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Elections Political Parties

Asked 38 times in UPSC Prelims · first asked 1995 · last asked 2025

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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?

2025Polity
AI only
BII only
CBoth I and II
DNeither I nor II

Explanation

The first statement is incorrect as the decision regarding disqualification under the 10th Schedule is taken by the Presiding Officer of the House, not the President. The second statement is also incorrect as the Constitution of India does mention 'political party' in the 10th Schedule, which deals with disqualification on the grounds of defection.

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

2024Polity
AOne
BTwo
CThree
DFour

Explanation

The Government of India has constituted three Delimitation Commissions so far. The purpose of these commissions is to readjust the boundaries of parliamentary and assembly constituencies based on the latest census figures to ensure fair representation in the legislative bodies.

Consider the following pairs: Party - Its Leader: 1. Bharatiya Jana Sangh - Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee 2. Socialist Party - C. Rajagopalachari 3. Congress for Democracy - Jagjivan Ram 4. Swatantra Party - Acharya Narendra Dev. How many of the above are correctly matched?

2024Polity
AOnly one
BOnly two
COnly three
DAll four

Explanation

The pairs provided in the question are correctly matched. Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee led the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, C. Rajagopalachari led the Socialist Party, Jagjivan Ram led the Congress for Democracy, and Acharya Narendra Dev led the Swatantra Party. These leaders were associated with the respective political parties mentioned.

Consider the following statements in respect of election to the President of India: 1. The members nominated to either House of the Parliament or the Legislative Assemblies of States are also eligible to be included in the Electoral College. 2. Higher the number of elective Assembly seats, higher is the value of vote of each MLA of that State. 3. The value of vote of each MLA of Madhya Pradesh is greater than that of Kerala. 4. The value of vote of each MLA of Puducherry is higher than that of Arunachal Pradesh because the ratio of total population to total number of elective seats in Puducherry is greater as compared to Arunachal Pradesh. How many of the above statements are correct?

2023Polity
AOnly one
BOnly two
COnly three
DAll four

Explanation

The statement that is correct is the first one, which states that members nominated to either House of the Parliament or the Legislative Assemblies of States are eligible to be included in the Electoral College for the election of the President of India. This is in line with the provisions of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952.

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?

2022Polity
A1 only
B2 only
CBoth 1 and 2
DNeither 1 nor 2

Explanation

The Anti-Defection Law in India does not specify any time-frame within which the presiding officer has to decide a defection case. This allows for flexibility in handling such cases and ensures that decisions are made based on the merits of each case rather than being bound by a strict timeline.

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?

2021Polity
A1 only
B2 only
C1 and 3
D2 and 3

Explanation

In India, there is no law restricting candidates from contesting in one Lok Sabha election from multiple constituencies. However, it is important to note that in the 1991 Lok Sabha Election, Shri Devi Lal did indeed contest from three Lok Sabha constituencies, making statement 2 correct.

Consider the following statements: 1. According to the Constitution of India, a person who is eligible to vote can be made a minister in a state for six months even if he/she is not a member of that state. 2. According to the Representation of People Act, 1951, a person convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to imprisonment for five years is permanently disqualified from contesting an election even after his release from prison. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

2020Polity
A1 only
B2 only
CBoth 1 and 2
DNeither 1 nor 2

Explanation

In the Indian Constitution, a non-legislator can serve as a state minister for up to six months if they are eligible to vote. The Representation of People Act, 1951 does not have a provision for permanent disqualification.

With reference to the election of the President of India, consider the following statements: 1. The value of the vote of each MLA varies from State to State. 2. The value of the vote of MPs of the Lok Sabha is more than the value of the vote of MPs of the Rajya Sabha. Which of the statements given above is/are Correct?

2018Polity
A1 only
B2 only
CBoth 1 and 2
DNeither 1 nor 2

Explanation

In the election of the President of India, the value of a MLA's vote is determined by dividing the total population of the state by the number of MLAs, leading to variations in value across states. On the other hand, the value of an MP's vote, whether from the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha, remains constant at 708.

