Elections, Parties and Representation PYQs – Polity, SSC & Railway

Answer: Option 3 — It added the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution, providing the grounds for disqualification of legislators on grounds of defection.
The 52nd Amendment Act, 1985 inserted the Tenth Schedule, the anti-defection law, and amended Articles 101, 102, 190 and 191.
It lays down when an MP or MLA loses the seat for defecting, and the decision rests with the Speaker or Chairman, not the President or the Election Commission.
Revision note — The anti-defection law (Tenth Schedule)
• Added by the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985, during the government of Rajiv Gandhi, and in force from 1 March 1985.
• A party member is disqualified if he voluntarily gives up membership of that party.
• He is also disqualified if he votes or abstains against the party whip without prior permission and is not pardoned within 15 days.
• An independent member is disqualified if he joins any political party after being elected; a nominated member is disqualified if he joins a party after six months of taking his seat.
• The Speaker of the House, or the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, decides the question of disqualification.
• In Kihoto Hollohan v. Zachillhu (1992) the Supreme Court held that this decision is open to judicial review.
• The 91st Amendment Act, 2003 deleted the exemption for a one-third split, leaving only a two-thirds merger as a defence, and capped the Council of Ministers at 15 per cent.
• The Tenth Schedule does not apply to the Speaker or Chairman who gives up party membership on election to that office.
Do not mix these up
• Tenth Schedule vs Twelfth Schedule — the Tenth is the anti-defection law (52nd Amendment, 1985); the Twelfth lists the 18 functions of municipalities (74th Amendment, 1992).
• Split vs merger — the one-third split defence was removed in 2003; only a two-thirds merger now saves a defector from disqualification.
Also asked from this topic: the Schedule added for disqualification on defection (Schedule X); the amendment that introduced the anti-defection law (52nd, 1985); what disqualifies an independent MP (joining a party after election).

Anti-Defection Law
Added by:52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985
Provision:Tenth Schedule (Schedule X)deals with disqualification of members on grounds of defection.
Key Point: Prevents elected members from switching parties to gain political advantage.
Answer: Option 2 → Schedule X

Women's Reservation Bill 2023
(128th Constitutional Amendment)
Key Provisions:
• Reserves 1/3 seats for women in Lok Sabha
• Applies to State Legislative Assemblies
• Includes Delhi Legislative Assembly
Duration:Initial period of15 years
Implementation: After census + delimitation
Answer: Option 2 → 15 Years

Correct Answer: Election Commission of India — Option (c)
The Election Commission of India (ECI) decides the reserved symbols for national and state-level political parties. About Election Symbols in India: Legal basis: The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 governs the allotment of election symbols to political parties and candidates in India; It was issued by the Election Commission of India under Article 324 of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act; Powers of the ECI regarding symbols: Recognition of political parties (national and state parties); Reservation of symbols for recognized parties (exclusive symbols that only that party can use); Allotment of free symbols to unrecognized parties and independent candidates; Settlement of disputes regarding symbols (e.g., when a party splits, ECI decides which faction gets the symbol — as in the famous cases of Shiv Sena and NCP in 2022-23); National Party Status criteria: A party is recognized as a 'National Party' if it secures 6% votes in 4 or more states AND wins 4 Lok Sabha seats, OR wins 2% of Lok Sabha seats from at least 3 states; State Party criteria: 6% votes in a state + 2 state assembly seats, OR 6% of state assembly seats; ECI's constitutional status: The Election Commission of India is an independent constitutional body established under Article 324; Currently a three-member body (Chief Election Commissioner + 2 Election Commissioners).
Option (a) Supreme Court — Incorrect: The Supreme Court does not decide reserved symbols for political parties — that is the exclusive domain of the Election Commission of India; the Supreme Court may adjudicate disputes related to elections but does not allocate symbols.
Option (b) President — Incorrect: The President of India does not decide reserved symbols for political parties; this power rests with the Election Commission of India under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
Option (d) Speaker of Lok Sabha — Incorrect: The Speaker of Lok Sabha handles matters related to the anti-defection law (Tenth Schedule of the Constitution) and conduct of parliamentary proceedings — the Speaker does NOT decide reserved symbols for political parties; that is ECI's function.

