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Polity · Elections & parties

Electoral System & Reforms: 25 previous year questions

UPSC has asked 25 questions on Electoral System & Reforms between 1989 and 2026: CSE 11 · CDS 9 · CISF (LDCE) 2 · CAPF 2 · NDA 1. 14 of them came after 2015, so this is a live topic examiners keep returning to. 11 were set in Civil Services Prelims; the rest come from UPSC's other papers, which draw on the same question bank.

Practise these 25, one at a timeRead the questions

Tap an option to check yourself. Answers follow the official UPSC key; where the key was dropped or disputed the question is not shown.

CISF (LDCE)2026Electoral System & ReformsOn card POL 10·2

Which of the following statements about the Delimitation of Constituencies in India is/are correct? 1. The electoral boundaries are drawn in accordance with Article 82 and Article 170 of the Constitution of India. 2. The Delimitation Commission has been constituted eight times since Independence. 3. No delimitation exercise has ever been carried out in Jammu and Kashmir. Select the answer using the code given below:

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Electoral boundaries drawn under Arts 82 and 170 | NOT: Delimitation Commission constituted eight times | NOT: no delimitation ever in J&K
CDS2021 · 2Electoral System & ReformsOn card POL 10·2

Which of the following statements regarding the electoral rolls is/are correct ? 1. There is one general electoral roll for every territorial constituency. 2. No person is ineligible for inclusion in the electoral roll on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or any of them. 3. A citizen of India, not less than 18 years of age, can cast his/her vote unless disqualified under a law of an appropriate legislature. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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Answer B (official UPSC key)Electoral rolls → one general roll per territorial constituency | no exclusion on religion, race, caste or sex | every citizen 18+ may vote unless disqualified by law
CSE2021Electoral System & ReformsOn card POL 10·2

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?

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Answer B (official UPSC key)Devi Lal contested three Lok Sabha seats in 1991 | NOT: no law bars contesting from three constituencies | NOT: the party must bear bye-election costs
CDS2020 · 1Electoral System & ReformsOn card POL 10·2

Overseas Indians can exercise franchise in an election to the Lok Sabha under which of the following conditions? A. They must be citizens of India B. Their names must figure in the electoral roll C. They must be present in India to vote. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Overseas Indians voting in Lok Sabha polls → must be citizens | on the electoral roll | present in India to vote
CSE2017Electoral System & ReformsOn card POL 10·2

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?

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Answer D (official UPSC key)NOT: the winner must get 50% of votes polled | NOT: the Constitution gives the Speaker's post to the majority and the Deputy's to the Opposition
CDS2016 · 2Electoral System & ReformsOn card POL 10·2

Which of the following statements with regard to the conduct of elections in India is / are not correct? 1. The responsibility for the preparation of the electoral rolls is vested in the Election Commission of India. 2. The Model Code of Conduct comes into existence as soon as the date of the election is announced. 3. The laws relating to delimitation of constituencies are made by the Election Commission of India. 4. No election shall be called in question except by an election petition. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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Answer A (official UPSC key)NOT correct → delimitation laws are made by the Election Commission
CDS2015 · 2Electoral System & ReformsOn card POL 10·2

Which one of the following statements about Electoral Government in India is not correct?

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Answer D (official UPSC key)NOT correct → the Supreme Court can scrutinise the validity of a delimitation law
CAPF2014Electoral System & ReformsOn card POL 10·2

Which one of the following statements with regard to the revised ceiling on poll expenditure for elections in India is correct?

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Revised poll-expenditure ceiling → ₹70 lakh per Lok Sabha candidate in all States except Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Sikkim
CSE2012Electoral System & ReformsOn card POL 10·2

With reference to the Delimitation Commission, consider the following statements: [2012 - I] 1. The orders of the Delimitation Commission cannot be challenged in a Court of Law. 2. When the orders of the Delimitation Commission are laid before the Lok Sabha or State Legislative Assembly, they cannot effect any modifications in the orders. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Delimitation Commission → its orders cannot be challenged in court | Lok Sabha/Assembly cannot modify them
CDS2010 · 1Electoral System & ReformsOn card POL 10·2

Consider the following statements [2010-I] 1. The total elective membership of the Lok Sabha is distributed among the States on the basis of the population and the area of the State. 2. The 84th Amendment Act of the Constitution of India lifted the freeze on the delimitation of constituencies imposed by the 42nd Amendment. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Answer D (official UPSC key)NOT: Lok Sabha seats distributed on population AND area | NOT: the 84th Amendment lifted the delimitation freeze
CDS2010 · 2Electoral System & ReformsOn card POL 10·2

Which of the following statements is/are correct? [2010-II] 1. A registered voter in India can contest an election to Lok Sabha from any constituency in India. 2. As per the Representation of the People Act, 1951, if a person is convicted of any offence and sentenced to an imprisonment of 2 years or more, he will be disqualified to contest election. Select the correct answer using the codes given below

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Answer B (official UPSC key)RPA 1951 → conviction with imprisonment of 2 years or more disqualifies | NOT: a voter may contest Lok Sabha from any constituency in India
CDS2009 · 2Electoral System & ReformsOn card POL 10·2

Under which of the following conditions security deposits of a candidate contesting for a Lok Sabha seat is returned to him/her? [2009-II] 1. The nomination made by the candidate if found to be invalid. 2. The candidate has withdrawn his/her nomination even though it is found valid. 3. The candidate lost the polls but secured 1/6th of the total number of valid votes polled in that election. Select the correct answer using the codes given below

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Answer D (official UPSC key)LS candidate's security deposit returned if → nomination found invalid + nomination withdrawn (even if valid) + lost but polled ≥1/6 of total valid votes
CSE1994Electoral System & ReformsOn card POL 10·2

Which of the following electoral systems have been adopted for various elections in India? 1. System of direct elections on the basis of adult suffrage. 2. System of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. 3. List system of proportional representation. 4. Cumulative system of indirect elections. Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Electoral systems used in India → direct elections on adult suffrage | PR by single transferable vote | NOT: list system | NOT: cumulative indirect elections
CSE1994Electoral System & ReformsOn card POL 10·2

Which one of the following statements regarding 'Exit Poll' is correct?

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Exit Poll → post-election survey of voters about whom they voted for
CSE1990Electoral System & ReformsOn card POL 10·2

Consider the following activities indulged in by a candidate during an election campaign: 1. Giving gifts to voters to induce them to vote 2. Appealing for votes on the grounds of caste or religion 3. False character assassination of other candidates 4. Propagation and glorification of sati Which of these constitute the corrupt practices?

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Corrupt practices → gifts to voters | caste/religion appeals | false character assassination | glorifying sati

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