Political Dynamics

1.Political Parties

• Meaning of a Political PartyImportance 2/5
  What makes a group of people a political party? Understand the elements of the definition. Be clear how gaining power through constitutional means sets a party apart from other ways of seeking power.
• Types of Parties by IdeologyImportance 2/5
  What are the four types of parties in modern democracies, and how does each treat the existing institutions? Understand how political scientists place these types on the left, centre and right. Remember an Indian example for each position.
• One-Party, Two-Party and Multi-Party Systems (With Country Examples)Importance 3/5UPSC 1996
  What are the three kinds of party systems, and what marks each one? Remember country examples for each, including the two main parties of the USA and of Britain.
• Multi-Party System: Causes and ConsequencesImportance 3/5
  Why does India have so many parties? You should be able to explain how each factor (size, diversity, universal adult franchise) adds to this. Know the range of party categories that exist. Understand what so many parties mean for the makeup of legislatures and for forming governments.
• One-Dominant Party System and Its DeclineImportance 4/5
  Which political analyst described the Indian party system in a special way because one party led for so long, and what two labels did he use? Understand how this dominance existed alongside many parties. Remember when it began to decline and which parties rose afterwards.
• Lack of Clear IdeologyImportance 2/5
  Which parties are seen as having a clear ideology? Why are the others seen as close to one another? Understand the ideals most parties share and the view that power is every party's main aim. This is an opinion about Indian parties, not a legal or settled fact.
• Personality CultImportance 2/5
  How do parties come to be organised around a leader? Understand what this does to the importance of the party and its manifesto. Remember the well-known saying about political personalities and political parties in India.
• Parties Based on Traditional FactorsImportance 2/5
  On what basis are parties formed in western countries, and on what basis are many parties formed in India? Understand how the Indian basis affects the general public interest.
• Emergence of Regional PartiesImportance 3/5
  How did regional parties grow from ruling in states to playing a role in national politics? You should be able to explain what coalition governments at the Centre had to do with it.
• Factions and DefectionsImportance 3/5
  After which general election did defections become much more common? Understand why politicians leave their parties and the forms this takes, such as splits and mergers. Explain the effect on stability at the Centre and in the states. The anti-defection law is a separate topic.
• Lack of Effective OppositionImportance 2/5
  What does an effective Opposition do in a parliamentary democracy? Explain why India has largely lacked one, and how the Opposition parties' own conduct has weakened it.
• Formation of Major Political Parties (INC to NPP)Importance 3/5UPSC 2024
  Remember the founders and founding years of the older and all-India parties (INC, CPI, BJP, BSP, AITC, NCP, AAP, NPP) and of the major regional parties (DMK, AIADMK, TDP, AGP, BJD, TRS, YSRCP). Know the order in which parties were formed. What is the TRS now called? Note that the CPI's founder and founding year are disputed.
• Registration and Recognition of Parties by the Election CommissionImportance 3/5UPSC 2001
  Under which law are parties registered with the Election Commission? On what basis does it recognise a party as a national or a state party, and what are the other parties called? Does a party lose recognition after one poor election? Understand the 2016 rule on continued recognition. What other names are used for national and state parties?
• Privileges of Recognition and Reserved and Free SymbolsImportance 3/5
  Which privileges does recognition give a party? Understand how reserved symbols differ from free symbols. Be clear which kind of party gets which, and where a reserved symbol can be used.
• Conditions for Recognition as a National PartyImportance 4/5UPSC 1995, 2001
  Remember the three conditions for recognition as a national party, with their figures for votes, seats and states. Must a party meet all three? Know which legal instrument lays them down, and whether it is the Constitution itself.
• Conditions for Recognition as a State PartyImportance 3/5UPSC 1995
  Remember the five conditions for recognition as a state party, with their figures: those combining votes and seats, those based on seats alone, and the one based on votes alone. Understand how this test differs from the one for a national party.
• Number of Recognised Parties Over Time (1952 and 2019)Importance 3/5UPSC 2001
  How many national parties and state parties were there at the first general elections in 1952, and how many on the eve of the 2019 elections? Remember which parties were national parties in 2019. Which parties are national parties now, after the Election Commission's 2023 order? Understand why these numbers keep changing.

2.Role of Regional Parties

• Features of a Regional PartyImportance 2/5
  What makes a party "regional"? Remember its features with respect to electoral base, the group it identifies with, the local demands it takes up, the level of power it aims for, and its stand on state autonomy. Also understand why such parties matter more in the era of coalition politics.
• Four Categories of Regional Parties (with Examples)Importance 2/5
  On what bases can regional parties be classified into four categories? This is an academic typology, not the Election Commission's recognition of parties. Be able to place parties such as DMK, Shiv Sena, Samajwadi Party, Biju Janata Dal and Trinamool Congress in the right category. Also understand what "personalised parties" means, and whether the label of being short-lived holds for all of them.
• Reasons for the Rise of Regional PartiesImportance 2/5
  Why did regional parties emerge in India? Understand the causes under four heads: social and cultural (pluralism, caste, religion, tribal discontent), economic (regional imbalance), historical (separate identity, deposed Maharajas and Zamindars) and political. Under the political head, be able to explain the part played by the Congress party, the national parties and regional leaders, the linguistic reorganisation of states, factional fights within larger parties, and the lack of a strong opposition party at the Centre.
• Regional Parties in State Governance and Popular ParticipationImportance 1/5
  How have regional parties affected politics inside the states? Understand their effect on competition, grass-roots participation, voter choice and political consciousness. Note that better governance and stability at the state level is a view, not a settled fact.
• Regional Parties and the Centre (Congress Dominance, Centre-State Relations, Governor)Importance 2/5
  How did regional parties challenge the one-party dominant system and the position of the Congress? Understand their impact on centre-state relations and their role as a check on the Centre. Also understand how they exposed the Governor's partisan role in the appointment and dismissal of the Chief Minister, in ordinances and in bills reserved for the President.
• Regional Parties in Parliamentary Democracy and Coalition GovernmentsImportance 3/5
  When regional parties rule in a state and sit in opposition at the Centre, what role do they play? Understand how this helps parliamentary democracy and the balance between majority and minority. Also be able to explain the role regional parties took in coalition governments at the Centre.
• Regional Parties and National Integration and Inter-State DisputesImportance 2/5
  What are the main criticisms of regional parties on national interest and national unity? Understand the charge that they put regional interests first. Remember the "isms" said to hinder national integration. Also understand the view that they are responsible for unresolved water and border disputes between states.
• Misuse of Power, Populism and Pressure on Coalition GovernmentsImportance 1/5
  Which other criticisms are made of regional parties? Remember the charges of corruption, nepotism and favouritism. Understand how populist schemes can affect a state's economy. Also understand how regional demands can pressure the central leadership in a coalition government.

