Political Parties

1. Consider the following statements regarding the political parties in India: [45ᵗʰ - B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2001]

1. The Representation of the People Act, 1951 provides for the registration of political parties.

2. Registration of political parties is carried out by the Election Commission.

3. A National level political party is one which is recognized in four or more states.

4. During 1999 general elections, there were six National and 48 State level parties recognized by the Election Commission.

Which of the statement above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 4
(b) 1 and 3
(c) 2 and 4
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Solution:The Representation of the People Act, 1951 provides for the registration of political parties. The registration of political parties is carried out by the Election Commission of India.

The Election Commission has decided that a political party shall be eligible to be recognized as a National party if:

(i) It secures at least six percent (6%) of the valid votes polled in any four or more states at general election to the House of People (Lok Sabha) or to the State Legislative Assembly (Rajya Vidhan Sabha) and wins at least four seats in the House of People from any State or States, or it wins at least two percent (2%) seats in the House of People (i.e., 11 seats in the existing House having 543 members), and these members should be elected from at least three different States. Currently, there are 8 national political parties in India.

2. Who is empowered to recognize various political parties in India as National or Regional Parties? [45ᵗʰ - B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2001]

(a) The Parliament
(b) The President
(c) The Election Commission
(d) The Supreme Court

Correct Answer: (c) The Election Commission

Solution:The Election Commission accords recognition to political parties as National or State Parties in accordance with the norms laid down in the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.

3. Who recognises the political parties in India? [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]

(a) President of India
(b) Election Commission of India
(c) Ministry of Law and Justice
(d) Speaker of Lok Sabha

Correct Answer: (b) Election Commission of India

Solution:The Election Commission of India provides recognition to the political parties in India. The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, provides for the recognition of political parties.

4. Political parties in India are registered and recognized by which of the following? [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]

(a) The Respective Election Commission of States
(b) The Elections Commission of India
(c) The Law Commission of India
(d) The Law Ministry of Government of India

Correct Answer: (b) The Elections Commission of India

Solution:The Election Commission of India provides recognition to the political parties in India. The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, provides for the recognition of political parties.

5. A party gets recognition as a national party when — [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2011]

(a) It gets 5% of total votes.
(b) It contests elections in all constituencies.
(c) It receives power in more than four States.
(d) It receives 5% of the votes in four States.
(e) None of the above

Correct Answer: (e) None of the above

Solution:A political party gets recognized as a National Party by the Election Commission if it fulfills any of the three following conditions:
(1) If the party wins 2 percent of seats in the Lok Sabha from at least three different States; or
(2) In Lok Sabha or Legislative Assembly, the party secures 6 percent of the total valid votes in at least four States, and it wins at least four seats in the House of the People from any State or States; or
(3) A party has got recognition as a State party in at least four or more States.

6. To be recognized as a National Party in India, a party must have secured at least how much percentage of votes in the previous election? [66th B.P.S.C. (Pre) (Re-Exam), 2020]

(e) None of the above / More than one of the above
(a) At least 10 percent of valid votes in four or more States
(b) At least 4 percent of valid votes in four or more States
(c) At least 15 percent of valid votes in four or more States
(d) At least 6 percent of valid votes in more than half of the States

Correct Answer: (e) None of the above / More than one of the above

Solution:A political party gets recognized as a National Party by the Election Commission if it fulfills any of the three following conditions:
(1) If the party wins 2 percent of seats in the Lok Sabha from at least three different States; or
(2) In Lok Sabha or Legislative Assembly, the party secures 6 percent of the total valid votes in at least four States, and it wins at least four seats in the House of the People from any State or States; or
(3) A party has got recognition as a State party in at least four or more States.

7. A political party in India can be recognized as a National Party if it has state party status in at least: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]

(a) Three states
(b) Four states
(c) Five states
(d) Seven states

Correct Answer: (b) Four states

Solution:A political party gets recognized as a National Party by the Election Commission if it fulfills any of the three following conditions:
(1) If the party wins 2 percent of seats in the Lok Sabha from at least three different States; or
(2) In Lok Sabha or Legislative Assembly, the party secures 6 percent of the total valid votes in at least four States, and it wins at least four seats in the House of the People from any State or States; or
(3) A party has got recognition as a State party in at least four or more States.

8. A political party is recognized as a regional party if: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]

(a) It gets 4% votes in the State either in Lok Sabha or the Assembly election.
(b) It gets 6% votes in the State either in Lok Sabha or the Assembly election.
(c) It gets 8% votes in the State either in Lok Sabha or the Assembly election.
(d) None of the above.

Correct Answer: (c) It gets 8% votes in the State either in Lok Sabha or the Assembly election.

Solution:According to the Amendment of Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, a party has to live up to at least one of the following qualifications to be acknowledged as a State party-

(1) If the party wins at least 3 seats or 3% of the seats whichever is greater, in the State Legislative Assembly; ог

(2) If it wins minimum 1 seat in the Lok Sabha for every 25 seats or any fraction allotted to that concerned State; or

(3) If the party wins Lok Sabha seat with 6 percent of valid votes in the latest Lok Sabha elections or 2 Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) seats with 6 percent of valid votes in the latest state assembly election; or

(4) The status of a State party can still be bestowed upon an entity even if it fails to win any seats in the Lok Sabha or the Assembly, if it manages to win at least 8% of the total votes cast in the entire State. Thus, this is clear that the most suitable option is (c) but U.P.P.S.C has mentioned option (d) as the correct answer in their answer key which is incorrect.

9. A party can be recognised as a State Party when: [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]

(i) it secures 6% of the total valid votes polled in the state at a general election to the Legislative Assembly of the state concerned.

(ii) it wins 2 Assembly seats at a general election to the Legislative Assembly of the state concerned.

(iii) it secures 4% of the total valid votes polled in the state at a general election to the Lok Sabha of the state concerned.

(iv) it secures 6% of the total valid votes polled in the state at a general election to the Lok Sabha of the state concerned.

(a) Only (i) or (iii)
(b) Only (i) or (iv)
(c) Only (i) and (ii)
(d) None (i) and (ii)

Correct Answer: (c) Only (i) and (ii)