CAPF AC 2021 Q74: Indian Polity – Union & State Executive
- (a) 1 and 2
- (b) 2 and 3
- (c) 3 only
- (d) 2 only
Answer: (c) 3 only
Explanation
Electoral College for the President
How to think: Article 54 lists who votes.
The rule is: elected members of directly or indirectly elected Houses that represent the people or the states.
Legislative Councils are left out entirely.
| Body | In the Electoral College? |
|---|---|
| Elected members of the Lok Sabha | Yes |
| Elected members of the Rajya Sabha | Yes |
| Elected members of State Legislative Assemblies | Yes |
| Elected members of the Assemblies of Delhi and Puducherry | Yes (70th Amendment, 1992) |
| Nominated members of any House | No |
| Members of Legislative Councils | No |
The question asks who is not included: only statement 3, the Legislative Councils.
Answer: (c) 3 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Both 1 and 2 are included in the Electoral College.
- (b) Incorrect. Elected members of the Legislative Assemblies are included.
- (c) CORRECT. Only members of the Legislative Councils are not included.
- (d) Incorrect. Elected MLAs are the largest group of voters in the election.
Key point
Article 54: elected MPs of both Houses + elected MLAs of States, Delhi and Puducherry. Excluded: nominated members and all members of Legislative Councils. Vice-President: elected by all MPs, including nominated ones (Article 66).
Remember
MLCs never vote for the President.
Common mistakes
- Missing the words does not include and marking the groups that do vote.
- Thinking nominated Rajya Sabha members vote for the President.
- Mixing up the President's electoral college with that of the Vice-President.
Exam tip
Educated guess: only six states have a Legislative Council. A body that most states do not have cannot be part of a national electoral college.
Sources
- Constitution of India — Articles 54 and 55; the Constitution (Seventieth Amendment) Act, 1992
- NCERT Class XI Political Science — Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter 4: Executive