Elections, Representation of the People Act and Parties MCQs for UPSC

This Elections, Representation of the People Act and Political Parties MCQ practice paper for UPSC Prelims has 15 carefully selected questions on the Election Commission, electoral laws, voting systems, the Model Code of Conduct, EVMs and the party system. Each answer comes with a simple explanation, so you can strengthen your concepts while you practise.

Why Elections and Political Parties Matters

Elections are the base of the Indian democracy, and the topic gives questions almost every year, both in the Prelims and in GS II. The facts are limited, but the questions mix the Constitution, the laws and the news about electoral reforms. A student who knows the articles, the acts and the key reforms can score easily in this area.

Instructions

• Total questions: 15. Suggested time: 15 minutes.
• Each correct answer gives 2 marks and each wrong answer deducts 0.66 marks, as in the real Prelims.
• Attempt the questions first and check the answer key only after you finish.

Practice Questions

Q1. Which Article of the Constitution establishes the Election Commission of India?
(a) Article 280
(b) Article 315
(c) Article 324
(d) Article 368

Q2. The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office in the same manner as:
(a) A Governor
(b) A Supreme Court judge
(c) The Prime Minister
(d) The Comptroller and Auditor General

Q3. The right to vote to every citizen above a certain age is guaranteed by:
(a) Article 325
(b) Article 326
(c) Article 327
(d) Article 329

Q4. The minimum age for contesting the Lok Sabha election is:
(a) 18 years
(b) 21 years
(c) 25 years
(d) 30 years

Q5. Which Act deals with the preparation of electoral rolls and the delimitation of constituencies?
(a) Representation of the People Act, 1950
(b) Representation of the People Act, 1951
(c) Anti-Defection Act
(d) Companies Act

Q6. The system of election used for the Lok Sabha is:
(a) Proportional representation by the single transferable vote
(b) First-past-the-post
(c) List system
(d) Alternative vote

Q7. The Rajya Sabha members are elected by:
(a) Direct vote of the people
(b) The elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies by proportional representation through the single transferable vote
(c) The President
(d) The Lok Sabha

Q8. The President of India is elected by an electoral college consisting of:
(a) Only the members of the Lok Sabha
(b) The elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies
(c) All the members of Parliament and the Governors
(d) Members of the Rajya Sabha and the Panchayats

Q9. NOTA (None of the Above) was introduced in India after a judgment of the Supreme Court in:
(a) 2003
(b) 2009
(c) 2013
(d) 2019

Q10. The Model Code of Conduct comes into force from:
(a) The day of voting
(b) The date of the announcement of the election schedule
(c) The day of the nomination
(d) The day of the results

Q11. VVPAT stands for:
(a) Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail
(b) Voter Validated Public Audit Test
(c) Verified Voting Paper Accountability Tool
(d) Voter Visible Paper Auto Tally

Q12. Disputes regarding the election of the Members of Parliament are decided by:
(a) The Election Commission
(b) The High Court through an election petition
(c) The Speaker
(d) The President

Q13. The recognition of national and state parties and the allotment of symbols is done under:
(a) The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968
(b) The RPA 1950
(c) The Tenth Schedule
(d) The Companies Act

Q14. The delimitation of constituencies is done by:
(a) The Election Commission directly
(b) The Delimitation Commission, an independent body set up by Parliament
(c) The Speaker
(d) The President on his own

Q15. Which amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years?
(a) 42nd Amendment
(b) 44th Amendment
(c) 61st Amendment
(d) 73rd Amendment