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

2017Polity
Aanyone residing in India
Ba resident of the constituency from which the election is to be contested
Cany citizen of India whose name appears in the electoral roll of a constituency
Dany citizen of India

Explanation

To run for a Lok Sabha seat, a person must submit a nomination paper. The correct option is (c) - any citizen of India whose name is listed in the electoral roll of a constituency.

Consider the following statements: 1. In the election for Lok Sabha or State Assembly, the winning candidate must get at least 50 per cent of the votes polled, to be declared elected. 2. According to the provisions laid down in the Constitution of India, in Lok Sabha, the Speaker's post goes to the majority party and the Deputy Speaker's to the Opposition. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

2017Polity
A1 only
B2 only
CBoth 1 and 2
DNeither 1 nor 2

Explanation

In the Indian electoral system, the candidate who receives the most votes wins, regardless of whether they have obtained a majority of over 50%. The allocation of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions in the Lok Sabha is based on an informal agreement among political parties, not a specified rule in the Constitution of India.

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 by-elections. 3. Election Commission resolves the disputes relating to splits/mergers of recognized political parties. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

2017Polity
A1 and 2 only
B2 only
C2 and 3 only
D3 only

Explanation

The Election Commission of India comprises five members. The responsibility of determining the election schedule for general elections and by-elections lies with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Additionally, the Election Commission is tasked with resolving disputes regarding the splits or mergers of recognized political parties. The correct statements among the options provided are that the second statement is correct and the third statement is also correct. Therefore, option (d) "3 only" is the correct answer.

Consider the following pairs:

2009Polity
A1 only
B2 only
C1 and 2
D2 and 3

Explanation

In this world panorama, we have three pairs of international banks. ABN AMRO Bank N.V. is based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, while Barclays PLC has its headquarters in London, UK. Finally, Kookmin Bank holds the title of the largest bank in South Korea in terms of asset value and market capitalization. The correct pair is Barclays PLC, the global financial services company based in London.

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:

2008Polity
AA-1; B-2; C-3; D-4
BA-3; B-4; C-1; D-2
CA-1; B-4; C-3; D-2
DA-3; B-2; C-1; D-4

Explanation

In the World Panorama question, you were asked to match individuals from List-I with their respective professions from List-II and choose the correct combination. The correct answer is option (b), where A-3 corresponds to Sabyasachi Mukherjee, B-4 to Aniruddha Bahal, C-1 to Vikram Akula, and D-2 to Yusuf Khwaja Hamied.

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:

2008Polity
AA-4; B-1; C-2; D-3
BA-2; B-3; C-4; D-1
CA-4; B-3; C-2; D-1
DA-2; B-1; C-4; D-3

Explanation

In the matching exercise, List-I contains information about various intelligence agencies around the world, such as Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, China's Ministry of State Security, the UK's Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), and Israel's Mossad. Participants had to pair these agencies correctly with List-II. The correct matching code was (c), which associated A with 4, B with 3, C with 2, and D with 1.

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:

2007Polity
AA-2; B-1; C-3; D-4
BA-4; B-3; C-1; D-2
CA-2; B-3; C-1; D-4
DA-4; B-1; C-3; D-2

Explanation

In this question, you are required to match individuals from List-I with their respective positions or roles from List-II and choose the correct combination from the options provided. The correct answer is option (c). Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi is the former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and currently holds the position of Minority Leader. Dr Margaret Chan serves as the Director-General of WHO, having been appointed in November 2006. Pascal Lamy, a French professional, previously held the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organization. Steven Anthony "Steve" Ballmer, an American businessman, served as the CEO of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014.

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:

2007Polity
AA-2; B-1; C-4; D-3
BA-4; B-3; C-2; D-1
CA-2; B-3; C-4; D-1
DA-4; B-1; C-2; D-3

Explanation

In this question, you were asked to match four companies with their respective headquarters. The options were (a) A-2; B-1; C-4; D-3, (b) A-4; B-3; C-2; D-1, (c) A-2; B-3; C-4; D-1, and (d) A-4; B-1; C-2; D-3. The correct answer is (c). Chevron Corporation, a multinational energy company, is based in California. AT and T Inc., a telecommunications corporation, is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., a semiconductor company, is located in Sunnyvale, California. Enercon GmbH, the fourth-largest wind turbine manufacturer globally, is situated in Germany.

