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Election system
Political Science / Civics
Useful for: UPSC Civil Services, OSSC RHT — Regular High School Teacher, OSEPA Upper Primary — Arts, OSSC Political Science, OSSSC Govt TGT Arts, SSB Lecturer (Degree Colleges), SSB TGT Arts
Overview
Free and fair elections, inclusive representation and clean political finance are the foundations of Indian democracy.
Key points
- RPA 1950 deals with electoral rolls; RPA 1951 with conduct of elections, disqualification and offences.
- The Model Code of Conduct is not a statute but is enforced by the Election Commission.
- Delimitation of seats is frozen until the first census after 2026 (84th Amendment, 2001).
- NOTA was introduced after PUCL (2013); Lily Thomas (2013) led to immediate disqualification of legislators convicted with two years or more of imprisonment.
- The electoral bonds scheme was struck down by the Supreme Court in February 2024.
- The Indrajit Gupta Committee (1998) recommended partial state funding of elections.
Explanation
- VVPAT increases voter confidence in EVMs.
- Simultaneous elections ("One Nation, One Election") are under debate.
- Women’s reservation in Lok Sabha and assemblies was enacted in 2023 (to apply after delimitation).
- Money and muscle power remain challenges.
- Inner-party democracy is weak.
Step by step
- Identify the concept, law or fact asked.
- Recall the definition, formula, example or year.
- Apply it and eliminate mismatched options.
Examples
- Q: "Discuss measures to decriminalise politics." → Problem; judgments; ECI steps; reforms.
- Q: "Examine the case for simultaneous elections." → Benefits; concerns (federalism, logistics); conclusion.
- Q: "Evaluate the role of the Model Code of Conduct." → Purpose; enforcement; limits; statutory backing debate.
Traps and advanced points
- Trap: Calling the MCC statutory.
- Trap: Wrong delimitation freeze date.
- Trap: Ignoring the 2024 bonds judgment.
Quick revision
- RPA 1950, 1951.
- 84th: freeze till post-2026 census.
- PUCL 2013 NOTA; Lily Thomas 2013; bonds struck 2024.
Practice MCQs
From the perspective of definition and scope, which one of the following statements about Elections & Representation is correct?
- Elections & Representation is unrelated to institutions, processes or real-world applications.
- Elections & Representation has no exceptions or limitations in exam analysis.
- Free and fair elections require credible rolls, equal rules, transparent administration, voter access and enforceable campaign norms.
- Any electoral reform that sounds efficient necessarily improves representation and constitutional fairness.
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Answer: (c) Free and fair elections require credible rolls, equal rules, transparent administration, voter access and enforceable campaign norms.. Free and fair elections require credible rolls, equal rules, transparent administration, voter access and enforceable campaign norms.
Consider the following statements on Elections & Representation, focusing on definition and scope: 1. Any electoral reform that sounds efficient necessarily improves representation and constitutional fairness. 2. Free and fair elections require credible rolls, equal rules, transparent administration, voter access and enforceable campaign norms. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
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Answer: (b) 2 only. Statement 2 is correct; Statement 1 is a common misconception.
With reference to Elections & Representation (definition and scope), consider the following statements: 1. Election reform involves trade-offs among participation, stability, transparency, finance and enforceability. 2. Free and fair elections require credible rolls, equal rules, transparent administration, voter access and enforceable campaign norms. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
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Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2. Both statements are correct.
Electoral rolls are covered by the —
- RPA 1951
- Article 370
- IT Act
- RPA 1950
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Answer: (d) RPA 1950. RPA 1950.
Conduct of elections and disqualification are covered by the —
- IPC
- RPA 1950
- RPA 1951
- Companies Act
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Answer: (c) RPA 1951. RPA 1951.
The Model Code of Conduct is —
- a constitutional article
- a court order
- a statute
- not a statute but enforced by the Election Commission
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Answer: (d) not a statute but enforced by the Election Commission. Consensus-based code.
Delimitation of seats is frozen until the first census after —
- 2001
- 2011
- 2026
- 2031
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Answer: (c) 2026. 84th Amendment (2001).
NOTA was introduced after the Supreme Court judgment in —
- Maneka (1978)
- Minerva (1980)
- PUCL (2013)
- Kesavananda (1973)
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Answer: (c) PUCL (2013). PUCL v Union of India.
Lily Thomas (2013) led to —
- immediate disqualification of convicted legislators
- NOTA
- EVMs
- VVPAT
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Answer: (a) immediate disqualification of convicted legislators. Conviction with 2+ years → disqualification.
The electoral bonds scheme was struck down in —
- 2025
- 2019
- 2022
- February 2024
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Answer: (d) February 2024. Supreme Court, February 2024.
More topics in this chapter
Notes and questions are written by Kundali IQ for practice. They are not official papers; always check the latest official notification for the syllabus and pattern.