3.Elections

• Articles 324 to 329A in Part XV: Subject of Each ArticleImportance 3/5
  Which Articles from 324 to 329A make up this part of the Constitution, and what is the subject of each one? Remember the match between Article and subject, and know which of them has been repealed.
• Scope of the Election Commission Under Article 324Importance 4/5
  Why does the Constitution provide for an independent Election Commission? Remember what "superintendence, direction and control" covers, including the preparation of electoral rolls, and which elections are vested in the Commission. Be clear which local body elections belong instead to a separate State Election Commission.
• Electoral Roll and Equality of Franchise (Article 325)Importance 4/5
  How many general electoral rolls may there be for a territorial constituency? Understand the two restrictions in Article 325. On what grounds can no person be kept off the roll? On what grounds can no person claim a special roll? You should be able to explain which earlier system this ended.
• Adult Suffrage Under Article 326 and the 61st AmendmentImportance 5/5UPSC 2017
  Who is entitled to vote in Lok Sabha and state assembly elections? Remember the conditions of citizenship and age, and the grounds on which a law can disqualify a person. Also remember what the 61st Amendment changed, its year and the date it came into force.
• Election Laws by Parliament and State Legislatures (Articles 327 and 328)Importance 4/5
  Which election matters can Parliament make laws on, and which can a state legislature? Understand the limit on state laws where Parliament has already made provision. Is delimitation of constituencies among the matters a state legislature can decide?
• Courts and Delimitation (Article 329(a))Importance 4/5
  Which laws on constituencies cannot be questioned in court under Article 329(a)? Understand what this means for the orders of the Delimitation Commission, and how far courts can examine them.
• Questioning an Election (Article 329(b))Importance 4/5
  How does Article 329(b) say an election to Parliament or a state legislature may be questioned? Can courts step in while the election process is under way? Remember which courts have tried election petitions since 1966, and where an appeal goes.
• Election Tribunals Under Article 323B and the L. Chandra Kumar CaseImportance 4/5
  What power does Article 323B give the legislature over election disputes, and what did it say about the jurisdiction of courts? Remember whether any such tribunal has been set up. Be able to explain what the Supreme Court decided in L. Chandra Kumar (1997): was the clause struck down fully or only to an extent? Which court examines a tribunal's decisions, and on what basis?
• Election Commission of India: Composition and AppointmentImportance 4/5
  How many members does the Election Commission of India have, who fixes the number, and what are their posts? Remember who appoints them. Compare three stages of appointment: the earlier practice, the interim committee set up in Anoop Baranwal (2023), and the Selection Committee under the 2023 Act on the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners.
• Chief Electoral Officer and District Election OfficerImportance 3/5
  At what level does each of these two officers work, and what does each supervise? Remember who designates them, and in consultation with whom.
• Returning Officer and Electoral Registration OfficerImportance 3/5
  Be clear how the work of the Returning Officer differs from that of the Electoral Registration Officer. Remember what kind of officer each can be, and who designates them.
• Presiding Officer and Polling OfficersImportance 2/5
  Who conducts the poll at a polling station, and who assists? Remember who appoints these officers, and the exception for Union Territories.
• Observers: General, Expenditure and PoliceImportance 3/5
  What are the three main kinds of observers? Remember who nominates them, and what each kind watches. Also know which service the police observers come from.
• Time of Elections, Dissolution and Gaps Between SessionsImportance 3/5
  How often must elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies be held? On whose advice does the President dissolve the Lok Sabha, and can its term be extended during a National Emergency? What does the six-month rule of Article 85 govern, and does it apply to a dissolved House (the 2002 Special Reference)?
• Schedule of Elections: Announcement, Notification, Nomination, Scrutiny and WithdrawalImportance 3/5UPSC 1995
  Understand the order of stages from announcement to withdrawal of candidates. Is the announcement the same as the formal notification? Remember the time allowed for nominations and for withdrawal, who scrutinises nominations, and when the Model Code of Conduct starts.
• Oath or Affirmation by CandidatesImportance 2/5
  Before whom must a candidate make the oath or affirmation? Remember when it must be done, and whether the candidate may do it in person or through someone else. What is the constitutional basis for requiring it?
• Model Code of ConductImportance 5/5
  What is the Model Code of Conduct, and on what basis did the Election Commission evolve it? Does it have statutory backing, and is it legally enforceable? Understand what it aims to do, including its special guidelines for the ruling party. Remember the years linked to its origin in Kerala, the parties' agreement on it and the Commission's first effective use of it.
• Campaign Period and Party ManifestosImportance 3/5
  What is the least time the official campaign must run, and when does it end before polling closes? Know what manifestos are and what parties put in them.
• Polling Days, Ballot Papers and SymbolsImportance 2/5
  Why is polling usually held on different days in different constituencies? Remember who prepares the list of candidates, what a ballot paper shows, and which candidates are given their party symbols.
• Electronic Voting Machines: Introduction and AdvantagesImportance 4/5
  Remember the milestones in the Commission's move from ballot papers to Electronic Voting Machines: the first trial, the legal basis, and use up to the 2004 Lok Sabha election. What are the advantages of EVMs over ballot papers and boxes? You should be able to explain each one. Also understand what VVPAT is for and when it was introduced.
• Voting Procedure at the Polling StationImportance 3/5
  Is voting open or secret? Remember the norms for polling stations (distance from voters, number of voters, hours open), and the steps a voter goes through in order, from the roll check to casting the vote. What is NOTA, and which Supreme Court case led to it?
• Electoral Roll and Its RevisionImportance 4/5
  What is the electoral roll, and who is allowed to vote? Understand why and how it is revised, who is added and who is removed. Also learn the current qualifying dates for a person turning 18 to be added, and how they differ from the earlier rule.
• Media Coverage and Restrictions on Opinion and Exit PollsImportance 3/5
  How are media allowed to cover polling and counting, and what condition limits this coverage? Distinguish the restriction on publishing opinion polls (Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951) from the restriction on exit polls (Section 126A), including the period for each.
• Counting of Votes and Constitution of the New HouseImportance 2/5
  Who supervises the counting of votes, and who declares the winner? Remember what the Election Commission issues after counting to constitute the House, and who convenes it for the Lok Sabha and for state assemblies.
• First-Past-the-Post System for Lok Sabha and State AssembliesImportance 5/5UPSC 1995, 1997, 2017
  Understand how the first-past-the-post system works in Lok Sabha elections: the constituencies, the number of votes each elector has, and how the winner is decided. Do state assemblies use the same system, and what kind of constituencies do they have? Which elections use proportional representation instead, and what are the merits and demerits of first-past-the-post?
• Election Petitions: Who May File and Their NatureImportance 3/5
  Who can file an election petition, and why is it not treated as an ordinary civil suit? What is the time limit for filing it, and what relief can the court give if it upholds the petition?
• Lok Sabha General Elections: Landmark ResultsImportance 3/5UPSC 2018
  How many general elections have been held to the Lok Sabha so far, including the latest? Remember the landmark results: the first election (seats and winning party), and which party won in 1977, 1984, 2014, 2019 and 2024. Why was each of these a landmark?

4.Election Laws

• Why the Representation of the People Act, 1950 Was Enacted (Articles 81, 170 and 171)Importance 4/5
  What do Articles 81 and 170 fix for the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies, and what do they leave to law? Ask the same of Article 171 and the Legislative Councils. Understand why the 1950 Act was needed, and remember which Houses' seat allocation it provides for.
• Delimitation and Registration of Electors Under the 1950 ActImportance 4/5
  Under the 1950 Act, who was given the power to delimit constituencies, and whom must that authority consult? Note that today this power applies only to Legislative Council constituencies. The Act also covers the registration, qualifications and disqualifications of electors. What did the 2021 amendments change for the electoral roll (Aadhaar, qualifying dates, service voters)? Be clear how qualifying as a voter differs from qualifying for membership of a House.
• Other Provisions of the 1950 Act (Election Officers, Union Territory Seats in the Rajya Sabha, Local Authorities, Civil Courts)Importance 3/5
  Remember the four other matters the Act covers. Which election officers does it provide for? How are Union Territory seats in the Rajya Sabha filled, and what role do local authorities have in Legislative Council elections? Does the Act bar the jurisdiction of civil courts?
• Why the Representation of the People Act, 1951 Was Enacted and How It Differs from the 1950 ActImportance 5/5
  Why was a second Act needed after the 1950 Act? Be able to explain which electoral matters belong to the 1950 Act and which to the 1951 Act. Remember the broad subjects the 1951 Act covers.
• Qualifications and Disqualifications for Membership of Parliament and State LegislaturesImportance 5/5UPSC 2017
  Which Act lays down who can be a member of Parliament or a State Legislature, and who is disqualified? Understand how this links to Articles 84 and 102 for Parliament and Articles 173 and 191 for the States. Study disqualification on conviction: the sentence threshold, its duration and the effect of Lily Thomas v. Union of India (2013) on sitting members. Also study disqualification for corrupt practices and for not lodging election accounts. Can the Election Commission remove or reduce a disqualification?
• Notification of General Elections and Administrative MachineryImportance 3/5UPSC 1995
  Which Act deals with the notification of general elections and the setting up of the administrative machinery to conduct them?
• Registration of Political Parties and Free Supply of Material to Recognised PartiesImportance 4/5UPSC 2001
  Which Act provides for the registration of political parties? Can the Election Commission de-register a registered party, and on what limited grounds? What material is supplied free of cost to the candidates of recognised parties?
• Conduct of Elections Under the 1951 Act (Nomination to Election Expenses)Importance 4/5
  Remember the nine matters covered under the conduct of elections, from the nomination of candidates to election expenses. Give special attention to multiple elections, the declaration of assets and liabilities, and election expenses.
• Election Disputes: Election Petitions and AppealsImportance 4/5UPSC 2004, 2012
  Which court receives and hears an election petition, and which court hears appeals? Remember the other matters covered: trial, withdrawal and abatement of petitions, and costs and security for costs.
• Corrupt Practices and Electoral OffencesImportance 4/5
  What counts as a corrupt practice, and what as an electoral offence, under the 1951 Act? Understand how the two differ in their effect on an election and in the punishment they bring.
• Election Commission Inquiries Into Disqualification, Bye-Elections and Bar on Civil CourtsImportance 3/5
  What powers does the Election Commission have in inquiries into the disqualification of members? Understand how this links to Articles 103 and 192. What is the time limit for filling a vacancy by bye-election, and in which two situations does it not apply? Remember the bar on the jurisdiction of civil courts.
• Constitutional Basis for Readjustment of Constituencies and Reserved Seats (Articles 82, 170, 330 and 332)Importance 4/5
  Which of these Articles provide for readjusting constituencies, and which for re-fixing Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe seats? On which census was the delimitation under the 2002 Act based, and which census was used for the one before it? Which census fixes each State's number of seats today, and until when does that stay fixed? Be clear how redrawing constituency boundaries differs from changing the number of seats of a State.
• Why the Delimitation Act, 2002 Was EnactedImportance 4/5
  Why did constituencies, even within one State, come to differ so much in size? Be able to explain the causes. Remember which body the Act set up. Who sits on this body, and can its orders be questioned in any court?
• Earlier Delimitation ActsImportance 3/5
  In which years were the earlier Delimitation Acts passed? Remember each of them. Note that the years of the Delimitation Commissions set up under them differ from the years of the Acts.
• Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959Importance 4/5UPSC 2019
  What is an office of profit, and why can it disqualify a member of Parliament? Understand what this Act does for certain such offices under the Government. Remember its year.
• Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Orders (Amendment) Act, 1976Importance 2/5
  Know what this Act does to the lists of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Understand how that links to the readjustment of parliamentary and assembly constituencies.
• Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 and Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991Importance 2/5
  Remember these two Acts and their years. Know why they count among the laws relating to elections.
• Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952Importance 3/5
  Which Act regulates elections to the offices of President and Vice-President? Remember its year, and that it is separate from the Representation of the People Acts. How do the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules, 1974 relate to this Act? Which court decides disputes over these elections?
• Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 and Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961Importance 3/5
  What does each set of Rules govern? Be clear which one deals with the preparation of electoral rolls and which with the conduct of elections to Parliament and State Legislatures.
• Defection Rules of 1985 for the Lok Sabha and the Rajya SabhaImportance 3/5
  Remember that there are separate defection rules for the Lok Sabha and for the Rajya Sabha, and their year. Understand how they link to the Tenth Schedule.
• Other Election Rules (Simultaneous Membership, Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections, Assets and Liabilities of Members)Importance 2/5
  Remember the names and years of these Rules. Which earlier Rules did the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules of 1974 replace? Know that the Assets and Liabilities Rules exist separately for each House.
• Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968Importance 4/5
  Understand what this Order covers: symbols at elections (their specification, reservation, choice and allotment) and the recognition of political parties. Who issues it? Distinguish recognition under this Order from registration under the 1951 Act.
• Registration of Political Parties (Furnishing of Additional Particulars) Order, 1992Importance 2/5
  Why does this Order exist? Know who must furnish additional particulars, and to which body. Remember its year.

