"Concerns Grow Over Declining Credibility of Indian Elections"
GS Paper II: Indian Polity and Governance, specifically constitutional bodies, electoral processes, and separation of powers.
Prelims:
Mains:
Article 324
Constitutional provision giving the ECI superintendence, direction, and control over elections in India.
Model Code of Conduct
Election-time behavioural guidelines enforced by the ECI against all political parties.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is a permanent constitutional body established on 25 January 1950. Article 324 of the Constitution gives it superintendence, direction, and control of elections to Parliament, state legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice-President. Articles 324 to 329 together form the constitutional framework for the ECI's powers and duties. The Constitution does not fix the number of members. It says the Commission shall have the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and 'such number of other Election Commissioners, if any, as the President may from time to time fix'. This flexible wording explains why the Commission's size has changed several times.
For nearly four decades, from 1950 to 1989, the ECI functioned as a single-member body. Two Election Commissioners were first added just before the 1989 general elections, reportedly due to tension between the government and the then CEC over the 1987 presidential election. That expansion did not last. A new government withdrew the notification within months. One removed Commissioner challenged this in the Supreme Court. The Court dismissed the case but observed that a multi-member Commission was a sound idea and that clear rules were needed to resolve disagreements. Parliament then passed a law in 1991 covering conditions of service for the CEC and Election Commissioners. The Commission still worked as a one-member body for two more years. The lasting shift to three members came in 1993, when a new CEC began asserting the Commission's independence more strongly, prompting the government to expand it again.
The Representation of the People Act, 1951 sets out detailed rules for conducting elections. These rules cover nomination, disqualification, and expenditure limits for candidates. The CEC and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023 now governs appointments. A selection committee recommends names to the President. This committee includes the Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Today the ECI is a three-member body: one CEC and two Election Commissioners. The President appoints all three. The Commission resolves disputes relating to splits and mergers of recognised political parties using its constitutional powers. It also enforces the Model Code of Conduct, a set of election-time behaviour guidelines, against ruling and opposition parties alike. The scale of India's elections is enormous. Nearly 98 crore electors participated in the 2024 general election. This scale has made the ECI a model studied by election managers from other countries. The Commission runs its own training institute for election management.
The Constitution provides uneven safeguards for removal. Article 324(5) states that the CEC can only be removed in the same manner as a Supreme Court judge, meaning impeachment by Parliament for proven misbehaviour or incapacity. …
Consider the following statements:
1.The Election Commission of India is a five-member body.
2.Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the election schedule for the conduct of both general elections and bye-elections.
3.Election Commission resolves the disputes relating to splits/mergers of recognised political parties.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Examine the need for electoral reforms as suggested by various committees, with particular reference to the 'one nation-one election' principle.
The anti-defection law in India is contained in which Schedule of the Constitution?
Consider the following statements regarding the Election Commission of India: 1. It is a three-member body consisting of the Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. 2. It is established under Articles 324 to 329 of the Constitution. 3. Courts have unrestricted power to interfere in electoral matters at any stage under Article 329. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Which of the following statements about the Election Commission of India is/are correct? 1. It conducts elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and State Legislatures. 2. It conducts elections to the office of President and Vice-President. 3. It conducts elections to Panchayats and Municipalities. Select the correct answer:
Which Article of the Constitution provides for elections to the House of the People and State Legislative Assemblies on the basis of adult suffrage?
Match the following constitutional articles with their correct subject matter:
1.Article 324 - A. Bar to interference by courts in electoral matters
2.Article 325 - B. Superintendence, direction and control of elections
3.Article 329 - C. No discrimination in electoral rolls on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex
Select the correct answer using the codes below:
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