Answer Key with Explanations

1. Q1: (c) Article 324 vests the superintendence, direction and control of elections in the Election Commission.
2. Q2: (b) The CEC can be removed in the same manner and on the same grounds as a judge of the Supreme Court.
3. Q3: (b) Article 326 provides for elections on the basis of adult suffrage. The voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 by the 61st Amendment (1988).
4. Q4: (c) A candidate must be at least 25 years old for the Lok Sabha and the Assembly, and 30 years for the Rajya Sabha.
5. Q5: (a) The RPA 1950 deals with the electoral rolls and the allocation of seats. The RPA 1951 deals with the conduct of elections, qualifications and disqualifications and corrupt practices.
6. Q6: (b) In the first-past-the-post (simple majority) system, the candidate who gets the most votes in a constituency wins.
7. Q7: (b) The Rajya Sabha members are elected indirectly by the elected members of the state assemblies, by the single transferable vote system.
8. Q8: (b) The electoral college has the elected members of both Houses and the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies (and those of Delhi and Puducherry). The nominated members do not vote.
9. Q9: (c) In the PUCL v. Union of India case (2013), the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to provide the NOTA option in the EVMs.
10. Q10: (b) The Model Code of Conduct, a set of guidelines for parties and candidates, comes into force as soon as the Election Commission announces the election schedule.
11. Q11: (a) The Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail allows a voter to see a slip with the symbol of the candidate for which the vote was cast for about seven seconds.
12. Q12: (b) Election petitions are filed before the High Court of the concerned state, and an appeal can be made to the Supreme Court.
13. Q13: (a) The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 governs the recognition of the parties and the allotment of the symbols.
14. Q14: (b) The Delimitation Commission is set up under the Delimitation Act. Its orders have the force of law and cannot be questioned in any court.
15. Q15: (c) The 61st Constitution Amendment Act, 1988 lowered the voting age to 18 years.

Key Concepts to Revise After This Test

Quick Fact Sheet

• The first general election of India was held in 1951-52.
• The Election Commission was made a multi-member body in 1993.
• EVMs were first used in an election in Kerala in 1982 in a limited way, and were used nationwide in 2004.
• The Representation of the People Act 1951 disqualifies a person convicted for a certain term of imprisonment.
• The Election Commission also conducts the elections to the offices of the President and the Vice-President.
• The state election commissions conduct the local body elections under Article 243K.
• A candidate must submit an affidavit on the criminal cases, assets and educational qualification.

How to Prepare Elections and Political Parties for the Prelims

Prepare a table of the main articles on elections (324 to 329), with the subject of each. Make a one-page chart of the RPA 1950 and 1951, with the main provisions. Follow the news on electoral reforms, the Election Commission and the court judgments. Practise statement-based questions. You can also read our free Indian Polity and Governance notes for simple revision, and use our other practice papers on the site for mixed practice.

Tricks for Solving Elections and Political Parties Questions

• Compare the two RPAs. 1950 is about the rolls and the seats, and 1951 is about the conduct and disqualification.
• Know who elects whom. Direct election for the Lok Sabha, and indirect election for the Rajya Sabha and the President.
• Know the dates. The 61st Amendment (1988) and the NOTA (2013) are often asked.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Confusing the roles of the Election Commission and the state election commissions.
• Mixing the system of elections for different offices.
• Forgetting that the nominated members do not vote in the presidential election.
• Ignoring the latest electoral reforms in the news.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many questions come from Elections in the UPSC Prelims?

Usually 1 to 3 questions come from this area as a part of Polity.

What is the Model Code of Conduct?

It is a set of rules for the parties and the candidates, which comes into force when the election schedule is announced.

What is the difference between RPA 1950 and RPA 1951?

The 1950 Act deals with the electoral rolls and the allocation of seats, and the 1951 Act deals with the conduct of elections and disqualifications.

What is NOTA?

It is the option to reject all the candidates in an election, which was introduced after a Supreme Court judgment in 2013.

Who conducts the local body elections?

The State Election Commissions conduct them under Articles 243K and 243ZA.

How should I prepare this topic?

Learn the articles and the acts in a table and read the news on the electoral reforms.

Is it useful for the Mains?

Yes. It is a part of GS II, and gives content for the essay on democracy and governance.