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Elections

Explanation of Indian Electoral System, Election Commission, Voting Methods, Electoral Reforms

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๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ Election Commission of India (Part XV, Art.324-329)  

Part XV of the Constitution of India contains the details of elections.

๐Ÿ“Š Election Commission Structure - SVG
๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ Election Commission of India (Art.324) ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA Established: 25th January 1950 | Art. 324 ๐Ÿ‘‘ Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) First CEC: Sukumar Sen Election Commissioner 1 Since 1989 Election Commissioner 2 Since 1989 ๐Ÿ“‹ CEC & EC Details โ€ข Appointment:President โ€ข Term:6 years or 65 years(whichever earlier) Salary:Equal to SC Judge โ€ข CEC Removal:Impeachment (like SC Judge) โ€ข EC Removal:CEC recommendation โ€ข Multi-member:Since 1989(T.N. Seshan era: 1993) โš™๏ธ Functions of ECI 1. Conduct Elections (Parliament, State, President, VP) 2. Prepare Electoral Rolls 3. Recognize Political Parties 4. Allot Election Symbols 5. Model Code of Conduct 6. Settle Election Disputes (Symbols) ๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ Elections Conducted by ECI โœ…Conducts:Parliament (LS, RS), State Legislature (LA, LC), President, Vice President โŒDoes NOT Conduct:Panchayat & Municipality (State Election Commission - Art.243K) โŒDoes NOT Conduct:Speaker, Deputy Speaker elections (Parliament conducts)
๐Ÿ“‹ Election Commission - Key Articles
Article Subject Details
324 Election Commission Superintendence, direction, control of elections
325 Single Electoral Roll No discrimination on religion, race, caste, sex
326 Adult Suffrage 18 years (61st Amendment 1988)
327 Parliament's Power Parliament can make laws for elections
328 State Legislature Power State can make laws for State elections
329 Bar to Court No court interference in electoral matters
๐Ÿ‘‘ Chief Election Commissioners - Important
1st CEC Sukumar Sen (1950-58) Conducted first 2 General Elections
Famous CEC T.N. Seshan (1990-96) Reformed ECI, Model Code strict
Longest Serving Sukumar Sen 8 years
Current CEC Rajiv Kumar (2024) 25th CEC

๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ Voting Systems - Voting Systems in India

Explanation of Direct Election, Indirect Election, Proportional Representation

๐Ÿ“Š Types of Voting Systems - SVG
๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ Voting Systems in India ๐Ÿ“— Direct Election (FPTP) First Past The Postal System โ€ข People directly vote โ€ข Simple majority wins โ€ข Used for: -Lok Sabha -Vidhan Sabha -Panchayat & Municipality โ€ข Secret Ballot, Adult Suffrage (18+) ๐Ÿ“™ Indirect Election (PR-STV) Proportional Representation - Single Transferable Vote โ€ข Elected representatives vote โ€ข Preference voting (1, 2, 3...) โ€ข Used for: -President(Electoral College) -Vice President(MPs only) -Rajya Sabha -Vidhan Parishad ๐Ÿ‘‘ President Election (Art.54-55) โ€ข Electoral College:Elected MPs + Elected MLAs โ€ข Nominated members:NOT included โ€ข Value of Vote calculated by formula โ€ข Total Value:MPs = MLAs(Uniformity) ๐ŸŽ–๏ธ Vice President Election (Art.66) โ€ข Electoral College:All MPs (LS + RS) โ€ขNominated MPs included โ€ข MLAs:NOT included โ€ข Each MP:1 Vote (Equal Value) ๐ŸŽฏ Key Differences - President vs VP Election President:Elected MPs + Elected MLAs | Nominated โŒ | MLAs โœ… | Vote Value varies VP:All MPs (LS+RS) | Nominated โœ… | MLAs โŒ | Each MP = 1 Vote Both:PR-STV System | Secret Ballot | No Nomination by MP/MLA themselves
๐Ÿ“‹ Election Types Comparison
Position Electoral College Method Article
Lok Sabha People (Adult Suffrage) FPTP - Direct 326
Rajya Sabha Elected MLAs PR-STV - Indirect 80
Vidhan Sabha People (Adult Suffrage) FPTP - Direct 326
Vidhan Parishad Mixed (MLAs, Local Bodies, Teachers, Graduates, Governor) PR-STV 171
President Elected MPs + Elected MLAs PR-STV 54-55
Vice President All MPs (Elected + Nominated) PR-STV 66
๐Ÿ“Š President Vote Value Formula
MLA Vote Value =

