Political Parties (Indian Polity and Governance)

Total Questions: 54

41. What was the date when the Anti-defection Bill was passed? [U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2008]

Correct Answer: (b) 15 February, 1985
Solution:The Anti-Defection Law was passed by the Parliament on 15 February, 1985 and came into force on 1-March, 1985. The 52nd amendment to the Constitution by amending Article 101, 102, 190 and 191 and adding the 10th Schedule laid down the process by which member of House may be disqualified on the grounds of defection.

42. Which one of the following is not covered by the Anti-Defection Law? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010]

Correct Answer: (b) Large defections in a Party in various spell.
Solution:The 10th Schedule to the Constitution, popularly known as the Anti-Defection Law, introduced by the Constitution (52nd Amendment) Act, 1985 laid down the process by which the member of a political party may be disqualified on the grounds of defection. It makes provisions for an-bloc defection in a party, smaller defection in a single spell and party members in the Parliament casting vote to support or topple a government. Larger defections in a party in various spell are not provided under this law.
  • Defection refers to switching political allegiance, particularly when a member of a political party leaves the party and joins another party or becomes independent.
  • Anti-defection Law in India was enacted in 1985 through the 52nd Amendment Act of 1985 as part of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India. Anti-defection laws aim to prevent or discourage defection
    by imposing penalties on politicians who switch parties or otherwise violate party discipline.
  • These laws may be designed to ensure that politicians are held accountable to the voters who elected them and to maintain the stability and cohesion of political parties.
  • In some countries, anti-defection laws allow political parties to expel members who defect, while in others, they may disqualify defectors from holding public office or impose other penalties.

43. The political parties got the Constitutional recognition for the first time in the year – [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010]

Correct Answer: (c) 1985
Solution:The political parties got the Constitutional recognition for the first time in 1985 by the Constitution when the 10th Schedule was added to the Constitution to curb defection.

Political parties are voluntary associations or organized groups of individuals who share similar political views and seek power through constitutional means to advance national interests.
In modern democratic states, there are four types of political parties
1. Reactionary parties that cling to the old socio-economic and political institutions
2. Conservative parties that believe in the status quo
3. Liberal parties that aim to change and reform the existing institutions
4. Radical parties aim to establish a new order by overthrowing the existing institutions
Following the ideologies, political parties are also categorized. Political scientists have positioned conservative and reactionary parties on the right, liberal parties in the middle, and radical parties on the left.

44. The merger of a political party with another political party in India is recognised in which of the following conditions? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]

Correct Answer: (c) When not less than two-third members of the legislature party have agreed to such merger.
Solution:If a member goes out of his party as a result of a merger of the party with another party. A merger takes place when two-third of the members of the party have agreed to such a merger. Therefore, option (c) is correct.
  • Defection refers to switching political allegiance, particularly when a member of a political party leaves the party and joins another party or becomes independent.
  • Anti-defection Law in India was enacted in 1985 through the 52nd Amendment Act of 1985 as part of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India. Anti-defection laws aim to prevent or discourage defection
    by imposing penalties on politicians who switch parties or otherwise violate party discipline.
  • These laws may be designed to ensure that politicians are held accountable to the voters who elected them and to maintain the stability and cohesion of political parties.
  • In some countries, anti-defection laws allow political parties to expel members who defect, while in others, they may disqualify defectors from holding public office or impose other penalties.

45. With reference to anti-defection law in India, consider the following statements: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2022]

  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?

Correct Answer: (b) 2 only
Solution:The Tenth Schedule, popularly known as the Anti-Defection Law, was included in the Constitution via the 52nd Amendment Act, 1985. This law specifies that a nominated legislator cannot join any political party after six months of being appointed to the house. If they join any political party after six months, then that legislator can be disqualified. The law does not provide any time-frame within which the presiding officer has to decide a defection case. Thus only, second statement is correct.

