🏛️ Election Commission of India — Full Details
🔹 Introduction
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering election processes in India. It ensures free, fair, and impartial elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and offices of the President and Vice-President of India.
It was established under Article 324 of the Indian Constitution.
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🔹 Establishment
Established on: January 25, 1950
Headquarters: New Delhi
Constitutional Article: Article 324 (Part XV of the Constitution)
Motto: “Free and Fair Elections”
National Voters Day: January 25 every year
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🔹 Composition of ECI
Originally, the Election Commission had only one Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).
Since October 16, 1989, it became a multi-member body.
At present, it consists of:
1. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)
2. Two Election Commissioners (ECs)
They all have equal powers and receive equal salaries and allowances.
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🔹 Appointment & Tenure
Appointed by: President of India
Tenure: 6 years or until the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier
Can be removed only by: President of India, in the same manner as a Supreme Court judge (on the grounds of proved misbehavior or incapacity).
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🔹 Functions and Powers
1. Conduct of Elections to:
Parliament (Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha)
President and Vice-President of India
2. Preparation and maintenance of electoral rolls.
3. Recognition of political parties and allotment of election symbols.
4. Advisory role in disqualifications of Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs).
5. Model Code of Conduct enforcement during elections.
6. Monitoring election expenditure by candidates and political parties.
7. Voter education and awareness (SVEEP program).
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🔹 Important Facts
The Chief Election Commissioner is equal in status to a Supreme Court Judge.
The first Chief Election Commissioner of India was Sukumar Sen (1950–1958).
The current Chief Election Commissioner (as of 2025) is Rajiv Kumar.
The ECI is not answerable to the government — it is an independent constitutional body.
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🔹 Key Articles Related to Elections
Article Description
324 Power of ECI to conduct elections
325 One general electoral roll for every constituency
326 Elections based on adult suffrage
327 Power of Parliament to make laws on elections
328 Power of State Legislature to make laws on elections
329 Bar to interference by courts in electoral matters
50 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with answers on the Election Commission of India (ECI) — covering Constitutional provisions, history, powers, and facts — suitable for competitive exams, quizzes, or educational.
🏛️ Election Commission of India (ECI) — 50 MCQs with Answers
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1. The Election Commission of India was established on —
A. 26 January 1950
B. 25 January 1950
C. 15 August 1947
D. 2 October 1950
✅ Answer: B. 25 January 1950
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2. The Election Commission of India is a —
A. Statutory Body
B. Constitutional Body
C. Executive Body
D. Judicial Body
✅ Answer: B. Constitutional Body
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3. The Election Commission of India is mentioned in which Article of the Constitution?
A. Article 320
B. Article 324
C. Article 326
D. Article 329
✅ Answer: B. Article 324
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4. Who appoints the Chief Election Commissioner?
A. Prime Minister
B. President of India
C. Speaker of Lok Sabha
D. Chief Justice of India
✅ Answer: B. President of India
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5. Who was the first Chief Election Commissioner of India?
A. Sukumar Sen
B. T.N. Seshan
C. V.S. Ramadevi
D. Rajiv Kumar
✅ Answer: A. Sukumar Sen
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6. The Election Commission of India was a single-member body until —
A. 1960
B. 1989
C. 1993
D. 1975
✅ Answer: B. 1989
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7. What is the tenure of the Chief Election Commissioner?
A. 4 years or 60 years of age
B. 5 years or 62 years of age
C. 6 years or 65 years of age
D. 3 years or 60 years of age
✅ Answer: C. 6 years or 65 years of age
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8. The headquarters of the Election Commission of India is located at —
A. Mumbai
B. Kolkata
C. New Delhi
D. Chennai
✅ Answer: C. New Delhi
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9. Which Article provides that elections will be held based on adult suffrage?
A. Article 324
B. Article 325
C. Article 326
D. Article 327
✅ Answer: C. Article 326
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10. Who removes the Chief Election Commissioner from office?
A. Prime Minister
B. Parliament
C. President (same manner as a Supreme Court Judge)
D. Chief Justice of India
✅ Answer: C. President (same manner as a Supreme Court Judge)
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11. How many members are there in the Election Commission at present?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
✅ Answer: C. 3
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12. The term “adult suffrage” means —
A. Right to vote by all adults
B. Right to contest elections
C. Right to form a party
D. Right to protest
✅ Answer: A. Right to vote by all adults
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13. National Voters’ Day is celebrated every year on —
A. January 25
B. January 26
C. March 15
D. April 14
✅ Answer: A. January 25
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14. The Election Commission does NOT conduct elections for —
A. Lok Sabha
B. Rajya Sabha
C. Panchayats
D. President
✅ Answer: C. Panchayats
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15. Panchayat elections are conducted by —
A. Central Government
C. Election Commission of India
D. Local Administration
✅ Answer: B. State Election Commission
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16. Which Article provides for one general electoral roll for every constituency?
A. Article 324
B. Article 325
C. Article 326
D. Article 327
✅ Answer: B. Article 325
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17. The Election Commission has the power to —
A. Dismiss government
B. Conduct elections
C. Frame Constitution
D. Pass laws
✅ Answer: B. Conduct elections
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18. The Chief Election Commissioner enjoys the same status as —
A. President
B. Prime Minister
C. Supreme Court Judge
D. High Court Judge
✅ Answer: C. Supreme Court Judge
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19. Who decides the election symbols of political parties?
