Political Parties and Elections – NDA Polity PYQs

NDA 2021-II

Q. 1. Which one of the following best describes the electoral system of India?

(a)  First-Past-the-Post System

(b)  Proportional Representation

(c)  Mixed System

(d)  General Ticket

Answer: (a) First-Past-the-Post System

Explanation: India’s electoral system for direct elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies is the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system, also called the simple plurality system. The candidate who wins the most votes in a constituency wins the seat, regardless of whether they have an absolute majority. Proportional Representation is used in India only for indirect elections: Rajya Sabha elections (by State MLAs), and Presidential and Vice Presidential elections (by electoral college). It is not used for direct Lok Sabha or State Assembly elections. Concept Tested: India’s electoral system: First-Past-the-Post for direct elections (Lok Sabha, State Assemblies); PR used only for Rajya Sabha, Presidential, and VP elections

 NDA 2017-I

Q. 2. By fulfilling which of the following conditions can a political party claim the status of a national party?

1. It secures at least six per cent (6%) of the valid votes polled in any four or more states, at a general election to the House of the People or, to the State Legislative Assembly
2. It wins at least four seats in the House of the People from any State or States or wins at least two per cent (2%) seats in the House of the People (i.e., 11 seats in the existing House having 543 members), and these members are elected from at least three different States
3. The party in question has got recognition as a state party in at least two states
4. It must have its headquarters in New Delhi

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a)  1, 2 and 3

(b)  2 and 4

(c)  1 and 2 only

(d)  1, 3 and 4

Answer: (c) 1 and 2 only

Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: securing at least 6% of valid votes in four or more States (combined with the seat criterion in Statement 2) is Route 1 for national party recognition. Statement 2 is correct: winning at least 4 Lok Sabha seats from any State(s): or winning 2% of Lok Sabha seats (11 seats) from at least 3 States: constitutes the seat-share route. This also describes Route 2. Statement 3 is incorrect: the state party recognition route requires recognition in at least FOUR States: not two. Statement 3 uses ‘two states’ as a deliberate distractor for this threshold. Statement 4 is incorrect: headquarters location in New Delhi is NOT a criterion for national party recognition. Parties can be recognised as national parties regardless of headquarters location. Concept Tested: National party recognition: Statements 1 and 2 are correct criteria; Statement 3 wrong (four States, not two); Statement 4 wrong (HQ location irrelevant)

★ JOVIK Exam Insight: Two confusions are present this question: (1) ‘at least two states’ for state party recognition: correct threshold is FOUR States; (2) ‘headquarters in New Delhi’: has nothing to do with national party recognition.

 NDA 2016-I

Q. 3. The Election Commission recognizes a political party as a national party if

1. it secures at least six percent of the total valid votes polled in four or more States in a general election to the Lok Sabha or to the State Legislative Assemblies.
2. it wins at least four seats in a general election to the Lok Sabha from any State or States.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a)  1 only

(b)  2 only

(c)  Both 1 and 2

(d)  Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c)  Both 1 and 2

Explanation: Both conditions must be met simultaneously for Route 1 national party recognition. The Election Commission recognises a party as a national party through Route 1 if it secures at least 6% of valid votes in four or more States (in Lok Sabha or State Assembly elections) AND wins at least four seats in the Lok Sabha from any State or States. Both conditions apply together: a party cannot claim national party status under Route 1 by meeting only one of the two conditions. Concept Tested: National party recognition: Route 1 requires BOTH conditions simultaneously: 6% votes in 4+ States AND 4+ Lok Sabha seats

  NDA 2010-I

Q. 4. Statement I: Coalition in India is always a post-poll phenomenon.

Statement II: The United Progressive Alliance was formed after the Lok Sabha Election of 2004.

(a)  Both statements are individually true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I

(b)  Both statements are individually true but Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I

(c)  Statement I is true but Statement II is false

(d)  Statement I is false but Statement II is true

Answer: (d) Statement I is false but Statement II is true

Explanation: Statement I is false. Coalition in India is NOT always a post-poll phenomenon. Pre-poll alliances: where parties negotiate seat-sharing and joint candidates before elections: have been a consistent feature of Indian electoral politics. Statement II is true. The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was indeed formed after the Lok Sabha election of 2004, making it a post-poll coalition. However, its truth does not make Statement I true, because Statement II represents one instance of a post-poll coalition: not evidence that all Indian coalitions are post-poll. Concept Tested: Coalition politics: NOT always post-poll in India (pre-poll alliances exist); UPA was post-poll (2004): but this is an instance, not a universal rule

Q. 5. Which among the following is an extraconstitutional growth in Indian democracy?

(a)  Attorney General of India

(b)  Autonomous Districts

(c)  Political Parties

(d)  Deputy Chairman of the Council of States

Answer: (c) Political Parties

Explanation: Political parties are an extraconstitutional growth in Indian democracy: they are not established, defined, or created by the Constitution, yet they are the fundamental vehicles of democratic politics. The Constitution does not mention political parties except through the Tenth Schedule (anti-defection law, which presupposes parties but does not create them). Parties are regulated by statute and Election Commission guidelines. The Attorney General is a constitutional office (Article 76). Autonomous Districts are recognised in the Sixth Schedule. The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is an office contemplated by Article 90. Concept Tested: Political parties: extraconstitutional growth in Indian democracy; not established by the Constitution

---