Elections — Practice

Question 1

What is a constituency?

Accepted Answer

A geographical area whose voters elect one representative (such as an MP or MLA).

✦ Answer: an area that elects one representative.

Question 2

Which body conducts elections in India?

Accepted Answer

✦ Answer: the (independent) Election Commission of India (ECI).

Question 3

By what means do voters cast their vote in Indian elections today?

Accepted Answer

✦ Answer: by pressing a button on an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM).

Question 4

State any two conditions that make an election democratic.

Accepted Answer

Any two of: every adult can vote (one person, one vote, one value); there is a real choice of parties/candidates; elections are held regularly; the candidate people prefer actually wins; elections are free and fair.

✦ Answer: any two valid conditions as above.

Question 5

List the main steps of the electoral process in India in order.

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Divide the country into constituencies and prepare the voters' list.

Step 2 — Candidates file nominations; parties campaign under the Model Code of Conduct.

Step 3 — Voters cast secret votes on EVMs on polling day; votes are then counted and the winner declared.

✦ Answer: constituencies → voters' list → nomination → campaign → EVM voting → counting.

Question 6

What are reserved constituencies and why are they created?

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Reserved constituencies are seats set aside so that only candidates from certain communities (Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes) can contest.

Step 2 — They ensure that these communities get fair representation in the legislature. (Seats are also reserved for women in local bodies.)

✦ Answer: seats reserved for SC/ST candidates to guarantee fair representation.

Question 7

Describe the role of the Election Commission of India.

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — It prepares and updates the voters' list and fixes the election schedule.

Step 2 — It supervises the entire election process and enforces the Model Code of Conduct on parties, candidates and even the government.

Step 3 — Being independent, it can take action against violations and hold free and fair elections.

✦ Answer: an independent body that prepares rolls, schedules and supervises elections, and enforces the code of conduct to keep them free and fair.

Question 8

Why are elections necessary in a democracy?

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — In a large democracy people cannot all govern directly, so they must choose representatives — elections make this choice possible.

Step 2 — Through elections people select the government and the policies they prefer.

Step 3 — Elections let people hold rulers accountable — rewarding good work and peacefully voting out those who fail.

✦ Answer: to choose representatives and policies and to hold rulers accountable through a peaceful transfer of power.

Question 9

What challenges do free and fair elections face in India, and how can they be addressed?

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Money power gives wealthy candidates/parties an unfair advantage.

Step 2 — Muscle power and intimidation can distort voting in some areas.

Step 3 — Misuse of government machinery by the ruling party and the criminalisation of politics reduce fairness.

Step 4 — Remedies: strict spending limits, transparency (candidate disclosures), Model Code of Conduct, voter awareness, and technology like EVMs and VVPAT overseen by the independent Election Commission.

✦ Answer: money power, muscle power, misuse of office and criminalisation; addressed by spending limits, transparency, the code of conduct, awareness and ECI oversight.

Practice — Elections

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