A. Parliament
B. Election Commission of India
C. Supreme Court
D. Ministry of Law
✅ Answer: B. Election Commission of India
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20. Model Code of Conduct is enforced by —
A. Parliament
B. Election Commission of India
C. State Government
D. Judiciary
✅ Answer: B. Election Commission of India
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21. The power to disqualify MPs and MLAs lies with —
A. Supreme Court
B. Election Commission (advisory)
C. President or Governor (based on EC’s advice)
D. Parliament
✅ Answer: C. President or Governor (based on EC’s advice)
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22. What is the minimum voting age in India?
A. 21 years
B. 20 years
C. 18 years
D. 16 years
✅ Answer: C. 18 years
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23. The voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 years by which amendment?
A. 42nd Amendment
B. 44th Amendment
C. 61st Amendment
D. 73rd Amendment
✅ Answer: C. 61st Amendment
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24. The Election Commission was made a multi-member body in —
A. 1987
B. 1989
C. 1990
D. 1993
✅ Answer: B. 1989
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25. The current Chief Election Commissioner (as of 2025) is —
A. Rajiv Kumar
B. Sushil Chandra
C. T.N. Seshan
D. Sunil Arora
✅ Answer: A. Rajiv Kumar
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26. The Election Commission ensures elections are —
A. Free and Fair
B. Expensive
C. Controlled by Government
D. Political
✅ Answer: A. Free and Fair
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27. The Constitution provides for elections under —
A. Part XIV
B. Part XV
C. Part XVI
D. Part XVII
✅ Answer: B. Part XV
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28. The number of Election Commissioners can be decided by —
A. Parliament
B. President
C. Prime Minister
D. Supreme Court
✅ Answer: B. President
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29. Who was the Chief Election Commissioner known for electoral reforms in the 1990s?
A. Sukumar Sen
B. T.N. Seshan
C. Sunil Arora
D. Rajiv Kumar
✅ Answer: B. T.N. Seshan
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30. Which Article gives Parliament the power to make laws on elections?
A. Article 324
B. Article 325
C. Article 327
D. Article 328
✅ Answer: C. Article 327
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31. Which Article gives State Legislatures power to make laws on elections?
A. Article 327
B. Article 328
C. Article 329
D. Article 324
✅ Answer: B. Article 328
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32. Which Article bars interference of courts in election matters?
A. Article 324
B. Article 326
C. Article 327
D. Article 329
✅ Answer: D. Article 329
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33. The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed —
A. By Parliament by majority
B. By President on SC’s recommendation
C. In the same manner as a Supreme Court Judge
D. By Lok Sabha
✅ Answer: C. In the same manner as a Supreme Court Judge
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34. The Election Commission supervises elections to —
A. President
B. Vice-President
C. Parliament
D. All of the above
✅ Answer: D. All of the above
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35. The Election Commission maintains —
A. Voter list
B. Military register
C. Land records
D. Criminal database
✅ Answer: A. Voter list
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36. The Election Commission’s emblem includes —
A. Ashoka Chakra
C. National Flag
D. None of these
✅ Answer: B. Voting Hand Symbol
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37. The Election Commission is responsible for —
A. Counting votes
B. Declaring results
C. Conducting by-elections
D. All of the above
✅ Answer: D. All of the above
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38. The total number of recognized national parties in India (as of 2024) is —
A. 4
B. 5
C. 6
D. 8
✅ Answer: C. 6
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39. Voter ID card in India is also known as —
A. Aadhaar Card
B. EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card)
C. PAN Card
D. Voting License
✅ Answer: B. EPIC
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40. Which program promotes voter awareness?
A. NSS
B. SVEEP
C. NYKS
D. NITI
✅ Answer: B. SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation)
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41. Election disputes are decided by —
A. Election Commission
B. Supreme Court / High Court
C. Parliament
D. President
✅ Answer: B. Supreme Court / High Court
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42. Who determines the constituencies in India?
A. Parliament
B. Election Commission
D. President
✅ Answer: C. Delimitation Commission
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43. The Model Code of Conduct comes into effect —
A. When the Election Commission announces the election schedule
B. After polling
C. During vote counting
D. After results
✅ Answer: A. When the Election Commission announces the election schedule
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44. Which of the following is NOT a function of the Election Commission?
A. Conducting elections
B. Recognizing political parties
C. Preparing the Constitution
D. Allotting symbols
✅ Answer: C. Preparing the Constitution
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45. The right to vote is —
A. Fundamental Right
B. Legal Right
C. Constitutional Right
D. Both B and C
✅ Answer: D. Both B and C
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46. The Election Commission of India can recommend —
B. Disqualification of Members
C. Dissolution of Parliament
D. Impeachment
✅ Answer: B. Disqualification of Members
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47. The Election Commission functions under the control of —
A. Parliament
B. President
C. Independent Body
D. Supreme Court
✅ Answer: C. Independent Body
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48. The Election Commission’s decisions can be challenged in —
A. High Court
B. Supreme Court
C. Both
D. None
✅ Answer: C. Both
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49. When was the first general election in India held?
A. 1947–48
B. 1951–52
C. 1955–56
D. 1960–61
✅ Answer: B. 1951–52
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50. The primary objective of the Election Commission of India is —
A. To maintain democracy by ensuring free and fair elections
B. To collect taxes
C. To frame policies
D. To control political parties
✅ Answer: A. To maintain democracy by ensuring free and fair elections