Total Population of State ÷ (Total MLAs × 1000)

Total MP Vote Value =

Total MLA Votes ÷ Total Elected MPs

UP MLA Value Highest (208)
Sikkim MLA Value Lowest (7)
MP Value 700 (approximately)
Total Electoral College ~10.98 Lakh votes

๐Ÿ“Š Electoral Reforms - Electoral Reforms & Political Parties

๐Ÿ“‹ Important Electoral Reforms
Year Amendment/Act Reform
1988 61st Amendment Voting Age: 21 → 18
1989 RPA Amendment Multi-member ECI
1996 SC Judgment Criminal Cases disclosure mandatory
1998 RPA Amendment NOTA concept discussed
2003 RPA Amendment Postal Ballot for Service Voters
2004 EVM Introduction Electronic Voting Machines nationwide
2009 RPA Amendment Voting rights of Overseas Indians
2013 SC Judgment (PUCL) NOTA introduced
2017 ECI Order VVPAT is mandatory
2021 Election Laws Act Aadhaar-Voter ID linking (optional)
๐Ÿ›๏ธ Political Parties Recognition
Type Criteria Symbol
National Party 6% votes in 4+ States + 4 LS MPs OR 2% LS seats from 3+ States Reserved Symbol (All India)
State Party 6% votes in State + 2 LA seats OR 3% LA seats OR 1 LS/LA per 25 allotted Reserved Symbol (In that State)
Registered Party Registration under RPA 1951 Free Symbol
National Parties (2024):
  1. BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)
  2. INC (Indian National Congress)
  3. BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party)
  1. CPI(M) (Communist Party of India - Marxist)
  2. AAP (Aam Aadmi Party)
  3. NPP (National People's Party)
๐Ÿ“‹ Anti-Defection Law (52nd Amendment 1985)
Feature Details
Added 10th Schedule (52nd Amendment 1985)
Purpose Prevent political defection
Disqualification Voluntarily giving up party membership, voting against party whip
Exception (Original) 1/3 members split - removed by 91st Amendment 2003
Merger Allowed 2/3 of party members merge with another (91st Amendment)
Decision by Speaker/Chairman (Final, Judicial Review limited)
Kihoto Hollohan Case 1992 - Speaker's decision subject to judicial review
๐Ÿ“Š Important Committees on Electoral Reforms
Committee Year Key Recommendations
Tarkunde Committee 1974-75 Proportional Representation, State funding
Dinesh Goswami Committee 1990 EVM, Voter ID, Anti-defection
Vohra Committee 1993 Criminalization of Politics
Indrajit Gupta Committee 1998 State Funding of Elections
Law Commission (170th) 1999 Comprehensive Electoral Reforms
2nd ARC 2007 Ethics in Governance

๐ŸŽฏ TNPSC Shortcuts - Elections!

