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Indian Polity & Governance Cluster73 Verified Questions
Electoral Reforms in India GK Questions & Answers
Electoral governance in India derives from Part XV of the Constitution (Articles 324 to 329) supplemented by the Representation of the People Acts (RPA) of 1950 and 1951. Over decades, numerous expert committees have recommended structural measures to curb money power, criminalisation, and electoral malpractices. The Tarkunde Committee (1975), appointed by Jayaprakash Narayan, recommended lowering the voting age to 18 years, later enacted by the 61st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1988. The Dinesh Goswami Committee (1990) advocated state assistance in kind to political parties, rapid disposal of election disputes, and electronic voting machines (EVMs). The Indrajit Gupta Committee (1998) examined state funding of elections, proposing partial state support in kind to recognised political parties. The Law Commission's 170th (1999) and 255th (2015) Reports stressed internal democracy in political parties and disqualification on framing of criminal charges. Judicial interventions have shaped modern voting norms: People's Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India (2013) mandated the None of the Above (NOTA) option on EVMs, while Subramanian Swamy v. Election Commission of India (2013) directed the phased introduction of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units.
High-yield conceptual summaries for competitive exams and rapid revision.
The Tarkunde Committee (1975) recommended lowering the voting age from 21 to 18, realised through the 61st Amendment (1988).
The Dinesh Goswami Committee (1990) proposed structural reforms including statutory backing for Model Code of Conduct and EVM deployment.
The Indrajit Gupta Committee (1998) recommended state funding of elections strictly in kind rather than cash subsidies.
In PUCL v. Union of India (2013), the Supreme Court directed the inclusion of the NOTA option on ballot papers and EVMs.
In Subramanian Swamy v. ECI (2013), the Supreme Court ordered nationwide implementation of VVPAT systems for verifiable auditing.
Showing 25 Curated Questions73 Total in Bank
1ID: GK-INST-00066
easyECI, CAG, UPSC & Finance Commission
Under Article 82 of the Constitution of India, which high-powered body is constituted by Parliament to readjust the territorial boundaries of electoral constituencies following a Census?
Verified Explanation
Under Article 82, Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after each Census, following which the President constitutes a Delimitation Commission whose orders have the force of law and cannot be questioned in any court.
2ID: GK-STUT-00580
hardUnion Territories & Administration
Which Constitutional Amendment Act included the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of Delhi and Puducherry in the Electoral College for electing the President of India under Article 54?
Verified Explanation
The 70th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 amended the Explanation to Article 54, including elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of Delhi and Puducherry in the Electoral College for Presidential elections.
3ID: GK-LAW-00328
easyBasic Structure, Public Interest Litigation & Precedents
In which landmark February 2024 judgment did a unanimous 5-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court strike down the Electoral Bond Scheme, 2018 as unconstitutional for violating voters' Right to Information under Article 19(1)(a)?
Verified Explanation
In ADR v. Union of India (2024 INSC 113), the 5-judge bench held that anonymous electoral bonds violate voters' right to information about political funding under Article 19(1)(a) and struck down amendments to the IT, RPA, and Companies Acts.
4ID: GK-LAW-00579
hardBasic Structure, Public Interest Litigation & Precedents
In Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) v. Union of India (February 2024), on what primary constitutional grounds did a 5-judge Constitution Bench strike down the Electoral Bond Scheme?
Verified Explanation
In ADR v. Union of India (2024), the Supreme Court unanimously struck down the Electoral Bonds Scheme and amendments to the RPA, Companies Act, and Income Tax Act, holding that anonymous corporate donations violate the voter's fundamental right to information under Article 19(1)(a).
5ID: GK-INDM-00736
easyGeneral Facts, Superlatives & Important National Days
Celebrated annually on 25 January since 2011 to encourage youth electoral participation, National Voters' Day marks the foundation day of which constitutional body?
Verified Explanation
National Voters' Day has been observed on 25 January every year since 2011 to celebrate the founding day of the Election Commission of India, which was established on 25 January 1950 pursuant to Article 324 of the Constitution.
