Consider the following statements:
(a) The president of India is elected by an electoral college in accordance with the system of proportional representation
(b) The electoral college consists of only the elected members of Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas
Choose the correct answer from the codes below:
- AOption (a)
only (a) is correct
- BOption (b)
only (b) is correct
- COption (c)
both (a) and (b) are correct
- DOption (d)
both (a) and (b) are wrong
View answer & explanationHide answer & explanation
Correct answer
only (a) is correct
Why this answer is correct
The correct answer is only (a) is correct.
Key Points
- The President of India is elected by an electoral college in accordance with the system of proportional representation through the method of the single transferable vote.
- The electoral college for the President's election consists of elected members of the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and the Legislative Assemblies (Vidhan Sabhas) of the states and Union Territories with legislatures.
- Nominated members of the Parliament and state legislatures do not participate in the election of the President of India.
- The election process ensures equal representation of the states and the Union in the President's election, as it is designed to maintain federalism.
- Statement (a) is correct because the system of proportional representation and single transferable vote is indeed used in the election of the President of India.
Additional Information
- Statement (b): The electoral college does not consist of only the elected members of Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and Vidhan Sabhas. It includes elected members of Union Territories with legislatures such as Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu & Kashmir. Hence, this statement is incorrect.
- Proportional Representation System:
- In this system, votes are allocated based on the population of the states, ensuring larger states have more representation, but balancing the weight of Union representation.
- It ensures fair representation for both smaller and larger states in the election process.
- Single Transferable Vote:
- This voting method allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference.
- If a voter's first choice cannot win or has already secured enough votes, their vote is transferred to their next preferred candidate.
- The aim is to achieve majority consensus in the election.
- Concept of Electoral College:
- An electoral college is a body of elected representatives responsible for electing the President of India.
- The Constitution provides detailed provisions in Articles 54 and 55 regarding the composition and voting process of the electoral college.
- Key Facts about the President's Election:
- The election process for the President is conducted by the Election Commission of India.
- The President is elected for a term of 5 years, but he/she can be re-elected.
- In case of disputes regarding the election, they are resolved by the Supreme Court of India.