Election Commission
Key Concepts
| # | Concept | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Constitutional Body | Election Commission of India (ECI) is a permanent & independent constitutional body created under Art. 324. |
| 2 | Composition | 1 Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) + 2 Election Commissioners (ECs) appointed by the President; fixed tenure of 6 yrs or till 65 yrs, whichever earlier. |
| 3 | Removal | CEC removed like a SC judge (Art. 124) – Parliament resolution; ECs removed on CEC’s recommendation. |
| 4 | First & Present | Sukumar Sen – 1st CEC (1950); Rajiv Kumar – present CEC (since 2023). |
| 5 | Symbols Order | Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order, 1968 – decides party symbols as National/State/Registered-unrecognised. |
| 6 | Model Code of Conduct | Comes into force the moment election dates are announced; enforced by ECI, not statutory but moral. |
| 7 | EVM & VVPAT | EVMs used 1st time in 1982 (Kerala); VVPAT slips mandatory in all PCs since 2019; ‘SLU’ counts 5 random booths per AC. |
| 8 | 60:40 Rule | For recognition as National party – 6% votes in 4 states + 4 LS seats OR 2% LS seats (11) from 3 states; State party – 6% votes + 1 seat OR 3% seats in LA. |
15 Practice MCQs
1. The Election Commission of India is a __________ body.
A. StatutoryB. Constitutional
C. Executive
D. Advisory
Ans. B
Art. 324 directly creates ECI; hence constitutional.
Trick: “324 = C for Constitution & Commission”.
Tag: Constitutional status
2. Who appoints the Chief Election Commissioner?
A. Prime MinisterB. President
C. Parliament
D. Cabinet Committee on Appointments
Ans. B
President appoints CEC & ECs under Art. 324(2).
Trick: “President picks Poll boss”.
Tag: Appointment
3. The present strength of the Election Commission is
A. 1B. 2
C. 3
D. 5
Ans. C
1 CEC + 2 ECs = 3 (fixed by CEC & Other ECs Act, 1991).
Trick: “1+2 = 3 in ECI”.
Tag: Composition
4. The first general elections in India were held in
A. 1947B. 1950
C. 1951-52
D. 1957
Ans. C
1951-52; Sukumar Sen was CEC.
Trick: “51 = 1st”.
Tag: Historical
5. Which of the following is NOT a condition for a National Party?
A. 6% votes in 4 statesB. 4 Lok-Sabha seats in any state
C. 2% LS seats (11) from 3 states
D. Recognition in 4 states
Ans. B
Must win 4 LS seats in the four states where 6% vote is polled, not “any state”.
Trick: “4+4+4” rule – 4 states, 6%, 4 seats.
Tag: Party recognition
6. The colour of lamp in the election symbol of BSP is
A. RedB. White
C. Blue
D. Green
Ans. C
Elephant + Blue lamp.
Trick: “BSP = Blue SaPa”.
Tag: Symbols
7. Model Code of Conduct becomes operational when
A. President dissolves Lok SabhaB. CEC issues notification
C. Date of election is announced
D. Last date of nomination ends
Ans. C
Moment press conference ends, MCC kicks in.
Trick: “Date = MATE”.
Tag: MCC
8. The maximum gap between two sessions of Lok Sabha can be
A. 3 monthsB. 4 months
C. 5 months
D. 6 months
Ans. D
Art. 85 – 6 months; ECI schedules polls accordingly.
Trick: “6 = half dozen = half year”.
Tag: Constitutional gap
9. Which state first used EVMs in a Lok Sabha by-poll?
A. KeralaB. West Bengal
C. Gujarat
D. Goa
Ans. A
Paravur (Kerala) 1982.
Trick: “EVM = Elephant Via Malabar”.
Tag: Technology
10. VVPAT slip count in 2024 general elections is mandatory for
A. All boothsB. 1 random booth per AC
C. 5 random booths per AC
D. 10% booths per PC
Ans. C
Supreme Court 2024 order – 5 EVMs per AC.
Trick: “High-five VVPAT”.
Tag: VVPAT
11. The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed by
A. President on PM’s adviceB. Parliament via resolution
C. Supreme Court
D. President alone
Ans. B
Same procedure as SC judge – special majority in both Houses.
Trick: “CEC = SC judge treatment”.
Tag: Removal
12. The 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003 fixed the maximum size of Council of Ministers in a state at
A. 10% of LA strengthB. 12%
C. 15%
D. 20%
Ans. C
15% (min 12 including CM).
Trick: “15 = 1 hand + 5 fingers”.
Tag: Anti-defection
13. Which schedule of the Constitution deals with allocation of seats in Rajya Sabha?
A. 3rdB. 4th
C. 5th
D. 6th
Ans. B
4th Schedule – RS seats; ECI conducts RS polls also.
Trick: “Rajya = 4 walls of House”.
Tag: Schedules
14. The minimum age to contest Panchayat elections is
A. 18B. 21
C. 25
D. 30
Ans. B
Art. 243K – 21 yrs; ECI supervises only MP/MLA/PR/ULB in some states.
Trick: “21 = adult + responsibility”.
Tag: Local bodies
15. The Election Commission observes National Voters’ Day on
A. 24 JanB. 25 Jan
C. 26 Jan
D. 30 Jan
Ans. B
25 Jan 2011 onwards; ECI foundation day.
Trick: “25 = 2 hand 5 fingers = Vote!”
Tag: Days
Speed Tricks
| Situation | Shortcut | Example |
|---|---|---|
| National vs State party | 6-4-4 or 2-3-11 | 6% votes 4 states + 4 seats OR 2% LS seats (11) from 3 states |
| CEC removal | Same as SC judge – 2/3 + 50% House strength | Remember “CEC = SC” |
| EVM 1st used | 1982 Kerala | 82 = EVe-ning 2 (Kerala sunset) |
| VVPAT count | 5 EVMs per AC | “High-Five” |
| MCC start | Date announcement | “Date = MATE” – MCC Automatically Takes Effect |
Quick Revision
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Art. 324 | Super-intendence, direction & control of elections to Parliament, state legislatures, President & Vice-President. |
| 3-member ECI | CEC + 2 ECs; equal powers, but CEC presides. |
| Tenure | 6 yrs or 65 yrs, whichever earlier. |
| Salary | Drawn from Consolidated Fund of India; equal to SC judge. |
| 1st CEC | Sukumar Sen (1950-58). |
| Party symbols | National: BJP – lotus; INC – hand; BSP – elephant + blue lamp; CPI(M) – hammer-sickle-star. |
| EVMs manufactured | BEL (Bengaluru) & ECIL (Hyderabad). |
| VVPAT | Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail; SC 2013, mandatory since 2019; slips drop in sealed box. |
| NOTA | 2013 SC judgement; 1st LS use 2014. |
| National Voters’ Day | 25 Jan (since 2011) – theme 2025 “Nothing Like Voting, I Vote for Sure”. |
BETA
