Election Commission (Indian Polity and Governance)

Total Questions: 55

41. Consider the following statements about the recent amendments to the elections law by the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act 1996. [I.A.S. (Pre) 1999]

1. 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

2. There is an increase in the security deposit which a candidate has to make to contest the election to the Lok Sabha

3. A candidate cannot now contest election from more than one Parliament Constituency 4. No election will now be countermanded on the death of a contesting candidate

Which of the above statements are correct

Correct Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 4
Solution:The Representation of People (Amendment) Act, 1996 was based on the recommendations of the Dinesh Goswami Committee. Now, a candidate can not contest election from more than two Parliamentary constituencies. No election will now be countermanded on the death of a contesting candidate rather a new candidate of the respective party will have to contest on his place. Statement 1, 2, and 4 are correct while statement 3 is not correct.

42. The Dinesh Goswami Committee recommended: [I.A.S. (Pre) 1997]

Correct Answer: (c) Government funding of parliamentary elections
Solution:Dinesh Goswami was Law Minister in V.P. Singh Government in 1989. The Representation of People (Amendment) Act, 1996 was based on the recommendations of Dinesh Goswami Committee. This Committee recommended the government funding of the Parliamentary elections.

Electoral reforms refer to the changes or improvements made to the electoral process to ensure the integrity and transparency of the electoral system. These reforms are necessary to maintain the credibility of the electoral process and to ensure that every vote counts.

  • Ensuring free and fair elections (Article 324): Electoral reforms aim to address the issues of electoral malpractices and ensure that elections are conducted in a free and fair manner.
  • Enhancing voter participation: Electoral reforms aim to increase voter turnout and to address the issue of voter apathy, difficulty in accessing polling booths, etc.
  • Reducing the influence of money and muscle power: Electoral reforms help to reduce the influence of money and muscle power by regulating campaign finance and ensuring the safety of voters.
  • Encouraging transparency and accountability: Electoral reforms initiate the measures such as mandatory disclosure of criminal records by candidates and the use of technology to monitor the electoral process.
  • Addressing electoral inequalities: Electoral reforms try to bring down the inequalities such as the under-representation of women and marginalized communities.

43. The Dinesh Goswami Committee was concerned with: [L.A.S. (Pre) 1995]

Correct Answer: (b) Electoral reforms
Solution:Dinesh Goswami was Law Minister in V.P. Singh Government in 1989. The Representation of People (Amendment) Act, 1996 was based on the recommendations of Dinesh Goswami Committee. This Committee recommended the government funding of the Parliamentary elections.

Electoral reforms refer to the changes or improvements made to the electoral process to ensure the integrity and transparency of the electoral system. These reforms are necessary to maintain the credibility of the electoral process and to ensure that every vote counts.

  • Ensuring free and fair elections (Article 324): Electoral reforms aim to address the issues of electoral malpractices and ensure that elections are conducted in a free and fair manner.
  • Enhancing voter participation: Electoral reforms aim to increase voter turnout and to address the issue of voter apathy, difficulty in accessing polling booths, etc.
  • Reducing the influence of money and muscle power: Electoral reforms help to reduce the influence of money and muscle power by regulating campaign finance and ensuring the safety of voters.
  • Encouraging transparency and accountability: Electoral reforms initiate the measures such as mandatory disclosure of criminal records by candidates and the use of technology to monitor the electoral process.
  • Addressing electoral inequalities: Electoral reforms try to bring down the inequalities such as the under-representation of women and marginalized communities.

44. Read the following statements in relation to reservation of seats in Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly, and choose the correct option: [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]

Statement I: Out of the 543 elected seats in the Lok Sabha, 84 are reserved for Scheduled Castes and 44 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes.

Statement II: Decision, on which constituency is to be reserved, is taken by the Delimitation Commission.

Statement III : The Delimitation Commission is appointed by the Lok Sabha Speaker.

Correct Answer: (c) Statement I and III are false, but Statement II is true.
Solution:Seats are reserved in the Lok Sabha for the members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. As per the order issued by the Delimitation Commission in 2008, out of 543 elected seats in the Lok Sabha, 84 seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes, and 47 seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes. Thus, Statement I is false. The Delimitation Commission is constituted by the Central Government under the Law made by the Parliament. The main purpose of the Commission is to rationalize the structure and composition of the electoral constituencies on the principle of "One Vote and One Value. The "decision on which constituency is to be reserved, is taken by the Delimitation Commission. Thus, Statement II is true, while statement III is false.