5.Electoral Reforms

• Committees and Commissions on Electoral Reforms (1971 to 2015)Importance 4/5UPSC 1995, 1997
  Remember the main committees and commissions with their year, head and subject, in order of time. Who appointed the Tarkunde Committee, and why is it called unofficial? Remember who headed the National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution and the Second Administrative Reforms Commission, and the subject of each Law Commission report.
• Indrajit Gupta Committee on State Funding of ElectionsImportance 4/5UPSC 1997
  Remember which government set up this committee, how many members it had, who chaired it and when it reported. What kind of state funding did it recommend, and for which parties?
• Lowering of Voting AgeImportance 4/5
  Which Constitutional Amendment Act changed the voting age, and in which year? Remember the old and new age and the elections it covers. Understand why the change was made.
• Deputation of Electoral Roll Staff to the Election CommissionImportance 2/5
  Which staff are treated as being on deputation to the Election Commission? Remember whose control, superintendence and discipline they come under during that period.
• Proposers for Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council ElectionsImportance 1/5
  How many proposers must sign a nomination for these elections? Remember the rule, which has a percentage and a number, and understand why it was made. Do not confuse it with the proposer rule for Lok Sabha and assembly candidates.
• Electronic Voting Machines: Legal Provision and First UseImportance 3/5
  When were EVMs first used, and why did the Supreme Court set that election aside? How did this lead to the law that allowed EVMs? Remember the later trial use in selected states, and the first time EVMs were used across a whole state in a general election.
• Booth Capturing: Meaning and RemediesImportance 2/5
  What can the authorities do when booth capturing takes place? Remember the four acts that count as booth capturing, including the one connected with counting of votes.
• Elector's Photo Identity Card (EPIC)Importance 3/5
  Who decided to issue photo identity cards to electors, and in which year? Understand the problem it was meant to check, and which document the cards are issued from.
• Dinesh Goswami Committee and the 1996 ReformsImportance 4/5UPSC 1995, 1997, 1999
  Which government appointed this committee, in which year, and what post did Dinesh Goswami hold? Remember when it reported and which Act in 1996 put some of its proposals into effect.
• Order of Listing Candidates on the BallotImportance 1/5
  Into which three categories are candidates divided for the list and the ballot paper? Remember the order of the categories and how names are arranged within each.
• Disqualification Under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971Importance 3/5UPSC 1999
  Which three offences under this Act lead to disqualification? Remember the elections it covers and for how long the person is disqualified.
• Prohibition on Liquor Before PollingImportance 2/5
  Remember where the ban applies and during how many hours before the close of the poll. Does it cover private places as well as public ones?
• Number of Proposers for Lok Sabha and Assembly CandidatesImportance 2/5
  How does the number of proposers differ for a candidate of a recognised party and for other candidates? Understand why the rule was made.
• Death of a Candidate Before PollingImportance 3/5UPSC 1999
  What was the earlier rule when a candidate died before polling, and what is the rule now? What option does a recognised party have, and within how many days must it use it?
• Time Limit for By-Elections and Its ExceptionsImportance 3/5
  Within what period from the vacancy must a by-election be held? Remember the two cases in which this time limit does not apply.
• Paid Holiday on Polling DayImportance 2/5
  Who is entitled to a paid holiday on polling day? Does it cover daily wagers? Remember the one case in which the rule does not apply.
• Contesting from More Than Two ConstituenciesImportance 4/5UPSC 1999, 2021
  How many constituencies can one candidate contest at a general election, or at by-elections held together? Does a similar limit apply to Rajya Sabha and legislative council elections?
• Prohibition of Arms Near Polling StationsImportance 1/5
  What kind of offence is it to carry arms near a polling station? Remember who is exempt.
• Reduced Campaigning PeriodImportance 2/5
  Which gap in the election schedule was shortened? Remember the old and the new number of days.
• Proposers, Seconders and Security Deposit for Presidential and Vice-Presidential ElectionsImportance 3/5
  Remember how the number of proposers and seconders changed for the President and for the Vice-President, and how the security deposit changed. Which Act made these changes, and what was the aim?
• Requisitioning of Staff for Election DutyImportance 1/5
  Staff of which bodies outside the government can be requisitioned for election duty? Remember the categories.
• Voting Through Postal BallotImportance 3/5
  Who can decide which classes of persons vote by postal ballot, and in consultation with whom? Remember the year of the provision. Can such a person vote in any other way? Later, which categories of absentee voters were also allowed to vote by postal ballot?
• Proxy Voting for Service VotersImportance 2/5
  Which service voters can vote through a proxy, and from which year? Remember how the proxy is appointed and who must be informed.
• Declaration of Criminal Antecedents, Assets and Education by CandidatesImportance 4/5
  Who ordered candidates to give information on their nomination paper, and in which year? Which Supreme Court rulings led to it, and what right did they rest on? Remember the five kinds of information, including the condition for pending cases and whose assets must be shown. What is the result of giving false information?
• Changes in Rajya Sabha Elections (Domicile and Open Ballot)Importance 4/5
  How did the residence requirement for Rajya Sabha candidates change? Understand the open ballot, how it works and why it was brought in.
• Exemption of Party Leaders' Travelling ExpenditureImportance 2/5
  Whose travelling costs are left out of a candidate's election expenses? Remember the year of this provision.
• Free Supply of Electoral Rolls and MaterialImportance 1/5
  Who supplies electoral rolls free of cost, and to which candidates? What does the Election Commission supply?
• Contributions to Political Parties and Tax ReliefImportance 2/5
  From whom can parties accept contributions? Which two kinds of source are barred? Remember the amount above which a contribution must be reported to the Election Commission, and the tax benefit for companies.
• Allocation of Time on Electronic MediaImportance 1/5
  Which body allocates time on cable television and other electronic media during elections? On what basis is the time shared among parties?
• Braille Signage on EVMsImportance 1/5
  Why was Braille introduced on EVMs? Remember the stages of its rollout, from the first trial to the general election of 2009.
• Restrictions on Exit PollsImportance 3/5
  What is banned, and in which elections? Who decides the period of the ban? Understand how an exit poll is defined in law.
• Time Limit for Submitting a Disqualification Case for Corrupt PracticeImportance 1/5
  Remember the time limit for sending a case of corrupt practice for disqualification, and to whom it is sent.
• Election Officials and the Corrupt Practice of Obtaining AssistanceImportance 1/5
  Which officials were brought within the corrupt practice of obtaining assistance for a candidate's election? Does it matter whether they are in government service?
• Increase in Security Deposit for Lok Sabha and Assembly ElectionsImportance 3/5UPSC 2002
  Remember the old and new security deposits for general candidates and for SC and ST candidates, in both Lok Sabha and assembly elections. Understand why they were raised.
• Appellate Authority Within the District for Electoral Roll OrdersImportance 1/5
  Against an order of the Electoral Registration Officer, who hears the first appeal, and who hears the second? Which authority used to hear appeals before?
• Voting Rights of Citizens of India Living AbroadImportance 3/5
  What three conditions must such a citizen meet to be registered as an elector? In which constituency is the name entered?
• Online Enrolment in the Electoral RollImportance 1/5
  Which rules, and from which year, made online applications for enrolment possible? Which older rules did they amend?
• None of the Above (NOTA) OptionImportance 4/5
  Who directed that the NOTA option be provided, and why? Remember when it was first used. If NOTA gets more votes than every candidate, does it change who is declared elected? In which elections is NOTA not available, and why?
• Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT)Importance 4/5
  Understand how VVPAT works: what the slip shows, how long it is visible, where it goes and how a voter can challenge a vote. Remember the 2013 change in law, the Supreme Court's permission and where it was first used. How did the Supreme Court later deal with demands for fuller VVPAT verification?
• Persons in Jail or Police Custody Contesting ElectionsImportance 3/5
  What did the Supreme Court hold in 2013 about a person who cannot vote because of being in jail or police custody? Remember the case name. Understand the two provisions Parliament added to the Representation of the People Act, 1951 in response.
• Immediate Disqualification of Convicted MPs and MLAsImportance 4/5
  What did the Supreme Court decide in 2013 about the disqualification of convicted lawmakers? Remember the case, and the section of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 that was struck down. Compare the earlier three-month period with the new position. What happened to the Bill meant to undo the ruling?
• Photos of Candidates on EVMs and Ballot PapersImportance 2/5
  From when do ballot papers and EVMs carry candidates' photos, and why? Is a missing photograph a ground for rejecting a nomination?
• Ceiling on Anonymous Cash DonationsImportance 3/5
  What cap did the 2017 budget set on a cash donation to a political party from one source? Remember the old and new limits. Above what amount must a party keep a record of the donor and report the contribution to the Election Commission?
• Removal of the Cap on Corporate ContributionsImportance 3/5
  What limit on donations by companies was removed in 2017? Which disclosure in the company's accounts was dropped? What did the Supreme Court later decide on these changes?
• Electoral Bond Scheme: Features and Current StatusImportance 4/5
  What was the aim of the scheme, and when was it announced and notified? Remember its main features: the type of instrument, who could buy, which parties could receive, the denominations, how bonds were encashed and the confidentiality of the buyer. What has the Supreme Court decided about the scheme, and on what constitutional ground?
• Foreign Funding of Political Parties (FCRA Amendment)Importance 2/5
  Understand what changed in the definition of a "foreign source" for a company with foreign shareholding. Are political parties still barred from taking contributions from a foreign source?
• Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021Importance 3/5
  Remember the four changes: the link with Aadhaar and its aim, the qualifying dates for the electoral roll, the change for spouses of service voters, and the wider grounds for requisitioning premises. Is giving Aadhaar compulsory, and what happens to a person who cannot give it? What was the earlier position on the qualifying dates and on requisitioning?