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:

2006Polity
AA-4; B-3; C-2; D-1
BA-2; B-1; C-4; D-3
CA-4; B-1; C-2; D-3
DA-2; B-3; C-4; D-1

Explanation

In this question, you were asked to match the individuals in List-I with their respective roles in List-II. The correct matching is A-4 (Harold Pinter), B-1 (Jacques Diouf), C-2 (José Manuel Durao Barroso), and D-3 (Professor Raymond Lafitte). Therefore, the correct answer is option (c). Harold Pinter was an English playwright, screenwriter, director, and actor who won the Nobel Prize. Jacques Diouf, a Senegalese diplomat, served as the Director-General of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization. José Manuel Durao Barroso, a Portuguese leftist politician, was the 11th President of the European Commission. In 2005, after failed talks between India and Pakistan, the World Bank classified Pakistan's objections as a 'Difference' and appointed Professor Raymond Lafitte, a Swiss civil engineer, to adjudicate the matter.

Consider the following tasks: 1. Superintendence, direction and conduct of free and fair elections 2. Preparation of electoral rolls for all elections to the Parliament, state Legislatures and the Office of the President and the Vice-President 3. Giving recognition to political, parties and allotting election symbols to political parties and individuals contesting the election 4. Proclamation of final verdict in case of election disputes. Which of the above are the functions of the Election Commission of India?

2004Polity
A1, 2 and 3
B2, 3 and 4
C1 and 3
D1, 2 and 4

Explanation

The Election Commission of India is responsible for tasks such as overseeing, directing, and ensuring the fairness of elections, preparing electoral rolls for various elections, recognizing political parties, assigning election symbols, and announcing final decisions in cases of election disputes. The High Court, not the Election Commission, has the ultimate authority to make final rulings in election dispute cases.

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below:

2004Polity
AA-2; B-3; C-4; D-1
BA-4; B-1; C-2; D-3
CA-2; B-1; C-4; D-3
DA-4; B-3; C-2; D-1

Explanation

In this question, you were asked to match the organizations with their respective headquarters. The correct matching is as follows: United Nations Development Programme - New York, United Nations Environment Programme - Nairobi, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation - Vienna, and Universal Postal Union - Beru. The correct answer is option (b).

Consider the following statements: In the electoral college for Presidential Election in India, 1. the value of the vote of an elected Member of Legislative Assembly equals State Population divided by Number of Elected MLAs of the State multiplied by 100 2. the value of the vote of an elected Member of Parliament equals to total value of the votes of all elected MLA's divided by total number of elected MP's 3. there were more than 5000 members in the latest elections. Which of these statements is/are correct?

2003Polity
A1 and 2
BOnly 2
C1 and 3
DOnly 3

Explanation

In the electoral college for the Presidential Election in India, the value of an elected Member of Parliament's vote is determined by dividing the total value of all elected Members of Legislative Assembly's votes by the total number of Members of Parliament.

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:

2002Polity
ARs 5,000 and Rs 2,500
BRs 10,000 and Rs 2,500
CRs 10,000 and Rs 5,000
DRs 15,000 and Rs 7,500

Explanation

In the context of Lok Sabha elections, the security deposit amounts differ for general category candidates and SC/ST category candidates. The correct deposit amounts are Rs 10,000 for general category candidates and Rs 5,000 for SC/ST category candidates. In 2018, the security deposit for Lok Sabha elections was Rs 25,000, while for Assembly elections it was Rs 10,000.

Consider the following statements regarding the political parties in India: 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 the 1999 general elections, there were six national and 48 state level parties recognised by the Election commission. Which of these statement are correct?

2001Polity
A1, 2 and 4
B1 and 3
C2 and 4
D1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

In India, the Registration of Political Parties is governed by the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The Election Commission is responsible for carrying out the registration process. A political party is considered to be national level if it is recognized in four or more states. During the 1999 general elections, the Election Commission acknowledged the presence of six national level parties and 48 state level parties. Therefore, all the statements provided in the question are accurate, making option (d) - 1, 2, 3, and 4 - the correct answer.

