40. In May 2026, the Supreme Court observed that the Election Commission of India’s power to conduct Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is derived from which Article of the Constitution?
[RRB Group D – 2026, 18 August, Shift 1]
(A) Article 324
(B) Article 327
(C) Article 326
(D) Article 325
Answer: (A) Article 324
Explanation: Article 324 gives the Election Commission supervisory authority over electoral rolls and elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, President and Vice-President. Article 325 prohibits discriminatory electoral rolls, Article 326 concerns adult suffrage, and Article 327 empowers Parliament to legislate regarding elections.
39. As per the Indian Constitution, the Election Commission of India is a __________.
[RRB NTPC Undergraduate CBT-I – 2026, 20 June, Shift 3]
(A) Non-Constitutional body
(B) Constitutional body
(C) Statutory body
(D) Quasi-judicial body only
Answer: (B) Constitutional body
Explanation: The Election Commission of India derives its existence and authority directly from Article 324 of the Constitution. Established on 25 January 1950, it supervises important national and state elections while functioning independently of ordinary executive control.
38. The State Election Commission is responsible for conducting elections to which of the following?
[RRB NTPC Undergraduate CBT-I – 2026, 8 May, Shift 3]
(A) Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
(B) Panchayats and Municipalities
(C) President and Vice-President
(D) State Legislative Assemblies
Answer: (B) Panchayats and Municipalities
Explanation: State Election Commissions conduct elections to rural and urban local self-government institutions. Articles 243K and 243ZA establish their respective responsibilities for Panchayats and Municipalities. Elections to Parliament and State Legislatures are instead supervised by the Election Commission of India.
37. Which of the following Article–Provision pairs relating to Panchayati Raj is incorrectly matched?
[UPSC CDS-I General Knowledge – 2026, 12 April]
(A) Article 243A – Gram Sabha
(B) Article 243B – Constitution of Panchayats
(C) Article 243C – Composition of Panchayats
(D) Article 243D – Election to Panchayats
Answer: (D) Article 243D – Election to Panchayats
Explanation: Article 243D concerns reservation of seats in Panchayats, not their election procedure. Article 243K specifically provides for Panchayat elections under the supervision of State Election Commissions. The other three constitutional provisions are correctly paired with their respective subjects.
36. Which authority supervises polling arrangements within a constituency and officially declares its election result?
[RRB NTPC Undergraduate CBT-II – 2025, 20 December]
(A) Returning Officer
(B) Chief Electoral Observer
(C) Presiding Officer
(D) Polling Officer
Answer: (A) Returning Officer
Explanation: The Returning Officer manages important constituency-level election procedures, including nomination scrutiny, vote counting and declaration of results. Presiding Officers supervise individual polling stations, while Polling Officers assist voting operations. These responsibilities operate within the framework prescribed by electoral law.
35. What is the name of the digital platform being developed by the Election Commission of India in 2025?
[RRB Group D – 2025, 5 December, Shift 1]
(A) ElectionLink
(B) ECINET
(C) ECI Connect
(D) VoterHub
Answer: (B) ECINET
Explanation: ECINET is an integrated digital initiative of the Election Commission intended to improve access to election-related services and information. It brings together electoral applications and citizen-facing facilities, helping improve efficiency, convenience, coordination and transparency in election administration.
34. Which statement correctly describes the First Past the Post system of election?
[UPSC CDS-II General Knowledge – 2025, 14 September]
(A) The winning candidate may receive less than half of the total votes
(B) Multiple representatives are necessarily elected from every constituency
(C) Voters vote exclusively for political parties
(D) Legislative seats are distributed proportionately to each party’s vote share
Answer: (A) The winning candidate may receive less than half of the total votes
Explanation: Under the First Past the Post system, the candidate receiving the highest number of votes wins the constituency. An absolute majority is unnecessary. India uses this arrangement for direct Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assembly elections, generally through single-member constituencies.
33. Which Article of the Indian Constitution provides for the establishment of the Election Commission of India?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I – 2025, 20 June, Shift 2]
(A) Article 326
(B) Article 324
(C) Article 325
(D) Article 327
Answer: (B) Article 324
Explanation: Article 324 establishes the constitutional foundation of the Election Commission and assigns it authority to supervise, direct and control specified elections. Article 326 provides for adult suffrage, Article 325 safeguards non-discriminatory electoral rolls, and Article 327 concerns parliamentary election legislation.
32. Which of the following statements about the Parliament of India is correct?
[UPSC NDA-I General Ability Test – 2025, 13 April]
(A) Most Rajya Sabha members are elected through proportional representation by single transferable vote
(B) The President nominates the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha
(C) Lok Sabha cannot be dissolved before completing five years
(D) Lok Sabha members elect Rajya Sabha members
Answer: (A) Most Rajya Sabha members are elected through proportional representation by single transferable vote
Explanation: Elected members of State Legislative Assemblies participate in Rajya Sabha elections using proportional representation through the single transferable vote. The remaining members are nominated by the President. The Deputy Chairman is elected by Rajya Sabha members, not nominated by the President.
31. Who among the following was not associated as a member or secretary of the High-Level Committee constituted to examine simultaneous elections?
[CGPSC State Service Preliminary Examination – 2025, 9 February]
(A) Dr. Niten Chandra
(B) Dr. Subhash C. Kashyap
(C) Shri Tushar Mehta
(D) Shri N. K. Singh
Answer: (C) Shri Tushar Mehta
Explanation: The simultaneous elections committee was chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind. Subhash C. Kashyap and N. K. Singh were members, while Niten Chandra served as secretary. Tushar Mehta was not appointed to these positions in the committee.