Elections

Statement 1 is Incorrect: The electoral college for the Presidential election consists only of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States (including the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union Territory of Puducherry). Nominated members of either House of Parliament or State Assemblies are not eligible. Currently, the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir is not included in the electoral college under Article 54.

Statement 2 is Incorrect: The value of an MLA's vote is calculated by dividing the total population of the State (based on the 1971 Census) by the total number of elected members in the Legislative Assembly, and then dividing the result by 1000. A higher number of elective seats (the denominator) does not automatically mean a higher vote value; rather, it depends on the ratio of the population to the number of seats.

Statement 3 is Incorrect: Based on the 1971 Census data used for elections, the value of the vote of each MLA of Madhya Pradesh is 131, whereas the value of the vote of each MLA of Kerala is 152. Therefore, the value is higher for Kerala.

Statement 4 is Correct: The value of the vote of each MLA of Puducherry (16) is higher than that of Arunachal Pradesh (8). This is because the ratio of the total population to the total number of elective seats in Puducherry is greater than the corresponding ratio in Arunachal Pradesh.

Statement 1 is correct: The value of the vote of each MLA varies from State to State. The value of an MLA's vote is based on the population of their state relative to the number of MLAs in the state assembly. States with larger populations have a higher value per MLA vote.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Both MPs (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) have the same value for their vote in the presidential election.

Hence, the correct answer is option (c) 1 only.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Parole is not an absolute right in India. There's a consideration process involved. While a prisoner can present their case for parole, the authorities have the discretion to grant or deny it.

Statement 2 is correct. State governments do have their own set of rules governing parole within the broad framework provided by the Prison Act, of 1894 and the Prisoner Act, of 1900.

An open-source digital platform is essentially a software platform where the underlying code is freely available for anyone to see, modify, and distribute. This openness fosters collaboration, transparency, and innovation in software development.

All of the above (1. Aarogya Setu, 2. CoWIN, 3. Digi Locker, 4. DIKSHA) are built on top of open-source digital platforms.

- Aarogya Setu initially wasn't open-source, but the Indian government later made its source code available. - CoWIN leverages open-source software for its development. - DigiLocker utilizes an open-source platform called Digital Locker System. - DIKSHA is built on the open-source platform Sunbird.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Section 33(7) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, was amended in 1996 to restrict a candidate from contesting from more than two constituencies in a single general election or bye-elections held simultaneously.

Statement 2 is Correct: In the 1991 Lok Sabha elections, Shri Devi Lal contested from three constituencies: Rohtak (Haryana), Sikar (Rajasthan), and Ferozepur (Punjab). This was permissible at the time as the two-constituency limit was only introduced in 1996.

Statement 3 is Incorrect: There is no provision in the Representation of the People Act or election rules that requires a candidate or their party to bear the cost of bye-elections. Currently, the expenditure for conducting bye-elections is borne by the respective State Governments and the Central Government through the Election Commission.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is not a five-member body. It is a three-member body, consisting of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two Election Commissioners (ECs). However, it originally started as a single-member body in 1950 and became a multi-member commission in 1993.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) does not decide the election schedule. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is solely responsible for determining the schedule of general elections and bye-elections. It exercises this power under Article 324 of the Constitution, ensuring free and fair elections in the country.

Statement 3 is correct: The Election Commission of India has the authority to resolve disputes related to splits and mergers of recognized political parties. It decides which faction of a party is the legitimate one and, if necessary, allocates party symbols accordingly, based on precedents and internal party strength.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D) 3 only.

* The right to vote and to be elected in India is a constitutional right, enshrined in Article 326 of the Indian Constitution.

* Article 326 grants the right to vote to every Indian citizen based on universal adult suffrage, ensuring that elections to the Parliament and State Legislatures are conducted democratically.

* The Constitution (Sixty-first Amendment) Act, 1988, reduced the minimum voting age for elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies from 21 years to 18 years. This amendment aimed to enhance youth participation in the electoral process and strengthen democratic representation.

* While the right to vote is a constitutional right, it is subject to reasonable restrictions based on factors such as non-residence, unsoundness of mind, crime, or corrupt practices as prescribed by law.

To contest elections for the Lok Sabha, a candidate must fulfill the following constitutional requirements: - Must be a citizen of India. - Must be at least 25 years old. - Must be a registered voter in any parliamentary constituency.

* The superior virtue of democracy lies in "the intelligence and character of ordinary men and women."

* Democracy is built on citizen participation, where people are not just passive subjects but active contributors to governance. It assumes that the collective wisdom of the people (when informed and engaged) can lead to better decision-making and promote the welfare of society.

* While strong leadership and dedicated party workers play a role, democracy fundamentally empowers the citizenry, ensuring that governance is shaped by the will and values of the people rather than a select few.

* Thus, the true strength of democracy lies in the intelligence, awareness, and character of its citizens, who drive the system through participation and informed choices.