6.Voting Behaviour

• Meaning of Voting Behaviour (Plano and Riggs, Gordon Marshall, Oinam Kulabidhu)Importance 2/5
  What is the other name for voting behaviour, and what kind of behaviour is it? Understand what the three definitions stress: how and why people vote, what decides their choice, and how voting reflects voters' choices, preferences and ideologies.
• Study of Voting Behaviour and the Origin of Its NameImportance 3/5
  What is the scientific study of voting behaviour called, and which Greek word does the term come from? Remember what that word means and how it links to voting in ancient Greece.
• Why the Study of Voting Behaviour MattersImportance 2/5
  Understand the five reasons for studying voting behaviour: political socialisation, democracy as a value among the elite and the masses, the real impact of the ballot box, continuity or break with the past, and whether political development is modern or primordial.
• N.G.S. Kini's View of Voting BehaviourImportance 1/5
  Remember the five ways of seeing voting behaviour that N.G.S. Kini gives.
• Socio-Economic and Political Factors as DeterminantsImportance 1/5
  Why is voting in India shaped by many factors? Understand the link with India's social diversity. Remember the two broad categories into which these factors are divided.
• Caste as a Determinant (Rajni Kothari, Paul Brass)Importance 3/5
  What was Rajni Kothari's central idea about caste and politics? Understand how, in his view, caste and politics affect each other. Understand Paul Brass's view of how large castes vote in a rural constituency, and how parties take caste into account in their election strategy.
• Religion as a DeterminantImportance 2/5
  How does religion influence voting? Understand the part played by communal propaganda and communal parties. Why can no party ignore religion in elections, even though India is a secular state?
• Language as a DeterminantImportance 2/5
  How do parties use linguistic feeling to influence voters? Remember how the reorganisation of states on a language basis shows this, and which two parties, in which states, are linked to language feeling.
• Region as a DeterminantImportance 2/5
  How do regionalism and sub-regionalism affect voting and lead to regional parties? Understand how regional parties appeal to voters. Also remember what secessionist parties sometimes call for during elections.
• Personality of the Leader as a DeterminantImportance 1/5
  Know what 'charisma' means and how a leader's image can draw votes at the national and the state level. Remember a few examples of national leaders whose image influenced voters.
• Money as a Determinant and the Wave ElectionImportance 2/5
  How does money influence voting even though candidates' election spending has legal limits? Understand why money works only in normal circumstances and not in a wave election. What is a wave election, as Paul Brass explains it?
• Performance of the Ruling Party and Anti-IncumbencyImportance 2/5
  What do voters judge the ruling party against? Remember what anti-incumbency means. Which ruling party lost in the 1977 elections, and which in the 1980 elections?
• Party Identification as a DeterminantImportance 1/5
  Be clear about what party identification means. Why do some voters keep backing a party whatever its record?
• Ideology as a DeterminantImportance 1/5
  How does commitment to an ideology guide a voter's choice of party? Understand this with examples of ideologies, such as communism or secularism.
• Other Factors Influencing Voting BehaviourImportance 1/5
  What seven further factors influence voters? Remember the two linked to the time of the election (political events and economic conditions, with examples), and think about how each of the others could sway voters.

7.Coalition Government

• Meaning and Origin of the Term 'Coalition'Importance 2/5
  What is the Latin root of 'coalition', and what does it literally mean? Understand how the general sense of the word differs from its political sense.
• Definitions of Coalition GovernmentImportance 1/5
  How do scholars define coalition government? Understand the part played by a common agreed programme, the lack of a majority for any one party, and the multi-party system.
• Features of Coalition PoliticsImportance 2/5
  Which scholar summarised the features of coalition politics? Understand the eight features, such as the reward motive, the need for at least two partners, the temporary joining of interests and the changing nature of alliances. You should be able to explain compromise, the minimum programme, pragmatism over ideology, and seizing power as the purpose.
• Pre-Poll and Post-Poll CoalitionsImportance 2/5
  How do pre-poll and post-election coalitions differ in when they form and in what they are meant to do? Which of the two is considered more advantageous, and why?
• Single-Party Rule and Outside Support Before 1977Importance 2/5
  In which elections did one party win a majority at the Centre before 1977? Remember what happened to the government after the 1969 split and which parties backed it. Understand what 'outside support' means and how it differs from joining the government.
• First Coalition Government at the Centre (1977–1979)Importance 3/5
  Why was 1977 a turning point for coalition politics at the Centre? Remember which government was the first coalition, its Prime Minister and its main constituent parties. Was that government formed by separate parties, or by parties that had merged into one?
• Coalition Governments of 1979–1991 (Charan Singh, V.P. Singh, Chandra Shekhar)Importance 2/5
  Remember the Prime Minister, the party or front, and the outside supporters of each of these three governments. Understand why they depended on outside support and lasted a short time.
• United Front Governments (1996–1998)Importance 2/5UPSC 1998
  Who were the two Prime Ministers of the United Front governments, and which party did they belong to? Know which parties supported them from outside.
• NDA and UPA Coalitions (1998–2014)Importance 2/5
  Remember the Prime Minister and the coalition at each stage: the BJP-led coalition of 1998, the NDA of 1999–2004, UPA-I and UPA-II. Which parties supported UPA-I from outside? Understand the shift to larger alliances led by one national party.
• NDA Governments Since 2014Importance 2/5
  Which major partners left the NDA in 2018, 2019 and 2020? Think about whether a government in which one party has its own majority still counts as a coalition. Also follow how the alliance's position changed after the 2024 Lok Sabha election, and which partners the government now relies on.
• Merits of Coalition GovernmentImportance 2/5
  Be able to explain each merit of coalition government with a reason. Think especially about why a coalition can be more representative in a country as diverse as India, how it leads to decisions by consensus, and why it may strengthen federalism and reduce one-party domination.
• Instability and the Weakening of the Prime Minister and CabinetImportance 2/5
  Why are coalition governments prone to instability? Understand how the Prime Minister's leadership is limited. Whom did critics call 'Super Prime Ministers' or 'Ultra Prime Ministers', and why? How does the steering or co-ordination committee of the partners undermine the cabinet, and what is it called?
• Pressure from Smaller and Regional PartnersImportance 2/5
  What is the 'King-maker' role that smaller partners can play? Understand how regional leaders bring regional concerns into national decisions, and how the threat of withdrawing from the coalition is used to pressure the central executive.
• Jumbo Ministries and the Escape from ResponsibilityImportance 2/5
  Why are coalition ministries usually large? Remember the 1999 Vajpayee ministry as the example, its size and the label it was given. Understand the problems of sharing out portfolios and co-ordination. How do blame games let members escape collective and individual responsibility?

