UPSC Prelims 1999 · General Studies
Question 14: Polity and Governance
Consider the following statements about the recent amendments to the Election Law by the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 1996: I. Any conviction for the offence of insulting the Indian National Flag or the Constitution of India shall entail disqualification for contesting elections to Parliament and State Legislatures for six years from the date of conviction. II. There is an increase in the security deposit which a candidate has to make to contest the election to the Lok Sabha. III. A candidate cannot now stand for election from more than one Parliamentary constituency. IV. No election will now be countermanded on the death of a contesting candidate. Which of the above statements are correct?
AnswerThe answer is (b).
Take III first: the 1996 Act did not restrict a candidate to one constituency; it capped the number at two, so III is false. That alone leaves only (b). I is true: conviction for insulting the National Flag or the Constitution disqualifies a person from contesting for six years from conviction. II is true: the security deposit was raised to deter frivolous candidates. IV is counted true: the Act curtailed the countermanding of a poll when a candidate dies. Remember: two seats at most, not one.
- I. Conviction for insulting the National Flag or the Constitution disqualifies for six years.
- II. The security deposit for Lok Sabha candidates was raised.
- III. The Act capped contests at two constituencies; it did not restrict to one.
- IV. The Act curtailed countermanding of the poll when a candidate dies.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong. It includes III, which is false, and leaves out II and IV.
- (b) Right. I, II and IV are correct; III is false.
- (c) Wrong. It includes III, which is false, and leaves out IV.
- (d) Wrong. It includes III, which is false, since a candidate may contest from two constituencies.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1999, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.