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:

2001Polity
AA-1; B-2; C-5; D-3
BA-2; B-1; C-5; D-3
CA-1; B-2; C-3; D-4
DA-2; B-1; C-3; D-4

Explanation

In this question, you were asked to match the authors with their respective books. "The Struggle in My Life" is authored by Nelson Mandela, "The Struggle and the Triumph" is written by Lech Walesa, "Friends and Foes" is penned by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and "Rebirth" is authored by Leonid Brezhnev, the former president of the USSR. The correct match is A-2; B-1; C-5; D-3, as indicated by option (b).

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:

2001Polity
AA-2; B-1; C-4; D-5
BA-1; B-2; C-4; D-3
CA-1; B-2; C-3; D-4
DA-2; B-1; C-4; D-3

Explanation

In this question, you were asked to match a list of important days with their corresponding dates. The options provided required you to correctly pair World Environment Day with 5th June, World Forestry Day with 20th March, World Habitat Day with 3rd October, and World Ozone Day with 16th September. The correct answer was option (d), which matched the days and dates as follows: A-2; B-1; C-4; D-3.

The following news item appeared in a National daily dated 1-12-1999 : '...Parliament today rejected a Bill to grant women the right to vote and stand for office in parliamentary elections, by a margin of 32 to 30. The National Assembly was split between liberal pro-government and Shiite Muslim deputies who were in favour of women's rights, while the opposition camp grouped Sunni Muslim fundamentalists and tribal MPs. A total of 64 MPs and Ministers were present, of whom two abstained.' The Parliament referred to in this quotation is that of:

2000Polity
AKuwait
BIran
CBahrain
DSaudi Arabia

Explanation

In a news report dated 1st December 1999, it was mentioned that a parliamentary bill proposing to grant women the right to vote and run for office was rejected by the Parliament with a vote margin of 32 to 30, with 2 members abstaining. The Parliament was divided between liberal pro-government and Shiite Muslim deputies supporting women's rights, and Sunni Muslim fundamentalists and tribal MPs opposing it. The correct answer to the question on which country's Parliament this incident took place is Kuwait.

Consider the following statements about the recent amendments to the elections law by the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act 1996: 1. Any conviction for the offence of insulting the Indian National flag or the Constitution of Indian shall entail disqualification for contesting elections to Parliament and State Legislatures for six year 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 stand for 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?

1999Polity
A2 and 3
B1, 2 and 4
C1 and 3
D1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

In the recent amendments to the elections law by the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act 1996, several changes were made. These include: 1. A conviction for insulting the Indian National flag or the Constitution of India will lead to a six-year disqualification from contesting elections to Parliament and State Legislatures. 2. The security deposit required to contest Lok Sabha elections has been increased. 3. A candidate is now restricted from standing for election in more than one Parliament Constituency. 4. Elections will no longer be canceled in the event of a contesting candidate's death. The correct statements are 1, 2, and 4, as mentioned in option (b).

Which of the following Parties were not a part of the United Front Which was in power during '96-97' ? 1. Bahujana Samaj Party 2. Haryana Vikas Party 3. Samata Party 4. Asom Gana Parishad Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

1998Polity
A1, 2, 3 and 4
B1, 2 and 3
C3 and 4
D1 and 2

Explanation

During the period of '96-97', the United Front was in power. Among the options provided, the Bahujana Samaj Party, Haryana Vikas Party, and Samata Party were not part of this coalition. Therefore, the correct answer is option (b) 1, 2, and 3.

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:

1998Polity
AA-1; B-3; C-4; D-2
BA-4; B-3; C-1; D-2
CA-1; B-2; C-4; D-3
DA-4; B-2; C-1; D-3

Explanation

In this question, you were asked to match different currencies with their respective countries. The correct pairing is: Ringgit with Malaysia, Baht with Thailand, Rupiah with Indonesia, and Won with South Korea. This information was represented by option (b) in the answer choices.

Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): Reservation of thirty-three percent of seats for women in Parliament and State Legislature does not require any Constitutional amendment. Reason (R): Political parties contesting elections can allocate thirty-three percent of seats they contest to women candidates without any Constitutional amendment. In the context of the above two statements which one of the following is correct?

1997Polity
ABoth A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
BBoth A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
CA is true but R is false
DA is false but R is true

Explanation

The assertion that reservation of thirty-three percent of seats for women in Parliament and State Legislature does not require any Constitutional amendment is incorrect. In reality, such reservation would indeed require a constitutional amendment.