46. Which of the following is not true about the Anti-Defection Bill? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2011]

Correct Answer: (d) The Speaker of the Lok Sabha will not be disqualified if he becomes a member of another political party later on.
Solution:According to the provisions of Anti-defection Laws provided in 10th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, the Speaker of Lok Sabha before the election as a member of a party if he voluntarily leaves his membership and does not rejoin that party until he serves on that post cannot be disqualified. But if he becomes the member of any other party, then he may be disqualified. Thus, option (d) is incorrect.
  • Defection refers to switching political allegiance, particularly when a member of a political party leaves the party and joins another party or becomes independent.
  • Anti-defection Law in India was enacted in 1985 through the 52nd Amendment Act of 1985 as part of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India. Anti-defection laws aim to prevent or discourage defection
    by imposing penalties on politicians who switch parties or otherwise violate party discipline.
  • These laws may be designed to ensure that politicians are held accountable to the voters who elected them and to maintain the stability and cohesion of political parties.
  • In some countries, anti-defection laws allow political parties to expel members who defect, while in others, they may disqualify defectors from holding public office or impose other penalties.

47. A member of State Legislature/Parliament is considered an exception of disqualification on the ground of defection in India, in which of the following condition? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]

Correct Answer: (c) In both of these
Solution:If a member, after being elected as the presiding officer of the house, voluntarily gives up the membership of his party or rejoins it after he ceases to hold that office. This exemption has been provided in view of the dignity and impartiality of his office. Therefore it is considered an exception of disqualification on the ground of defection in India. So option (c) is the correct answer.

48. The Anti-Defection Law was enacted as early as 1979 in- [I.A.S. (Pre) 1993]

Correct Answer: (b) Jammu and Kashmir
Solution:

Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir in 1979 passed the ‘Anti-Defection Law.’ According to its provision, if any Member of the Legislative Assembly leaves his party, then he shall not remain a member of the Legislative Assembly.

  • Defection refers to switching political allegiance, particularly when a member of a political party leaves the party and joins another party or becomes independent.
  • Anti-defection Law in India was enacted in 1985 through the 52nd Amendment Act of 1985 as part of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India. Anti-defection laws aim to prevent or discourage defection
    by imposing penalties on politicians who switch parties or otherwise violate party discipline.
  • These laws may be designed to ensure that politicians are held accountable to the voters who elected them and to maintain the stability and cohesion of political parties.
  • In some countries, anti-defection laws allow political parties to expel members who defect, while in others, they may disqualify defectors from holding public office or impose other penalties.

49. Consider the table given below providing some details of the results of the election to the Karnataka State Legislative Assembly held in December, 1994. [I.A.S. (Pre) 1995]

Political PartyPercentage of Popular Votes obtainedNumber of Seats secured
Janta Dal36116
Congress3135
BJP20.440

In terms of electoral analysis, the voter-seat distortion is to be explained as the result of the adoption of the:

Correct Answer: (c) First-past-the-post system
Solution:

First-past-the-post system is a method in which a member is considered elected on the basis the highest received votes. There is no importance of percentage of the total votes under this system. In India, the system is quite popular in State Legislative Assemblies and House of the People.

In the FPTP system, the entire country is divided into small geographical units called constituencies. Every constituency elects one representative, where a voter votes for one candidate. A candidate who gets more votes than other candidates is declared the winner. The winning candidate need not get a majority, i.e. 50%+1 of the votes. Some examples of countries that follow the FPTP system include India, UK, Canada etc.
In the case of FPTP, a party may get more seats than votes in the legislature. In the 1984 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress party came to power winning 415 of the 543 Lok Sabha seats -more than 80% of the seats, but got only 48% of the votes in elections. Therefore, the Congress party won a greater share of seats than its share of votes. Moreover, this system generally gives the largest party or coalition some extra bonus seats, which is more than their share of votes would allow.

50. To be officially recognized by the Speaker of Lok Sabha as an Opposition Group, a party or coalition of parties must have at least- [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2006]

Correct Answer: (e) 54 members
Solution:

The number of members of the opposition party required to be recognized as the Party in opposition is at least 1/10 (54.3 members) of the total membership (total members-543) of the Lok Sabha. According to the “rules and tradition” of the Indian Parliament, the Party in opposition must have at least 54 seats in the Lok Sabha to rightfully gain and claim the mantle of the opposition party.