8.Anti-Defection Law

• Origin of the Anti-Defection LawImportance 5/5UPSC 1998, 2014, 2025
  Which amendment created the anti-defection law, and in which year? Remember the new Schedule it added. Know the four Articles it changed and what they deal with. Which later amendment altered this Schedule?
• Disqualification of Members of Political PartiesImportance 5/5
  Remember the two grounds on which a member belonging to a political party is disqualified. For the second ground, know the role of prior permission and the period within which the party can condone the act. What does the rule expect of a member elected on a party ticket?
• Disqualification of Independent and Nominated MembersImportance 5/5UPSC 2022
  When is an independent member disqualified? When is a nominated member disqualified, and what time window does a nominated member get? Be clear about how the two cases differ.
• Exceptions: Merger and the Presiding OfficerImportance 5/5
  In which two cases does defection not lead to disqualification? For merger, remember what makes a merger valid, and whose members the required share is counted from. What happens to members who do not accept the merger? For the presiding officer, understand which situation is covered and why this office gets the exemption.
• Deletion of the Split ExceptionImportance 4/5
  Did the Tenth Schedule once protect a split in a legislature party? Remember the size of the group that was needed, which amendment removed this protection, and what this means for defectors. Understand how a split differs from a merger in its effect.
• Presiding Officer as the Deciding AuthorityImportance 4/5UPSC 2022, 2025
  Who decides a question of disqualification under the Tenth Schedule? Who decides when the question concerns the presiding officer himself? Remember what the Schedule says about the finality of the decision, and what its original provision said about challenging the decision in court. Does the Act itself set a time limit for the decision? Know the time frame the Supreme Court has since laid down, and the case.
• Judicial Review of Disqualification Decisions (Kihoto Hollohan Case, 1992)Importance 5/5
  What happened to the original bar on the courts' jurisdiction, and why? Understand how the Court read the finality of the presiding officer's decision. In what capacity does the presiding officer act when deciding, and on what grounds can the decision be reviewed? Which argument against giving this power to the presiding officer did the Court reject?
• Rule-Making Power of the Presiding OfficerImportance 2/5
  Who makes the rules to give effect to the Tenth Schedule? Know how the House controls these rules, including how long they must be placed before it. What happens if a member wilfully breaks them?
• How a Defection Case Is Taken UpImportance 3/5
  When can the presiding officer take up a defection case? Know the steps before the final decision, including the member's chance to explain and the possible role of the committee of privileges. Is disqualification immediate and automatic? Understand why.
• Purpose of the Anti-Defection LawImportance 3/5
  Understand what evil the Tenth Schedule is meant to prevent, and what it aims to strengthen. Remember how Rajiv Gandhi described the law. What did the Central law minister say about its passing in both Houses of Parliament?
• Advantages of the Anti-Defection LawImportance 3/5
  Be able to explain the four advantages claimed for the law. They concern stability, realignment of parties, corruption and election expenditure, and the place of political parties. What new recognition does the law give to political parties?
• Criticism: Dissent, Group Defection, Expulsion and Unequal TreatmentImportance 4/5
  Be able to explain four criticisms: dissent versus defection, individual versus group defection, expulsion for activities outside the legislature, and the different treatment of independent and nominated members. Who are the two critics behind the remarks on "party bossism" and on "retail" and "wholesale" defections?
• Criticism of the Presiding Officer as AdjudicatorImportance 4/5
  Why is the presiding officer criticised as the deciding authority? Understand both grounds. Which two Lok Sabha Speakers doubted their own suitability, and in which years? What did Shivraj Patil think would be a better arrangement?
• Reasons for the 91st Amendment (Committee and Commission Recommendations)Importance 3/5
  Understand why the government brought this amendment, especially the concerns about bulk defections and splits. Which three bodies recommended removing the split exception, and in which years? Also remember what the NCRWC suggested about penalising defectors and about limiting the number of ministers.
• Ceiling on the Size of the Council of MinistersImportance 5/5
  What is the limit on the size of the Council of Ministers at the Centre and in a state? Remember what it is measured against, whether the Prime Minister or Chief Minister is counted, and the minimum number for a state. Be clear how the limit that became law differs from the NCRWC's suggestion.
• Bar on Defectors Becoming Ministers or Holding Remunerative Political PostsImportance 4/5
  Which defectors are barred from becoming ministers, at the Centre and in the states? Remember that they are also barred from remunerative political posts. Understand what this term covers (two kinds of office) and the exception for pay that is compensatory. How long does the bar last, and when can it end early?

9.Pressure Groups

• Meaning, Origin and Other Names of Pressure GroupsImportance 2/5
  In which country did the term "pressure group" begin? Understand what a pressure group is, why it carries that name, and how it acts as a link between the government and its members. Also remember the other names used for pressure groups.
• Pressure Groups versus Political PartiesImportance 3/5
  Be able to distinguish a pressure group from a political party. Does each contest elections or try to capture power? How does the range of issues each deals with differ? Understand how a pressure group influences the government without seeking office.
• Legitimate and Illegitimate Methods of Pressure GroupsImportance 2/5
  Remember the lawful methods pressure groups use to influence how policy is made and carried out. Which unlawful methods do they sometimes use? Understand how these harm the public interest and the honesty of administration.
• Techniques of Pressure Groups (Electioneering, Lobbying, Propagandising)Importance 2/5
  Who is credited with this three-part classification of techniques? Understand what electioneering, lobbying and propagandising each mean. Why does shaping public opinion give a group indirect influence over the government in a democracy?
• Development and Classification of Pressure Groups in IndiaImportance 2/5
  How developed are pressure groups in India compared with those in the US and Western countries such as Britain? Remember the eleven broad categories into which Indian pressure groups are classified.
• Business Groups (FICCI, ASSOCHAM, FAIFDA, AIMO)Importance 2/5
  How do business groups rank in strength among pressure groups in India? Remember bodies such as FICCI, ASSOCHAM, FAIFDA and AIMO, with their full names. Note that both FICCI and ASSOCHAM use "Chambers" of Commerce in their names.
• Trade Unions and Their Party Affiliations (AITUC, INTUC, HMS, CITU, BMS)Importance 2/5
  Whom do trade unions represent? What is unusual about trade unions in India in their link with political parties? Remember which party each of AITUC, INTUC, HMS, CITU and BMS is linked with, directly or indirectly.
• Founding of AITUC and the Split in the Trade Union MovementImportance 3/5
  When was the All-India Trade Union Congress founded, and who was its first President? Was it the first trade union in India, or something different? Know how it differs from earlier unions such as the Madras Labour Union. Who worked together in it until 1945, and on what lines did the movement later split?
• Agrarian Groups (Bharatiya Kisan Union, All India Kisan Sabha and Others)Importance 2/5
  Whom do agrarian groups represent? Remember the main bodies, including the Bharatiya Kisan Union and the All India Kisan Sabha, and the region where the Bharatiya Kisan Union is based.
• Professional Associations (IMA, BCI, IFWJ, AIFUCT)Importance 1/5
  Which professions do these associations represent? Remember the four main bodies (IMA, BCI, IFWJ, AIFUCT) and understand how they press the government to improve service conditions. Note that one of them is a statutory body set up under the Advocates Act, 1961, not a voluntary association.
• Student Organisations and Their Party Links (ABVP, AISF, NSUI, SFI)Importance 1/5
  In what way are student organisations like trade unions? Remember which political party each of ABVP, AISF, NSUI and SFI is linked with, directly or indirectly.
• Religious Organisations and the Shiromani Akali DalImportance 1/5
  Remember the main religion-based bodies: the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Jamaat-e-Islami and the All-India Conference of Indian Christians. The Shiromani Akali Dal is a recognised political party that contests elections. Understand one view on why it is still seen as more a religious pressure group than a political party.
• Caste Groups and Caste Rivalries in State PoliticsImportance 1/5
  How do caste rivalries shape competitive politics in many states? Remember a few rivalry pairs by state, such as those in Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Gujarat, and some caste-based bodies such as the Nadar Caste Association and the Kshatriya Maha Sabha.
• Tribal Organisations (NSCN and Others)Importance 1/5
  In which regions are tribal organisations active? Understand the range of their demands. Remember a main body such as the NSCN, and the state where it works.
• Linguistic Groups (Tamil Sangam, Hindi Sahitya Sammelan and Others)Importance 1/5
  Why has language been so important in Indian politics? Understand its role in forming states and in giving rise to parties and pressure groups. Remember the main linguistic bodies, such as the Tamil Sangam and the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan.
• Ideology-Based Groups (Narmada Bachao Andolan, Chipko Movement and Others)Importance 2/5
  Why are ideology-based groups seen as a more recent kind of pressure group? Understand what they are formed to pursue. Remember the types: environmental protection groups (Narmada Bachao Andolan, Chipko Movement), democratic rights and civil liberties bodies, the Gandhi Peace Foundation, and women's rights bodies.
• Anomic GroupsImportance 2/5
  Which two scholars described anomic pressure groups? What do such groups do, and why do they feel cut off from the political system? Remember examples such as Naxalite groups, the JKLF, the ULFA and Dal Khalsa. Note that the status of some of these groups has changed over time.

