What is the primary election system used in India for electing representatives?

The primary election system used in India for electing representatives is the First Past the Post (FPTP) system.

In the First Past the Post system, what is required for a candidate to be declared elected?

In the First Past the Post system, a candidate is declared elected if they secure more votes than all other candidates in a constituency; this does not require them to achieve a majority of the votes.

True or False: In India's electoral system, a party's number of seats in the legislature corresponds directly to the proportion of votes it receives. Provide a brief explanation.

True. This is characteristic of the Proportional Representation system, where a party receives a proportion of seats that matches its proportion of votes.

Fill in the blank: The Indian electoral system is primarily characterized by its commitment to hold ___, ___ and ___ elections.

Regular, free, and fair

Riddle: I define a system where the highest vote-getter wins, regardless of majority. What am I?

First Past the Post (FPTP) system

What is the total number of constituencies in India under the First Past the Post election system?

There are 543 constituencies in India under the First Past the Post election system.

In the context of Indian elections, what is the primary function of the Proportional Representation system?

The primary function of the Proportional Representation system is to allocate seats to parties in proportion to the votes they receive.

What is a key disadvantage of the First Past The Post (FPTP) electoral system compared to Proportional Representation (PR)?

A key disadvantage of FPTP is that a candidate can win without receiving the majority of votes, leading to situations where a party may secure more seats than their actual vote share.

FPTP is often preferred for stable governance because it tends to allocate more bonus seats to the largest party. Explain how this benefits the formation of a stable government.

This benefits stable government formation by ensuring that the largest party or coalition can achieve a majority in the legislature, facilitating smoother governance and easier decision-making.

Fill in the blank: In a Proportional Representation system, voters typically vote for a ___ rather than an individual candidate.

Party

True or False: In a PR system, it is common for a candidate to win an election with less than 50% of the total votes.

False. In a PR system, candidates typically secure a majority of votes to win, as seats are allocated based on the percentage of votes received.

Riddle: I allow voters to choose specific individuals, yet some may win without a majority. What am I?

First Past The Post electoral system.

What is one of the main reasons why FPTP is considered simple for voters?

FPTP is considered simple because voters only need to select one candidate, making the process straightforward and easy to understand.

Fill in the blank: The FPTP system encourages voters from various social groups to band together in order to win local elections, which can lead to ___ in the legislature.

A stable majority

Who is responsible for deciding the reservation of constituencies in India?

The Delimitation Commission, an independent body appointed by the President of India.

The Delimitation Commission has changed the boundaries of the nation-state how many times?

Four times: in 1952, 1963, 1973, and 2002.

Fill in the blank: The voting age was reduced to ___ years by the 61st Amendment in 1989.

18

True or False: The Right to Contest Elections in India has restrictions based on income and education.

False. There are no restrictions based on income or education.

What factors does the Delimitation Commission consider when reserving seats for Scheduled Castes?

It selects constituencies with a higher proportion of Scheduled Castes and disperses them throughout the state.

Riddle: I am a right that allows citizens to choose their representatives, and I have no age limit for voting, only a minimum age. What am I?

Universal Adult Franchise

Fill in the blank: Constituencies with the highest proportion of Scheduled Tribes are reserved as ___ seats.

ST

At what minimum age must a candidate be to contest in Lok Sabha elections?

25 years old.

What legal provision disqualifies a person from contesting elections?

A person who has undergone imprisonment for two or more years for an offense is disqualified.

How does the Delimitation Commission ensure that Scheduled Caste constituencies are fairly distributed across a state?

By dispersing constituencies throughout the state, considering the even distribution of the Scheduled Caste population.

What is the primary responsibility of the Election Commission of India?

To conduct all elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, President, and Vice-President under the Indian Constitution.