2002 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2002 · General Studies

Question 67: Polity and Governance

Consider the following statements with reference to India:

  1. 1.The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners enjoy equal powers but receive unequal salaries.
  2. 2.The Chief Election Commissioner is entitled to the same salary as is provided to a judge of the Supreme Court.
  3. 3.The Chief Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his office except in like manner and on like grounds as a judge of the Supreme Court.
  4. 4.The term of office of an Election Commissioner is five years from the date he assumes office or till he attains the age of 62 years, whichever is earlier.

Which of these statements are correct?

a1 and 2
b2 and 3
c1 and 4
d2 and 4

AnswerThe answer is (b).

Statement 2 is true: the CEC's pay and service conditions were equated with those of a Supreme Court judge. Statement 3 is true: under Article 324(5) the CEC can be removed only in the manner and on the grounds applicable to a Supreme Court judge. Statement 1 is false: since 1993 the CEC and the other Election Commissioners have had equal powers and equal salaries. Statement 4 is false: the term is six years or up to age 65, whichever is earlier.

  • 1. The CEC and Election Commissioners have equal powers and equal salaries.
  • 2. The CEC's salary was the same as a Supreme Court judge's.
  • 3. Removal is as for a Supreme Court judge (Article 324(5)).
  • 4. The term is six years or until age 65, whichever is earlier.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 3 is correct, (a), (c) and (d) go: each of them leaves 3 out.

    What you needed to know: Removal is as for a Supreme Court judge (Article 324(5)).

Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statements 1, 2 or 4.

This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Statement 1 is false: powers and pay are equal.
  • (b) Right: statements 2 and 3.
  • (c) Statements 1 and 4 are both false.
  • (d) Statement 4 is false: the term is six years or age 65.

Worth knowing: Since the 2023 law the CEC and Election Commissioners are paid like the Cabinet Secretary, not a Supreme Court judge, so statement 2 no longer holds today.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2002, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.