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 ?
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Answer: D. Statement 1 is wrong: the Election Commission has three members, the Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners, since 1993. Statement 2 is wrong: the Election Commission itself decides the schedule of general and bye-elections, not the Home Ministry. Statement 3 is correct: under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, the Commission decides disputes between rival groups of a recognised party. So 3 only.
Watch for: Watch for the 'five-member' claim; Article 324 lets the President fix the number, and it is currently three.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Wrong because the ECI is three-member and the Home Ministry does not set schedules.
- B. Wrong because the ECI, not the Home Ministry, sets the election schedule.
- C. Wrong because statement 2 is false.
Source to check: Constitution of India, Article 324; Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, Paragraph 15; Election Commission of India website (eci.gov.in)
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.