10.National Integration

• Definitions of National IntegrationImportance 2/5
  Who gave each of these four definitions: avoiding divisive movements and putting national interest above parochial interest; a socio-psychological and educational process; an idea in people's minds, not a physical thing; cohesion not fusion? Remember the main idea of each. Understand the paired contrasts in the last one (for example, unity but not uniformity).
• Need for National Integration and Its DimensionsImportance 2/5
  Why does India need national integration? Remember the kinds of diversity the country has. Also remember the five dimensions that national integration involves. How are they linked to each other?
• Regionalism: Meaning and Sub-RegionalismImportance 2/5
  What does regionalism mean? How is sub-regionalism different from it? Why is regionalism called a "subsidiary process" of political integration, and what kind of discontent does it express?
• Forms of RegionalismImportance 3/5
  Remember the five forms regionalism takes in India, with examples of each. Note that some examples have since been settled, such as Bodoland after the 2020 Bodo Accord. Be clear about the difference between a demand to leave the Union and a demand for a separate state within it. Understand what the "sons of the soil" theory asks for.
• Communalism: Meaning and Colonial RootsImportance 2/5
  What does communalism mean? Which Act of British rule first introduced communal representation, and for which community? How did the later Acts extend it? Understand why the politicisation of religion made communalism worse.
• Manifestations of CommunalismImportance 2/5
  Remember the four ways communalism shows itself, with an example of each. How do religion-based political parties differ from religion-based pressure groups? Also remember the dispute over religious structures at Ayodhya, the date of the demolition in 1992, and the Supreme Court's judgment of 2019.
• Reasons for the Persistence of CommunalismImportance 2/5
  Remember the factors that keep communalism alive, such as religious orthodoxy and electoral compulsions. You should be able to explain how they sustain it.
• Casteism: Meaning and ManifestationsImportance 2/5
  What does casteism mean, and what causes it? Remember its five manifestations, with examples of caste-based political parties and of caste-based pressure groups. How does caste enter ticket allotment, ministry formation and agitations over reservation?
• B.K. Nehru's View on Reservations and Caste ConsciousnessImportance 1/5
  Understand B.K. Nehru's argument. Why did he link reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to the communal electorates of British days? What effect on caste consciousness did he claim, and why did he think it harms national integration?
• Caste Rivalries in State PoliticsImportance 1/5
  In many states, politics is shaped by rivalry between a few dominant caste groups. Remember a few examples of such pairs, such as those in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Gujarat.
• Linguism: Meaning, Two Dimensions and Regional PartiesImportance 2/5
  What does linguism mean? Remember its two dimensions, one about states and one about the Union. Know the regional parties linked to its rise.
• Linguistic Reorganisation of States (Andhra State, States Reorganisation Commission)Importance 3/5
  Out of which state was Andhra created, in which year, and what agitation led to it? How did this affect demands in other regions? Remember the years of the States Reorganisation Commission, who chaired it and who its two other members were, and the year of the large-scale reorganisation. Also remember which states were later divided.
• Official Language Controversy and the Three-Language FormulaImportance 2/5
  Hindi's status as the official language of the Union comes from the Constitution. What did the Official Languages Act (1963) provide about English? Where did anti-Hindi agitation arise, and what assurance did the Central government give about English? Remember the three languages in the formula and Tamil Nadu's stand on it. Understand why Hindi did not become the lingua franca.
• Origin and Purpose of the National Integration CouncilImportance 2/5
  Why was the National Integration Conference convened in 1961, and which evils did it want to fight? What did it decide to set up? Remember the year the National Integration Council (NIC) was constituted, the year of its first meeting, and what the NIC is meant to do.
• Composition and Meetings of the National Integration CouncilImportance 3/5
  Who chairs the NIC? Remember the main kinds of members it has, both from government and from public life. How often does it meet, and how many meetings have been held up to its latest reported meeting?
• 16th Meeting of the National Integration CouncilImportance 1/5
  On what date was the 16th meeting held? Remember the main themes of the resolution passed there, such as violence, atrocities on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and the safety of women.
• Status and Purpose of the National Foundation for Communal HarmonyImportance 2/5
  In which year was the National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH) set up? Be clear about its status, the ministry that controls it, and the aims it promotes.
• Activities of the National Foundation for Communal HarmonyImportance 1/5
  Which main activities does the NFCH carry out? Pay special attention to the help it gives to child victims of societal violence.

11.Foreign Policy

• Meaning and Determinants of Foreign PolicyImportance 2/5
  What does foreign policy regulate, and in whose interest? Remember the factors that shape it, from geography to leadership. Also know what "international milieu" covers.
• Promotion of World Peace and Article 51Importance 4/5
  Article 51 is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy. Remember the four things it directs the State to do. Also understand why peace matters for the economic development of nations.
• Anti-Colonialism and Neo-ColonialismImportance 2/5
  Why does India oppose colonialism and imperialism? Understand the two reasons it gives. Know a few Afro-Asian liberation movements India supported as examples. Also learn what is meant by neo-colonialism and neo-imperialism, which India opposes too.
• Anti-Racialism and India's Stand on ApartheidImportance 2/5
  Why does India treat racialism like colonialism? Remember India's steps against apartheid South Africa, starting with its trade break in 1946. When did India break diplomatic relations, and when were full relations restored? Also know the two countries whose liberation from white domination India helped.
• Non-Alignment: Origin and MeaningImportance 4/5
  Understand the world situation in 1947 and why Nehru wanted India to keep away from power-bloc politics. Be clear about the three parts of what non-alignment means. Is it the same as neutrality or isolation?
• Panchsheel: Five Principles and Their OriginImportance 4/5
  Remember the five principles of Panchsheel. Also know the agreement that first carried them: its formal name, its date and who actually signed it. Which two leaders later endorsed the principles in a joint statement? Which other countries adopted them? Know why Panchsheel and non-alignment are called India's key contributions to international relations.
• Afro-Asian Bias: Conferences and GroupingsImportance 3/5
  Why does India give special attention to Afro-Asian nations? Remember the conferences India called or took part in during 1947, 1949 and 1955. Know the groupings it helped form, with their founding years: G-77, G-15 (when it was formed and when it first met), IORA, BIMSTEC and SAARC. What do India's neighbours mean when they call it "Big Brother"?
• Links with Commonwealth and India's SovereigntyImportance 3/5
  What did India declare about the Commonwealth in 1949? Why does this not affect its sovereignty or its republican character? Know why India chose to remain a member. What is CHOGM, and when did India host it?
• India's Role in the UNOImportance 3/5
  Remember when India joined the UN and who from India became President of the UN General Assembly in 1953. Know a few peacekeeping missions India took part in. Also understand India's non-permanent seats on the Security Council and its demand for a permanent seat.
• Disarmament and India's Stand on NPT and CTBTImportance 3/5
  Why does India want both conventional and nuclear disarmament? Remember the 1985 six-nation summit in New Delhi. Be able to explain why India has not signed the NPT and the CTBT. Which five countries does the NPT treat as nuclear-weapon states, and what cut-off date decides this?
• Origin and Basis of the Gujral DoctrineImportance 3/5
  Who put forward this doctrine, in which year and in which office? Understand its main idea: how should India, as the biggest country in South Asia, treat its smaller neighbours? What does the principle of non-reciprocity mean here?
• Five Principles of the Gujral Doctrine and Its RationaleImportance 2/5
  Remember the five principles, including which neighbours the first one names. Understand Gujral's own reasoning: why did he want "total peace" with the other neighbours, and which two countries did he have in mind as hostile?
• Credible Minimum Deterrent and No First UseImportance 4/5
  Understand the doctrine's aim of a credible minimum deterrent, and remember the year the government officially made it public after the Cabinet Committee on Security's review. Understand what "No First Use" allows and what it rules out. Against whom or what must a nuclear attack be made for India to retaliate under No First Use?
• Nature of Retaliation and Its ExceptionsImportance 3/5
  How strong will India's nuclear retaliation be? Who alone can authorise it, and through which body? Know the two qualifications to the doctrine. Will India use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states? What if India is attacked with biological or chemical weapons?
• Export Controls, FMCT, Test Moratorium and Disarmament CommitmentImportance 2/5
  What else does the doctrine commit India to? Know the controls on exports of nuclear and missile-related materials, the Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty negotiations and the moratorium on nuclear tests. Also know the kind of disarmament India says it works towards.
• Nuclear Command Authority: Political Council and Executive CouncilImportance 3/5
  Be clear about the two councils of the Nuclear Command Authority. Who chairs each one? Which council alone can authorise the use of nuclear weapons, and what does the other council do?
• Launch, Aim and Countries of the Connect Central Asia PolicyImportance 2/5
  When was the policy launched, and what is it meant to do? Remember the five Central Asian countries it covers. Understand how broad-based it is, across political, security, economic and cultural links.
• Features of the Connect Central Asia Policy (SCO, INSTC, Bishkek University, e-Network)Importance 2/5
  Know the main features by area. Remember the multilateral link through the SCO, the International North-South Transport Corridor, air connectivity, the e-network and the proposed Central Asian University in Bishkek. Also understand the energy, medical, banking and people-to-people areas.
• From Look East to Act East PolicyImportance 4/5
  Remember when the Look East Policy began, under which Prime Minister, and when and by which government it became the Act East Policy. Was the original policy mainly economic? Understand what was added later and what "extended neighbourhood" means here.
• Features of the Act East Policy (ASEAN, North East, Connectivity, Strategic Ties)Importance 3/5
  What is the objective of the policy, and at which levels does India engage? Understand why the North East, including Arunachal Pradesh, matters as a link to ASEAN, and the role of connectivity. Also know the 2015 ASEAN-India services and investment agreement, the civilisational links and the maritime security aim.