๐Ÿง  Master Memory Formula - SVG
๐ŸŽฏ Elections - Memory Tricks ๐ŸŽฏ ๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ ECI (Art.324-329) - "Part XV" ๐Ÿ“Œ Established:25 Jan 1950 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1st CEC:Sukumar Sen ๐Ÿ“Œ Famous CEC:T.N. Session(Reformed) ๐Ÿ“Œ Multi-member:Since 1989 ๐Ÿ“Œ Term:6 years or 65 years ๐Ÿ“œ Key Articles - "324-329" 324: ECI Constitution 325: Single Electoral Roll 326: Adult Suffrage (18 yrs - 61st Amd) 329: Bar to Courts ๐Ÿ“Œ Memory:"324-ECI, 326-18" ๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ Election Types - "FP vs PR" FPTP(Direct): LS, LA, Panchayat, Municipality PR-STV(Indirect): President, VP, RS, LC ๐Ÿ“Œ Memory:"Direct = People | Indirect = Reps" ๐Ÿ“Œ FPTP = First Past The Post ๐Ÿ‘‘ President vs VP Election President:Elected MPs + Elected MLAs VP:All MPs (Elected + Nominated) ๐Ÿ“Œ President: MLAs โœ… Nominated โŒ ๐Ÿ“Œ VP: MLAs โŒ Nominated โœ… ๐Ÿ“‹ Anti-Defection (10th Schedule) ๐Ÿ“Œ52nd Amendment 1985- Added 10th Schedule ๐Ÿ“Œ91st Amendment 2003- 1/3 โ†’ 2/3 merger ๐Ÿ“Œ Kihoto Holohan Case:1992(Judicial Review) ๐Ÿ“Š Key Reforms ๐Ÿ“Œ 61st Amd1988: Voting Age 21โ†’18 ๐Ÿ“Œ NOTE:2013(PUCL Case) ๐Ÿ“Œ VVPAT:2017(Mandatory) ๐Ÿ›๏ธ National Party = "6% in 4 States + 4 MPs" OR "2% LS seats from 3 States" Current National Parties (6): BJP, INC, BSP, CPI(M), AAP, NPP ๐ŸŽฏ FINAL: "324-329=PartXV | 326=18(61st) | FPTP=LS,LA | PR=Pres,VP,RS" 52nd=10thSch | 91st=2/3Merger | NOTA=2013 | VVPAT=2017
๐Ÿ“ TNPSC One-Liners
๐Ÿ“Œ Which Part of ECI? Part XV (Art.324-329)
๐Ÿ“Œ ECI Established? 25th January 1950
๐Ÿ“Œ 1st CEC? Sukumar Sen
๐Ÿ“Œ Voting Age Article? Art.326 (18 years - 61st Amendment)
๐Ÿ“Œ Anti-Defection Schedule? 10th Schedule (52nd Amendment 1985)
๐Ÿ“Œ Merger required? 2/3 members (91st Amendment 2003)
๐Ÿ“Œ President Election Method? PR-STV (Indirect)
๐Ÿ“Œ VP Election - MLAs? โŒ Not Included
๐Ÿ“Œ NOTA introduced? 2013 (PUCL Case)
๐Ÿ“Œ CEC Removal? Impeachment (like SC Judge)
๐Ÿ“Œ National Parties? 6 (BJP, INC, BSP, CPI-M, AAP, NPP)
๐Ÿ“Œ Panchayat Election by? State Election Commission (Art.243K)
๐Ÿ”ฅ FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Q1:Who conducts Panchayat elections?
A: State Election Commission (Art.243K) - Not ECI
Q2:Will MLAs be included in VP Election?
A: โŒ No - Only MPs (Elected + Nominated)
Q3:Which Schedule of Anti-Defection Law?
A: 10th Schedule (52nd Amendment 1985)
Q4:Who can remove CEC?
A: Impeachment - Same as SC Judge (Parliament 2/3)
Q5:When did Voting Age become 18?
A: 61st Amendment 1988 (Art.326)
๐ŸŽฏ Quick Revision Chart
Topic Key Point
ECI Part XV (324-329)
Voting Age 18 (61st Amd.)
CEC Term 6 years or 65 years
FPTP Elections LS, LA, Panchayat
PR-STV Elections President, VP, RS, LC
Anti-defection 10th Sch (52nd Amd)
Merger 2/3 (91st Amd)
NOTE 2013 (PUCL)
Panchayat Election SEC (Art.243K)
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