The Dinesh Goswami Committee recommended:

1997Polity
Athe constitution of state level election commission
Blist system of election to the Lok Sabha
CGovernmental funding of parliament elections
Da ban on the candidature of independent candidates of the parliamentary elections

Explanation

The Dinesh Goswami Committee recommended that the Government should provide funding for parliamentary elections.

Proportional representation is not necessary in a country where:

1997Polity
Athere are no reserved constituencies
Ba two-party system has developed
Cthe first past-post system prevails
Dthere is a fusion of presidential and parliamentary forms of government

Explanation

In a country where a two-party system has developed, proportional representation is not required. This is because a two-party system means that there are already two dominant parties competing in the elections. In such a scenario, proportional representation, which typically leads to the emergence of multiple parties, is not necessary. This is the reason why option (b) is the correct answer in this case.

Which one of the following is a part of the electoral college for the President but, not the forum for his impeachment?

1996Polity
ALok Sabha
BRajya Sabha
CState Legislative Councils
DState Legislative Assemblies

Explanation

As per Article 54, the electoral college for electing the President comprises members of the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and State Legislative Assemblies. However, according to Article 61, the State Legislative Assemblies are not involved in the impeachment process of the President. Therefore, the correct answer is option (d) State Legislative Assemblies.

Which one of the following countries had more or less evolved into a two-party system?

1996Polity
ASri Lanka
BBangladesh
CPakistan
DMyanmar

Explanation

All the countries listed have multiple political parties.

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

1995Polity
AThe recommendation for election is made by the government and the notification for election is issued by the Election Commission
BThe 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
CThe 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
DBoth the exercises of making a recommendation for election and that of issuing a notification in respect of it are done by the Election Commission

Explanation

In India, the correct process for the commencement of the election involves the Election Commission making the recommendation for the election, and the President and Governors of the States issuing the notification for the election.

Which of the followings political parties is/are national political parties? 1. Muslim League 2. Revolutionary Socialist Party 3. All India Forward Block 4. Peasants and Workers Party of India Codes:

1995Polity
A1, 2 and 3
B2 and 4
C3 only
DNone

Explanation

All the political parties listed, namely Muslim League, Revolutionary Socialist Party, All India Forward Block, and Peasants and Workers Party of India, are state-level parties and not national political parties.

The Dinesh Goswami Committee was concerned with:

1995Polity
Ade-nationalisation of banks
Belectoral reforms
Csteps to put down insurgency in the north-east
Dthe problem of the Chakmas

Explanation

The Dinesh Goswami Committee, formed in 1990, focused on electoral reforms. It recommended offering state support in the form of resources to political parties.

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

1995Polity
Athe polling was very poor
Bthe election was for a multi-member constituency
Cthe elected candidate's victory over his nearest rival was very marginal
Da very large number of candidates contested the election

Explanation

In State legislative assembly elections, if a candidate loses their deposit, it indicates that a significant number of candidates participated in the election. When many candidates run for office, the votes are spread out, and the winning candidate may receive less than one-sixth of the total valid votes cast. This leads to the defeated candidate failing to secure the required one-sixth threshold to retain their deposit.

Consider the table given below providing some details of the results of the election to the Karnataka State Legislature Assembly held in December, 1994 : Political Party - Percentage of Popular Votes - Number of Seats obtained secured: Janta Dal - 36 - 116, Congress - 31 - 35, BJP - 20.4 - 40. In terms of electoral analysis, the voter-seat distortion is to be explained as the result of the adoption of the:

1995Polity
Ahare system
Bcumulative vote system
Cfirst-past-the post system
Dplural vote system

Explanation

In the Karnataka State Legislature Assembly election held in December 1994, the results showed that Janta Dal received 36% of the popular votes and secured 116 seats, Congress received 31% of the popular votes and obtained 35 seats, and BJP received 20.4% of the popular votes and won 40 seats. The voter-seat distortion in this electoral analysis is attributed to the adoption of the first-past-the-post system. In this system, each constituency elects a single representative based on the candidate with the most votes, disregarding all other votes.