1. 1.

   Consider the following statements regarding the electoral system in India:
   1. There is to be only one general electoral roll for every territorial constituency for elections to Parliament and the state legislatures.
   2. Election petitions are triable by the High Courts, with appeals lying to the Supreme Court.
   3. The validity of a law relating to the delimitation of constituencies can be questioned in a High Court.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 and 3 only
   3. C1, 2 and 3
   4. D1 and 2 only
2. 2.

   Consider the following statements about the election machinery in India:
   1. The Chief Electoral Officer of a state is an officer of the state government nominated by the Election Commission in consultation with that state government.
   2. In a state, the Presiding Officers and Polling Officers are appointed by the District Election Officer.
   3. The Electoral Registration Officer is responsible for preparing the electoral rolls of a constituency.
   4. The Police Observers deployed by the Election Commission are drawn from the Indian Administrative Service.
   How many of the above statements are correct?

   1. AOnly one
   2. BOnly two
   3. COnly three
   4. DAll four
3. 3.

   Consider the following statements:
   Statement-I: The orders issued by the Delimitation Commission cannot be challenged in any court.
   Statement-II: The Constitution declares that the validity of any law relating to the delimitation of constituencies or the allotment of seats to them cannot be questioned in any court.
   Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

   1. ABoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
   2. BBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
   3. CStatement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
   4. DStatement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
4. 4.

   Article 323B empowers the appropriate legislature to set up a tribunal for election disputes. In view of the Supreme Court's 1997 ruling in L. Chandra Kumar vs Union of India, an appeal from the decision of such a tribunal, if one is ever set up, would lie to

   1. Athe High Court
   2. Bthe Supreme Court, by special leave only
   3. Cthe Election Commission of India
   4. Dthe President of India
5. 5.

   Consider the following statements:
   1. The results of exit polls can be published only after half an hour of the end of polling hours on the last day of the poll.
   2. The Model Code of Conduct comes into effect only when the formal notification calling upon the electorate to elect members is issued.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
6. 6.

   Consider the following statements about the election process in India:
   1. Validly nominated candidates can withdraw within two days after the nominations have been scrutinised.
   2. The official campaign ends 24 hours before polling closes.
   3. A candidate must make the oath or affirmation not later than the day before the date of scrutiny.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 and 2 only
   2. B2 and 3 only
   3. C1 and 3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
7. 7.

   Match List I with List II:

   List I (Law)	List II (Subject)
   A. Representation of the People Act, 1950	1. Qualifications and disqualifications for membership of Parliament and state legislatures
   B. Representation of the People Act, 1951	2. Offices of profit that do not disqualify their holders from membership of Parliament
   C. Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959	3. Allocation of seats and registration of electors
   D. Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968	4. Reservation and allotment of symbols and recognition of political parties

   Select the correct answer using the code given below:

   1. AA-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
   2. BA-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
   3. CA-3, B-2, C-1, D-4
   4. DA-3, B-1, C-2, D-4
8. 8.

   Consider the following statements:
   1. The Representation of the People Act, 1950 contains the provisions on the presentation and trial of election petitions.
   2. The Representation of the People Act, 1951 contains provisions on corrupt practices and electoral offences.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
9. 9.

   The Delimitation Act, 2002 was enacted to set up a Delimitation Commission to readjust Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies on the basis of which census?

   1. A1971 census
   2. B1991 census
   3. C2011 census
   4. D2001 census
10. 10.

    Consider the following pairs:

    Rules / Order	Subject
    1. Registration of Electors Rules, 1960	Preparation and publication of electoral rolls
    2. Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961	Conduct of elections to Parliament and state legislatures
    3. Registration of Political Parties (Furnishing of Additional Particulars) Order, 1992	Conditions for recognising a party as a national party

    How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

    1. AOnly one
    2. BOnly two
    3. CAll three
    4. DNone
11. 11.

    Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: Parliament enacted the Representation of the People Act, 1951 soon after the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
    Statement-II: The 1950 Act did not provide for the actual conduct of elections, the qualifications for membership of the Houses or the decision of election disputes.
    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

    1. ABoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
    2. BBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
    3. CStatement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
    4. DStatement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
12. 12.

    Consider the following statements about electoral reforms made before 1996:
    1. The 61st Constitutional Amendment Act of 1988 reduced the voting age from 21 to 18 years for Lok Sabha and assembly elections.
    2. A 1989 provision made election staff preparing electoral rolls deemed to be on deputation to the Election Commission.
    3. EVMs were first used for the general election to an entire state assembly in Kerala.
    4. The decision to issue Elector's Photo Identity Cards throughout the country was taken in 2003.
    How many of the above statements are correct?

    1. AOnly one
    2. BOnly two
    3. COnly three
    4. DAll four
13. 13.

    Consider the following statements about the electoral reforms of 1996:
    1. A by-election need not be held within six months if the remainder of the vacating member's term is less than one year.
    2. A candidate cannot contest from more than two constituencies at a general election.
    3. If a candidate of a recognised party dies before polling, the election in that constituency is countermanded.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D1 and 2 only
14. 14.

    Consider the following statements regarding nominations for a Lok Sabha or assembly election:
    1. A candidate not sponsored by a recognised political party needs ten registered electors of the constituency as proposers.
    2. A candidate sponsored by a recognised political party needs only one proposer.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 only
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
15. 15.

    Consider the following statements about the 2003 changes in Rajya Sabha elections:
    1. A candidate no longer needs to be an elector in the state from which he or she seeks election.
    2. The open ballot system was introduced to curb cross-voting.
    3. Under the open ballot, an elector belonging to a party must show the marked ballot paper to the Returning Officer.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
16. 16.

    In an election to a State Legislative Assembly, the None of the Above (NOTA) option receives more votes than any of the candidates in a constituency. What follows?

    1. AA fresh election is held in that constituency
    2. BThe candidate who secures the largest number of votes is declared elected
    3. CThe seat remains vacant until a by-election is held within six months
    4. DThe Election Commission nominates a member for the remaining term
17. 17.

    Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: Since 2013, a sitting Member of Parliament convicted of a disqualifying offence is disqualified immediately, without a three-month period to file an appeal.
    Statement-II: In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional Section 8(4) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

    1. ABoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
    2. BBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
    3. CStatement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
    4. DStatement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
18. 18.

    Consider the following statements:
    1. The slip printed by a VVPAT remains visible through a transparent window for seven seconds.
    2. VVPATs were first used in a bye-election to the Noksen Assembly Constituency of Nagaland.
    3. In 1997, the number of proposers needed for a candidate for President was raised from 10 to 50.
    4. The 2009 reform fixed the security deposit for SC and ST candidates contesting a Lok Sabha election at ₹5,000.
    How many of the above statements are correct?

    1. AOnly one
    2. BOnly two
    3. COnly three
    4. DAll four
19. 19.

    With reference to the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India, consider the following statements:
    1. A nominated member becomes disqualified if he or she joins a political party after six months from taking his or her seat.
    2. An independent member becomes disqualified if he or she joins any political party after the election.
    3. A member who votes against the party's direction without prior permission is disqualified unless the party condones it within 30 days.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C1, 2 and 3
    4. D1 and 2 only
20. 20.

    Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: Members of a legislature party who break away as a group of one-third can no longer claim protection from disqualification on the ground of a split.
    Statement-II: Under the Tenth Schedule, members escape disqualification on a merger only if two-thirds of the members of the party agree to it.
    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

    1. ABoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
    2. BBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
    3. CStatement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
    4. DStatement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
21. 21.

    In the Kihoto Hollohan case (1992), what did the Supreme Court hold about the presiding officer's decisions under the Tenth Schedule?

    1. AThey are final and cannot be questioned in any court
    2. BQuestions of disqualification must be referred to the Election Commission for its opinion
    3. CGiving adjudicatory power to the presiding officer is invalid because of the risk of political bias
    4. DThe presiding officer acts as a tribunal, so the decision is subject to judicial review on grounds such as mala fides and perversity
22. 22.

    Consider the following statements regarding the procedure under the anti-defection law:
    1. Before deciding a defection case, the presiding officer may refer the matter to the committee of privileges for inquiry.
    2. Rules made by the presiding officer to give effect to the Tenth Schedule must be placed before the House for 30 days.
    3. The presiding officer can take up a defection case on his or her own, without receiving a complaint.
    4. A wilful contravention of these rules by a member may be dealt with as a breach of privilege of the House.
    How many of the above statements are correct?

    1. AOnly one
    2. BOnly two
    3. COnly three
    4. DAll four
23. 23.

    Consider the following statements about the 91st Amendment Act of 2003:
    1. The total number of ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Central Council of Ministers cannot exceed 15 per cent of the total strength of the Lok Sabha.
    2. The number of ministers, including the Chief Minister, in a state cannot be less than 12.
    3. In a state with a Legislative Council, the 15 per cent ceiling is calculated on the combined strength of both Houses of the state legislature.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B1 only
    3. C2 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
24. 24.