Topic: Constitutional Amendments - Women's Reservation
106th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023
Provides33% reservation for womenin Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
Passed in September 2023, received Presidential assent.
Key Feature:Implementation after delimitation exercise and census.
Most recent post-100th Amendment with transitional requirements.
Note:103rd = EWS quota, 104th = SC/ST quota extension, 105th = State powers restoration.
Answer: Option 2 → 106th Amendment

Anti-Defection Law
Introduced through52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985
AddedTenth Scheduleto the Constitution
Prevents elected members from defecting to other parties
Disqualification decided by Speaker/Chairman
Answer: Option 1 → 52nd Amendment

106th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023
Topic: Reservation for Women in Legislatures
Key Facts:
• InsertedArticle 330A- Reservation of seats for women in Lok Sabha
• InsertedArticle 332A- Reservation of seats for women in State Legislative Assemblies
• Provides 33% reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies
• Also known as Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam
Answer: Option 4 → 330A, 332A

Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023
Also known asNari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.
Provides reservation ofone-third (33%)seats for women in:
• Lok Sabha (House of the People)
• State Legislative Assemblies
Implementation after delimitation exercise and census.
Answer: Option 3 → One-third of the seats

52nd Amendment Act - Anti-Defection Law
Key Facts:
• Passed in1985during Rajiv Gandhi's tenure
• Added10th Scheduleto the Constitution
• Prevents elected members from defecting to other parties
• Disqualification on grounds of defection
Answer: Option 4 → 1985

Added10th Scheduleto Constitution to prevent defection.
For Independent MPs:
If an independent member joins any political party after election, they are disqualified.
Options 2 & 3: No disqualification for independent MPs.
Option 4: Applies only to party members, not independents.
Answer: Option 1 → Joining any political party after their election

The correct answer is option 3.
In the Lok Sabha, 47 seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs) as per the Delimitation Commission provisions. These reserved constituencies ensure adequate political representation for tribal communities in Parliament.
Option 1 is incorrect: 54 does not correspond to the number of ST-reserved seats in Lok Sabha.
Option 2 is incorrect: 56 is not the correct figure for ST reserved seats.
Option 4 is incorrect: 84 is the number of seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) in Lok Sabha, not for Scheduled Tribes.

Correct Answer: 1 (10%)
In the 2024 Indian General Elections (Lok Sabha), approximately 797 women candidates contested out of a total of around 8,360 candidates, which amounts to approximately 10% of all contesting candidates. This represented a new high in terms of women's participation in Indian electoral politics.
Option 2 (14%) is incorrect.
Option 3 (16%) is incorrect - the candidate chose this wrong option.
Option 4 (21%) is incorrect.

Correct Answer: 1 – 84.
As per the Delimitation Order, 84 seats out of 543 in the Lok Sabha are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC). This reservation is based on the proportion of SC population in various constituencies as per the Constitution of India (Article 330).
Option 2 (54) is incorrect.
Option 3 (56) is incorrect – the candidate had selected this wrongly.
Option 4 (92) is incorrect – 47 seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST), not 92 for SC.

Option 3 is correct. Under the Delimitation Commission Act and Article 327 of the Constitution, the orders of the Delimitation Commission are final and cannot be questioned in any court of law. The Supreme Court has consistently held that delimitation orders have constitutional protection from judicial review (as affirmed in Meghraj Kothari v. Delimitation Commission). Orders are directly notified in the Gazette and come into force on the date specified therein.
• Option 1 is wrong: Delimitation orders are explicitly immune from judicial review — this is one of their most distinctive constitutional features.
• Option 2 is wrong: The Delimitation Commission is a statutory (not constitutional) body, not appointed every 5 years on a fixed schedule; delimitation exercises are conducted after each census as directed by Parliament, and orders do not require Presidential assent.
• Option 4 is wrong: The Delimitation Commission accommodates exceptions — constituencies are reserved for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, and geographical considerations affect delimitation in hilly/remote areas.

