UPSC Prelims 2017 · GS Paper I
Question 90: Polity and Governance
Consider the following statements :
- 1.The Election Commission of India is a five-member body.
- 2.Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the election schedule for the conduct of both general elections and bye-elections.
- 3.Election Commission resolves the disputes relating to splits/mergers of recognised political parties.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).
The Election Commission settles disputes over splits and mergers of recognised political parties, under the Election Symbols Order, 1968, so Statement 3 is right. It is not a five-member body: it consists of the Chief Election Commissioner and a small number of other Election Commissioners, currently two, so Statement 1 is wrong. The schedule for general elections and bye-elections is decided by the Election Commission itself under Article 324, not the Home Ministry, so Statement 2 is wrong.
- 1. It has the CEC and two other Election Commissioners, not five members.
- 2. The Commission decides the schedule itself; the Home Ministry does not.
- 3. The Commission decides disputes over splits and mergers of recognised parties.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (a), (b) and (c) go: each of them includes 2.
What you needed to know: The Commission decides the schedule itself; the Home Ministry does not.
Only (d) is left. You didn’t need statements 1 or 3.
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) Wrong: the Commission is not five-member and the Home Ministry does not fix schedules.
- (b) Wrong: the Election Commission, not the Home Ministry, decides the schedule.
- (c) Wrong: statement 2 is false.
- (d) Right: only Statement 3 is correct.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2017, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.