6ID: GK-LAW-00079
hardBasic Structure, Public Interest Litigation & Precedents
In which landmark 2002 judgment did the Supreme Court mandate that voters have a fundamental right under Article 19(1)(a) to know the criminal antecedents, assets, and qualifications of electoral candidates?
Verified Explanation
In Union of India v. ADR (2002), the Supreme Court held that the right to vote is meaningless without informed choice, directing the Election Commission to make candidate disclosure affidavits mandatory under Article 19(1)(a).
7ID: GK-LAW-00575
mediumBasic Structure, Public Interest Litigation & Precedents
In Union of India v. Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR, 2002), which mandatory electoral disclosure rule was established by the Supreme Court under Article 19(1)(a)?
Verified Explanation
In Union of India v. ADR (2002), the Supreme Court held that the voter's right to know about candidates is a fundamental right under Article 19(1)(a), mandating candidates to submit an affidavit disclosing criminal records, assets, liabilities, and education.
8ID: GK-WPOL-00521
hardPolitical Systems
In electoral systems, what distinguishes 'Mixed-Member Proportional' (MMP) representation, as used in Germany and New Zealand?
Verified Explanation
Under MMP, voters have two votes (candidate and party); total seats won in parliament are proportional to the party vote, with overhang/leveling seats added if necessary.
9ID: GK-WPOL-00575
hardGlobal Parliaments
The electoral system used for electing Germany's Bundestag, combining single-member constituency voting with party-list proportional representation, is known as:
Verified Explanation
Under Germany's MMP system, voters cast two votes: the first (Erststimme) for a local constituency candidate and the second (Zweitstimme) for a party list, which determines total seat proportions.
10ID: GK-WPOL-00616
mediumPolitical Systems
What is the electoral system in which voters rank candidates by preference, and votes are redistributed from eliminated lower-ranked candidates until a candidate secures a majority?
Verified Explanation
Ranked-Choice Voting (instant-runoff voting / alternative vote) enables voters to rank candidates in order of preference, eliminating lowest-scoring candidates and reallocating their votes until a majority winner emerges.
11ID: GK-WPOL-00646
hardPolitical Systems
Which highest-averages electoral quota method, formulated by a Belgian mathematician in 1878, is the most common formula used globally to allocate seats in party-list proportional representation?
Verified Explanation
The D'Hondt method (Jefferson method) allocates parliamentary seats proportionally by dividing each party's votes by 1, 2, 3, 4, etc., slightly favoring larger political parties.
12ID: GK-POL-00578
hardPanchayati Raj & Local Governance
Under Article 243K of the Indian Constitution, the superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for and conduct of all elections to Panchayats is vested in the:
Verified Explanation
Article 243K(1) mandates that the superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for and the conduct of all elections to the Panchayats shall be vested in a State Election Commission appointed by the Governor.
13ID: GK-POL-00687
mediumUnion Executive & The Parliament of India
What constitutes the electoral college for the election of the Vice-President of India under Article 66?
Verified Explanation
Under Article 66(1), the Vice-President is elected by members of an electoral college consisting of the members of both Houses of Parliament (both elected and nominated) in accordance with proportional representation by means of single transferable vote. State legislators do not participate.
14ID: GK-POL-00731
mediumLocal Self-Government & Panchayati Raj
Under Article 243K, who is responsible for the superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to the Panchayats?
Verified Explanation
Article 243K(1) vests the superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of all elections to Panchayats in the State Election Commission headed by a State Election Commissioner appointed by the Governor.
15ID: GK-POL-00779
easyUnion Executive & The Parliament of India
Who among the following categories of members is NOT eligible to participate in the Electoral College for the election of the President of India under Article 54?
Verified Explanation
Under Article 54, the Presidential Electoral College consists only of elected members of both Houses of Parliament and elected members of State Legislative Assemblies (including Delhi and Puducherry). Nominated members of Parliament and State Assemblies, and all members of State Legislative Councils, are excluded.
