Elections in India

General Knowledge Questions : Elections in India - Part 1

1. Who demarcates the boundaries of the 543 Parliamentary constituencies in India?
2. The main basis for allocation of seats to various States in the Lok Sabha?
3. Out of the 7 Union Territories in India,only 2 have Legislative Assembly. Which are they?
4. The decision of Delimitation Commission can be challenged by Supreme Court. True or False?

5. The final verdit of election disputes is proclaimed by the Election Commission of India.True or False?

6. What is the minimum age for becoming a candidate for Lok Sabha or Assembly election ?

7. If a person am not registered as a voter in any Constituency, can he/she contest in election?

8. If some body is convicted for some offense and he/she is sentenced to imprisonment for 3 years, can he/she contest in elections?

9. How much is the security deposit for Lok Sabha election?

10. For an independent candidate or a candidate of unrecognized political party, how many proposers are required while filing nominations?

Answers

A1. Delimitation Commission. Under Article 82 of the Constitution, the Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every census. After commencement of the Act, the Central Government constitutes a Delimitation Commission. This Delimitation Commission demarcates the boundaries of the Parliamentary Constituencies as per provisions of the Delimitation Act. The present delimitation of constituencies has been done on the basis of 2001 census figures under the provisions of Delimitation Act, 2002. The Constitution of India was specifically amended in 2002 not to have delimitation of constituencies till the first census after 2026. It is also known as Boundary commission of India.

A2. Population of the state.

A3. Delhi and Pondicherry.

A4. False. The Commission is a powerful body whose orders cannot be challenged in a court of law.

A5. False. It is done by Judiciary (High court).

A6. Twenty Five Years.Article 84 (b) of Constitution of India provides that the minimum age for becoming a candidate for Lok Sabha election shall be 25 years. Similar provision exists for a candidate to the Legislative Assemblies - Article 173 (b) of the Constitution.

A7. No. Sec 4 (d) of Representation People Act, 1951 precludes a person from contesting unless he is an elector in any parliamentary constituency.

8. No. As per Section 8 (3) of R. P. Act, 1951, if a person is convicted of any offence and sentenced to an imprisonment of 2 years or more, this will be disqualification to contest elections.

9. Rupees Ten Thousand. For Assembly election, it is Rupees Five Thousand.

A10. 10. But for a recognised National or State party candidate only 1 proposer is enough.

1. Election Commission of India conduct elections for which all government bodies?
2. Which authority conducts elections to Corporations, Municipalities and other Local Bodies ?
3. What is the present composition of the Election Commission?
4. What is the status Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioners in terms of salaries and allowances etc.?

5. What is the term of office of the Chief Election Commissioner?
6. Who appoints the Chief Election Commissioners and Election Commissioners?
7. Who fixes the number of Election Commissioners (other than Chief Election Commissioner)?
8. Who supervises the election work in a State ?
9. Who is responsible for the conduct of elections in any Parliamentary or Assembly constituency ?
10. Who is responsible for the preparation of electoral rolls for a Parliamentary or Assembly Constituency?
11. Who conducts the poll at a polling station?

Answers
A1. Elections to the offices of the President and Vice-President of India,elections to Parliament,State Legislative Assemblies and Legislative Councils. Under Article 324(1) of the Constitution of India, the Election Commission of India is vested with the power of superintendence, direction and control of conducting the elections
of above offices.
A2. The State Election Commissions constituted under the Constitution (Seventy-third and Seventy-fourth) Amendments Act, 1992 for each State / Union Territory are vested with the powers of conduct of elections to the Corporations, Muncipalities, Zilla Parishads, District Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis, Gram Panchayats and other local bodies. They are independent of the Election Commission of India.
A3. At present, the Election Commission of India is a three-member body, with one Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. S Y Quraishi is the present CEC.
A4. Equivalent to Supreme Court Judges.
A5. The Chief Election Commissioner or an Election Commissioner holds office for a term of six years from the date on which he assumes his office or till the day he attains the age of 65 - whichever is earlier.
A6. The President.Under Article 324(2) of the Constitution of India, the President of India is empowered to appoint the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioners.
A7. The President.Article 324(2) also empowers the President of India to fix from time to time the number of Election Commissioners other than the Chief Election Commissioner.
A8. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). CEOs are appointed by Election Commission of India after consultation with that State Government/Union Territory Administration.
A9. Returning Officer (RO). ROs are appointed by Election Commission of India after consultation with that State Government.
A10. Electoral Registration Officer (ERO). Election Commission of India, in consultation with the State / UT Government, appoints an Officer of the Government or the Local Authorities as the Electoral Registration Officer.
A11. Presiding Officer.