Fundamental Right
(b) Natural Right
(c) Constitutional Right
(d) Legal Right
Show answer
Answer: (c) Constitutional Right

Consider the following statements :

  1. The Election Commission of India is a five-member body.
  2. Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the election schedule for the conduct of both general elections and bye-elections.
  3. Election Commission resolves the disputes relating to splits/mergers of recognised political parties.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 3 only
Show answer
Answer: (d) 3 only

Which one of the following Schedules of the Constitution of India contains provisions regarding anti-defection?

(a) Second Schedule
(b) Fifth Schedule
(c) Eighth Schedule
(d) Tenth Schedule
Show answer
Answer: (d) Tenth Schedule

With reference to the Delimitation Commission, consider the following statements :

  1. The orders of the Delimitation Commission cannot be challenged in a Court of Law.
  2. When the orders of the Delimitation Commission are laid before the Lok Sabha or State Legislative Assembly, they cannot effect any modifications in the orders.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Consider the following statements with reference to India:

  1. The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners enjoy equal powers but receive unequal salaries.
  2. The Chief Election Commissioner is entitled to the same salary as is provided to a judge of the Supreme Court.
  3. The Chief Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his office except in like manner and on like grounds as a judge of the Supreme Court.
  4. The term of office of an Election Commissioner is five years from the date he assumes office or till he attains the age of 62 years, whichever is earlier.

Which of these statements are correct?

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 4
(d) 2 and 4
Show answer
Answer: (b) 2 and 3

In the case of election to the Lok Sabha, the amount of security deposited for general category candidates and SC/ST category candidates respectively is

(a) Rs 5,000 and Rs 2,500
(b) Rs 10,000 and Rs 2,500
(c) Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000
(d) Rs 15,000 and Rs 7,500
Show answer
Answer: (c) Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000

Consider the following statements regarding the political parties in India: I. The Representation of the People Act, 1951 provides for the registration of political parties. II. Registration of political parties is carried out by the Election Commission. III. A national level political party is one which is recognised in four or more States. IV. During the 1999 general elections, there were six National and 48 State level parties recognised by the Election Commission.

Which of these statements are correct?

(a) I, II and IV
(b) I and III
(c) II and IV
(d) I, II, III and IV
Show answer
Answer: (d) I, II, III and IV

Consider the following statements about the recent amendments to the Election Law by the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 1996: I. Any conviction for the offence of insulting the Indian National Flag or the Constitution of India shall entail disqualification for contesting elections to Parliament and State Legislatures for six years from the date of conviction. II. There is an increase in the security deposit which a candidate has to make to contest the election to the Lok Sabha. III. A candidate cannot now stand for election from more than one Parliamentary constituency. IV. No election will now be countermanded on the death of a contesting candidate.

Which of the above statements are correct?

(a) I and III
(b) I, II and IV
(c) I, II and III
(d) I, II, III and IV
Show answer
Answer: (b) I, II and IV

Which one of the following Schedules of the Constitution of India contains provisions regarding the Anti-Defection Act?

(a) Second Schedule
(b) Fifth Schedule
(c) Eighth Schedule
(d) Tenth Schedule
Show answer
Answer: (d) Tenth Schedule

Proportional representation is NOT necessary in a country where

(a) there are no reserved constituencies
(b) a two-party system has developed
(c) the first-past-the-post system prevails
(d) there is a fusion of Presidential and Parliamentary forms of governments
Show answer
Answer: (b) a two-party system has developed

State Funding of elections takes place in

(a) USA and Canada
(b) Britain and Switzerland
(c) France and Italy
(d) Germany and Austria
Show answer
Answer: (d) Germany and Austria

In which one of the following countries are 75 per cent of seats in both Houses of Parliament filled on the basis of first-past-the-post system and 25 per cent on the basis of Proportional Representation system of elections?

(a) Germany
(b) Italy
(c) France
(d) Russia
Show answer
Answer: (b) Italy

The Dinesh Goswami Committee recommended

(a) the constitution of state level election commissions
(b) List System of election to the Lok Sabha
(c) governmental funding of parliamentary elections
(d) a ban on the candidature of independent candidates in the parliamentary elections
Show answer
Answer: (c) governmental funding of parliamentary elections

Consider the table given below providing some details of the results of the election to the Karnataka State Legislative Assembly held in December, 1994. In terms of electoral analysis, the voter-seat distortion is to be explained as the result of the adoption of the

(a) Hare system
(b) Cumulative vote system
(c) First-past-the-post system
(d) Plural vote system
Show answer
Answer: (c) First-past-the-post system
This question uses a table or figure from the original paper that is not reproduced here.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the commencement of the election process in India?

(a) The recommendation for election is made by the government and the notification for election is issued by the Election Commission
(b) The recommendation for election is made by the Election Commission and the notification for election is issued by the Home Ministry at the Centre and Home Departments in the States
(c) The recommendation for election is made by the Election Commission and the notification for election is issued by the President and Governors of the States concerned
(d) Both the exercises of making a recommendation for election and that of issuing a notification in respect of it are done by the Election Commission
Show answer
Answer: (c) The recommendation for election is made by the Election Commission and the notification for election is issued by the President and Governors of the States concerned

The Dinesh Goswami Committee was concerned with

(a) de-nationalisation of banks
(b) electoral reforms
(c) steps to put down insurgency in the North-east
(d) the problem of the Chakmas
Show answer
Answer: (b) electoral reforms

Which of the following political parties is/are national political parties? I. Muslim League II. Revolutionary Socialist Party III. All India Forward Block IV. Peasants and Workers Party of India

Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:

(a) I, II and III
(b) II and IV
(c) III only
(d) None of the above
Show answer
Answer: (d) None of the above

If in an election to a State Legislative Assembly the candidate who is declared elected loses his deposit, it means that

(a) the polling was very poor
(b) the election was for a multi-member constituency
(c) the elected candidate’s victory over his nearest rival was very marginal
(d) a very large number of candidates contested the election
Show answer
Answer: (d) a very large number of candidates contested the election