Elections, Political Parties and Pressure Groups
What this domain tests
The Election Commission's powers, the conduct of elections, party recognition rules, and the distinction between parties and pressure groups are tested, often through current-affairs examples.
Core rules
- Article 324 establishes the Election Commission; it is a constitutional body with a Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. It supervises, directs and controls elections to Parliament, state legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice-President.
- The Model Code of Conduct is not statutory; it operates from the announcement of elections until results.
- Qualifications: a Lok Sabha candidate must be at least 25 years old and an elector in any constituency; a Rajya Sabha candidate must be 30. The 61st Amendment (1988) reduced the voting age from 21 to 18.
- Political parties are registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Recognition as a national party requires either 6% of votes in four states plus four Lok Sabha seats, or 2% of Lok Sabha seats from three states, or recognition as a state party in four states.
- Pressure groups do not contest elections; they influence policy through lobbying, strikes and media. Examples: FICCI, trade unions, farmer organisations.
Worked example
A party wins 5% of the vote in four states and six Lok Sabha seats. Is it a national party? Reasoning: the first route requires 6% in four states plus four seats; 5% fails. It may still qualify through the 2% seats route or the four-state-party route. The answer should test each criterion separately rather than assuming one decides.
Traps
- Treating the Model Code as enforceable law.
- Saying the ECI decides defection cases; the Speaker or Chairman does, under the Tenth Schedule.
- Confusing the 52nd Amendment (anti-defection) with the 61st (voting age).
- Assuming NOTA forces a re-election; it does not.