    Consider the following statements about the 52nd Amendment Act of 1985:
    1. It made changes in Articles 101, 102, 190 and 191 of the Constitution.
    2. It added the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 only
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
25. 25.

    Consider the following pairs relating to the anti-defection law:

    Person	Associated with
    1. Rajiv Gandhi	Described the law as the 'first step towards cleaning-up public life'
    2. Madhu Limaye	Said it 'banned only retail defections and legalised wholesale defections'
    3. Shivraj Patil	Chief Justice in the bench that decided the Kihoto Hollohan case

    How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

    1. AOnly one
    2. BOnly two
    3. CAll three
    4. DNone

1. 1.

   UPSC 2004

   Consider the following tasks:
   1. Superintendence, direction and conduct of free and fair elections
   2. Preparation of electoral rolls for all elections to the Parliament, State Legislatures and the Office of the President and the Vice-President
   3. Giving recognition to political parties and individuals contesting the election
   4. Proclamation of final verdict in the case of election disputes
   Which of the above are the functions of the Election Commission of India?

   1. A1, 2 and 3
   2. B2, 3 and 4
   3. C1 and 3
   4. D1, 2 and 4
2. 2.

   UPSC 2019

   Consider the following statements :
   1. The Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959 exempts several posts from disqualification on the grounds of ‘Office of Profit’.
   2. The above-mentioned Act was amended five times.
   3. The term ‘Office of Profit’ is well-defined in the Constitution of India.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 and 2 only
   2. B3 only
   3. C2 and 3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
3. 3.

   UPSC 2018

   Consider the following statements :
   1. In the first Lok Sabha, the single largest party in the opposition was the Swatantra Party.
   2. In the Lok Sabha, a "Leader of the Opposition" was recognised for the first time in 1969.
   3. In the Lok Sabha, if a party does not have a minimum of 75 members, its leader cannot be recognised as the Leader of the Opposition.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

   1. A1 and 3 only
   2. B2 only
   3. C2 and 3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
4. 4.

   UPSC 2017

   For election to the Lok Sabha, a nomination paper can be filed by

   1. Aanyone residing in India.
   2. Ba resident of the constituency from which the election is to be contested.
   3. Cany citizen of India whose name appears in the electoral roll of a constituency.
   4. Dany citizen of India.
5. 5.

   UPSC 2017

   Consider the following statements :
   1. In the election for Lok Sabha or State Assembly, the winning candidate must get at least 50 percent of the votes polled, to be declared elected.
   2. According to the provisions laid down in the Constitution of India, in Lok Sabha, the Speaker's post goes to the majority party and the Deputy Speaker's to the Opposition.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
6. 6.

   UPSC 2012

   Consider the following statements :
   1. Union Territories are not represented in the Rajya Sabha.
   2. It is within the purview of the Chief Election Commissioner to adjudicate the election disputes.
   3. According to the Constitution of India, the Parliament consists of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha only.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 and 3
   3. C1 and 3
   4. DNone
7. 7.

   UPSC 2025

   Consider the following statements :
   I. If any question arises as to whether a Member of the House of the People has become subject to disqualification under the 10th Schedule, the President’s decision in accordance with the opinion of the Council of Union Ministers shall be final.
   II. There is no mention of the word ‘political party’ in the Constitution of India.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. AI only
   2. BII only
   3. CBoth I and II
   4. DNeither I nor II
8. 8.

   UPSC 2022

   With reference to anti-defection law in India, consider the following statements :
   1. The law specifies that a nominated legislator cannot join any political party within six months of being appointed to the House.
   2. The law does not provide any time-frame within which the presiding officer has to decide a defection case.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
9. 9.

   UPSC 2021

   Consider the following statements :
   1. In India, there is no law restricting the candidates from contesting in one Lok Sabha election from three constituencies.
   2. In 1991 Lok Sabha Election, Shri Devi Lal contested from three Lok Sabha constituencies.
   3. As per the existing rules, if a candidate contests in one Lok Sabha election from many constituencies, his/her party should bear the cost of bye-elections to the constituencies vacated by him/her in the event of him/her winning in all the constituencies.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. C1 and 3
   4. D2 and 3
10. 10.

    UPSC 2017

    Right to vote and to be elected in India is a

    1. AFundamental Right
    2. BNatural Right
    3. CConstitutional Right
    4. DLegal Right
11. 11.

    UPSC 2014

    Which one of the following Schedules of the Constitution of India contains provisions regarding anti-defection?

    1. ASecond Schedule
    2. BFifth Schedule
    3. CEighth Schedule
    4. DTenth Schedule
12. 12.

    UPSC 2002

    In the case of election to the Lok Sabha, the amount of security deposited for general category candidates and SC/ST category candidates respectively is

    1. ARs 5,000 and Rs 2,500
    2. BRs 10,000 and Rs 2,500
    3. CRs 10,000 and Rs 5,000
    4. DRs 15,000 and Rs 7,500
13. 13.

    UPSC 2001

    Consider the following statements regarding the political parties in India:
    I. The Representation of the People Act, 1951 provides for the registration of political parties.
    II. Registration of political parties is carried out by the Election Commission.
    III. A national level political party is one which is recognised in four or more States.
    IV. During the 1999 general elections, there were six National and 48 State level parties recognised by the Election Commission.
    Which of these statements are correct?

    1. AI, II and IV
    2. BI and III
    3. CII and IV
    4. DI, II, III and IV
14. 14.

    UPSC 1999

    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?

    1. AI and III
    2. BI, II and IV
    3. CI, II and III
    4. DI, II, III and IV
15. 15.

    UPSC 1998

    Which one of the following Schedules of the Constitution of India contains provisions regarding the Anti-Defection Act?

    1. ASecond Schedule
    2. BFifth Schedule
    3. CEighth Schedule
    4. DTenth Schedule
16. 16.

    UPSC 1998

    Which of the following Parties were not a part of the United Front which was in power during 1996-97?
    I. Bahujan Samaj Party
    II. Samata Party
    III. Haryana Vikas Party
    IV. Asom Gana Parishad
    Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

    1. AI, II, III and IV
    2. BI, II and III
    3. CIII and IV
    4. DI and II
17. 17.

    UPSC 1997

    State Funding of elections takes place in

    1. AUSA and Canada
    2. BBritain and Switzerland
    3. CFrance and Italy
    4. DGermany and Austria
18. 18.

    UPSC 1997

    In which one of the following countries are 75 per cent of seats in both Houses of Parliament filled on the basis of first-past-the-post system and 25 per cent on the basis of Proportional Representation system of elections?

    1. AGermany
    2. BItaly
    3. CFrance
    4. DRussia
19. 19.

    UPSC 1997

    The Dinesh Goswami Committee recommended

    1. Athe constitution of state level election commissions
    2. BList System of election to the Lok Sabha
    3. Cgovernmental funding of parliamentary elections
    4. Da ban on the candidature of independent candidates in the parliamentary elections
20. 20.

    UPSC 1996

    Which one of the following countries has more or less evolved a two-party system?

    1. ASri Lanka
    2. BBangladesh
    3. CPakistan
    4. DMyanmar
21. 21.

    UPSC 1995

    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the commencement of the election process in India?

    1. AThe recommendation for election is made by the government and the notification for election is issued by the Election Commission
    2. BThe recommendation for election is made by the Election Commission and the notification for election is issued by the Home Ministry at the Centre and Home Departments in the States
    3. CThe recommendation for election is made by the Election Commission and the notification for election is issued by the President and Governors of the States concerned
    4. DBoth the exercises of making a recommendation for election and that of issuing a notification in respect of it are done by the Election Commission
22. 22.

    UPSC 1995

    The Dinesh Goswami Committee was concerned with

    1. Ade-nationalisation of banks
    2. Belectoral reforms
    3. Csteps to put down insurgency in the North-east
    4. Dthe problem of the Chakmas
23. 23.

    UPSC 1995

    92.
    Which of the following political parties is/are national political parties?
    I. Muslim League
    II. Revolutionary Socialist Party
    III. All India Forward Block
    IV. Peasants and Workers Party of India
    Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:

    1. AI, II and III
    2. BII and IV
    3. CIII only
    4. DNone of the above
24. 24.

    UPSC 1995

    99. If in an election to a State Legislative Assembly the candidate who is declared elected loses his deposit, it means that

    1. Athe polling was very poor
    2. Bthe election was for a multi-member constituency
    3. Cthe elected candidate’s victory over his nearest rival was very marginal
    4. Da very large number of candidates contested the election
25. 25.

    UPSC 2024

    Consider the following pairs:

    	Party	Its Leader
    1.	Bharatiya Jana Sangh	Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee
    2.	Socialist Party	C. Rajagopalachari
    3.	Congress for Democracy	Jagjivan Ram
    4.	Swatantra Party	Acharya Narendra Dev

    How many of the above are correctly matched?

    1. AOnly one
    2. BOnly two
    3. COnly three
    4. DAll four