45. With reference to the Delimitation Commission, consider the following statements: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2012]

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, no modifications can be done in the orders.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Solution:The Delimitation Commission is formed by Government of India. The main task of the Commission is to redraw the boundaries of the various assemblies and Lok Sabha constituencies based on the latest census. It is a powerful institution. The orders of the Delimitation Commission cannot be challenged in a Court of Law. The orders of the Delimitation Commission are laid before the Lok Sabha or the State Legislative Assembly, but they cannot effect any modifications in the orders. So far, 5 Delimitation Commissions (1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002 and latest in march 2020) have been established in India.

46. Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R) : [U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2013]

Assertion (A): The system of proportional representation may solve the problem of minority representation to some extent.

Reason (R): The system of proportional representation enables due representation to all type of groups based on ethnicity, gender, interests, and ideologies.

Choose the correct answer from the code given below:

Code:

Correct Answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Solution:The system of proportional representation solves the problem of minority representation by providing due representation to all sections of society. The system of proportional representation enables due representation to all type of groups based on ethnicity, gender, interests and ideologies. Thus, assertion (A) and Reason (R) both are correct, and reason (R) is the correct explanation of assertion (A).

India currently uses the First Past the Post (FPTP) system, where the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins.
The FPTP system is simple and provides stability to the executive, but it can lead to unrepresentative governments.

47. The system of proportional representation as an electoral mechanism ensures [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2013 U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]

Correct Answer: (d) Representation of minorities
Solution:
  • The system of proportional representation solves the problem of minority representation by providing due representation to all sections of society. The system of proportional representation enables due representation to all type of groups based on ethnicity, gender, interests and ideologies.
  • The Proportional Representation (PR) system ensures representation of all parties based on their vote share.
  • The most commonly used PR system is the 'party list PR' where voters vote for the party (and not individual candidates) and then the parties get seats in proportion to their vote share.
    First Past the Post System:
  • India currently uses the First Past the Post (FPTP) system, where the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins.
  • The FPTP system is simple and provides stability to the executive, but it can lead to unrepresentative governments.

48. Proportional representation is not necessary for a country where: [I.A.S. (Pre) 1997]

Correct Answer: (b) a two-party system has developed
Solution:The objective of a proportional representation system is to provide representation to each group in proper proportion. It becomes insignificant in a country where a two-party system has developed.

India currently uses the First Past the Post (FPTP) system, where the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins.
The FPTP system is simple and provides stability to the executive, but it can lead to unrepresentative governments.

49. What is the version of the machine VVPAT used for voting in India? [65th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2019]

Correct Answer: (c) M3
Solution:M3 version of the VVPAT machines is used for voting in India. M3 EVMs are the third-generation EVMs. It can keep data of 384 candidates M3 EVMs also has added features like Tamper Detection and Self Diagnostics.

About Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT)

  • It was first introduced in India in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
  • It is an independent system that consists of two parts, namely, a VVPAT Printer and VVPAT Status Display Unit (VSDU) attachedto the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), that allow the voters to verify that their votes are cast as intended.
  • When a vote is cast, a slip is printed containing the serial number, name, and symbol of the candidate and remains exposed through a transparent window for 7 seconds.
  • Thereafter, this printed slip automatically gets cut and falls into the sealed drop box of the VVPAT.

50. The Election Commission was converted into a 'Three members Commission' in the following year: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]

Correct Answer: (c) 1989
Solution:There used to be a Chief Election Commissioner only in the Election Commission of India. Two additional Commissioners were appointed to the Election Commission on October 16, 1989, but they served only upto January 1, 1990. Again two, additional Election Commissioners were appointed on October 1, 1993 and since then, the Commission had three members.

Constitutional provisions:

  • Article 324 empowers the ECI to supervise, direct, and control the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of all elections to Parliament and state legislatures.
  • Article 325 ensures no one is excluded from the electoral rolls based on religion, race, caste, or sex.
  • Article 326 establishes adult suffrage (voting rights for all citizens aged 18 and above) as the basis for elections.
  • Article 327 allows Parliament to make laws regarding elections to Parliament and state legislatures.
  • Article 328 empowers state legislatures to make provisions related to elections within the state.
  • Article 329 prohibits judicial interference in electoral matters.