16ID: GK-POL-00781
easyUnion Executive & The Parliament of India
What constitutes the Electoral College for the election of the Vice-President of India under Article 66 of the Constitution?
Verified Explanation
Under Article 66(1), the Vice-President is elected by members of an Electoral College consisting of all members of both Houses of Parliament (both elected and nominated). Members of State Legislative Assemblies do not participate.
17ID: GK-TRIV-00145
hardParliaments Official Books
The "Gerrymandering", the political manipulation of electoral constituency boundaries to favor one party, was coined in 1812 in the Boston Gazette after Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry approved a district shaped like what creature?
Verified Explanation
Artist Gilbert Stuart added claws, wings, and a monster head to the contorted South Essex electoral map, creating the political cartoon and enduring term "Gerrymander".
18ID: GK-TAX-00513
easyFinance Commission & Fiscal Devolution
Under Section 80GGB and Section 80GGC of the Income Tax Act, 1961, what tax deduction benefit is available to Indian companies and individuals for contributions made to registered political parties or electoral trusts?
Verified Explanation
Section 80GGB (for Indian companies) and Section 80GGC (for individuals and Hindu Undivided Families) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 allow a 100% deduction of any sum contributed to a registered political party or an approved electoral trust. To qualify, contributions must be made through non-cash banking channels.
19ID: GK-WPOL-00122
mediumWorld Constitutions
The "Electoral College" system for electing the President of the United States allocates electors to each state based on what formula?
Verified Explanation
There are 538 total electors (including 3 for Washington D.C. under the 23rd Amendment), requiring 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.
20ID: GK-WPOL-00144
hardGlobal Parliaments
The "Bundestag" of Germany utilizes the "Mixed-Member Proportional" (MMP) electoral system. What are the "Overhang Seats" (Überhangmandate)?
Verified Explanation
To preserve overall proportionality, the electoral law awards "Balance Seats" (Ausgleichsmandate) to other parties until seat distribution matches party-list vote shares.
The 10th-century stone inscriptions at Uttaramerur in Tamil Nadu (issued during the reign of Parantaka Chola I) are world-famous for detailing which democratic electoral process?
Verified Explanation
The two stone inscriptions on the Vaikuntha Perumal temple at Uttaramerur (dated 919 and 921 CE) detail the functioning of the local assembly (Sabha). Candidates' names were written on palm leaves (Kudavolai) and placed in an earthen pot, from which a young boy drew tickets to select members for executive committees (Variyams).
22ID: GK-DEMO-00318
hardHistory of Indian Census, Registrar General & Census Act
The 87th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003 allowed the Delimitation Commission to readjust and rationalize internal electoral constituency boundaries within States based on the population data of which Census?
Verified Explanation
The 87th Amendment Act, 2003 amended Articles 81, 82, 170, and 330 of the Constitution to permit intra-state constituency delimitation based on 2001 Census figures rather than 1991.
23ID: GK-CURR-00041
hardNational Events & Policy Initiatives
The 'Electoral Bonds Scheme' (2018) was declared unconstitutional and struck down unanimously by a 5-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court of India in February 2024 under which fundamental right?
Verified Explanation
The Supreme Court ruled that anonymous political contributions violate voters' fundamental right to know about political funding and potential quid pro quo arrangements.
24ID: GK-CURR-00091
mediumNational Events
The "Electoral Bonds Scheme" (introduced in 2018) was declared unconstitutional in February 2024 by a unanimous 5-judge Supreme Court Constitution Bench because it violated which fundamental right?
Verified Explanation
CJI D. Y. Chandrachud ruled that anonymous political contributions allow untraceable corporate quid pro quo influence, ordering SBI to disclose all donor and redemption details to the ECI.
25ID: GK-INST-00078
hardECI, CAG, UPSC & Finance Commission
Under the Delimitation Act, 2002, who served as the Chairperson of the Delimitation Commission of India that carried out the countrywide delimitation based on the 2001 Census?
Verified Explanation
The Delimitation Commission constituted in July 2002 was headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Justice Kuldip Singh and completed the delimitation of parliamentary and assembly constituencies in 2008.
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