The correct answer is (c) National Icon.
The Election Commission of India appointed cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar as a 'National Icon' (not merely Brand Ambassador) to encourage higher voter turnout for the 2024 General Elections. National Icons are appointed by ECI to inspire citizens, especially youth, to participate in the democratic process.
(a) Chief Election Commissioner: A constitutional appointee heading the ECI; Sachin Tendulkar was appointed as a symbolic figure, not as CEC.
(b) Brand Ambassador: While the term is sometimes used loosely, ECI's formal designation for Sachin Tendulkar and other celebrities is 'National Icon,' which carries a specific mandate to promote voter awareness.
(d) Security Advisor: This is a completely different role related to security advisory; not applicable to Sachin Tendulkar's ECI appointment.

The 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985, introduced the Anti-Defection Law by adding the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution. It disqualifies legislators who defect from their party (by voluntarily giving up membership or voting against party directions). Option 2 is correct.
Option 1 is wrong: The 44th Amendment (1978) restored fundamental rights curtailed during the Emergency, including restoring the right to property as a legal right; it did not introduce the Anti-Defection Law.
Option 3 is wrong: The 61st Amendment (1989) lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years; it had nothing to do with anti-defection provisions.
Option 4 is wrong: The 73rd Amendment (1992) gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions by adding Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule; it did not deal with political defections.

The correct answer is Tenth Schedule . The Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, also known as the Anti-Defection Law , was added by the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1985 . It provides the grounds on which legislators (both MPs and MLAs) can be disqualified on the basis of defection. A member is disqualified if they voluntarily give up the membership of the party, or if they vote/abstain against the direction of the party without prior permission. The power to decide disqualification lies with the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha/State Legislative Assembly , depending on the case. This law was enacted to curb political instability caused by frequent defections and to strengthen democracy by ensuring party discipline.

The minimum age to vote in any election in India — including State Legislative Assembly elections — is 18 years. This was set by the 61st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1988, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years. 16 years is the voting age in some countries but not India; 21 years is the age for contesting Lok Sabha/State Assembly elections; 25 years is for contesting Rajya Sabha elections.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Under the Tenth Schedule (Anti-Defection Law, 52nd Constitutional Amendment 1985), the Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly is the sole deciding authority for disqualification of members on grounds of defection. Similarly, the Chairman decides for the Legislative Council. Judicial review of the Speaker's decision is available through High Courts and the Supreme Court.
Option 1 (Chief Justice of High Court): Has no role in anti-defection proceedings at the initial decision stage.
Option 3 (Election Commission): Decides on disqualifications under Articles 103/192 (at time of election) — not for defection cases under the Tenth Schedule.
Option 4 (Governor): Decides disqualification of state legislators under Article 192 on EC's advice; not for defection cases.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Under the Tenth Schedule (Anti-Defection Law, added by the 52nd Constitutional Amendment, 1985) of the Indian Constitution, the Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) is the decision-making authority for disqualification of members of the State Legislature on grounds of defection. Similarly, the Chairman decides for Rajya Sabha/Legislative Council members, and the Speaker of Lok Sabha for Parliament members.
Option 1 (Chief Justice of High Court): Has no role in Anti-Defection proceedings; judicial review of the Speaker's decision is possible but courts generally defer to the Speaker.
Option 3 (Election Commission): Decides disqualifications under Article 103 (for Parliament) and 192 (for State Legislatures) on grounds of disqualifications at time of election (not defection).
Option 4 (Governor): Decides disqualification of State Legislature members under Article 192 on the Election Commission's opinion, but NOT for defection cases.

Answer: Option 2 — 326
Article 326 says elections to the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies are held on the basis of adult suffrage.
Every citizen aged 18 years or more who is not otherwise disqualified can vote.
Revision note — Elections in the Constitution (Part XV)
• Part XV, Articles 324–329, deals with elections.
• Article 324 — the Election Commission: superintendence, direction and control of elections.
• Article 325 — one general electoral roll for each constituency; no one excluded on religion, race, caste or sex.
• Article 326 — adult suffrage; the 61st Amendment Act, 1988 cut the voting age from 21 to 18.
• Article 327 / 328 — Parliament / State Legislature may make laws on elections.
• Article 329 — courts barred from interfering in electoral matters.
Do not mix these up
• Article 352 vs 326 — 352 is National Emergency; 340 is the Backward Classes Commission; 318 is about Public Service Commission members.
Also asked from this topic: the amendment that lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 (61st Amendment, 1988); the minimum voting age for State Legislative Assembly elections (18 years).