MCQs

1. What step has been taken to reduce the influence of money and criminals in elections?

a) Banning all election funding

b) Making it mandatory for candidates to file an affidavit declaring assets and criminal records

c) Allowing only government-approved candidates to contest

d) Eliminating financial disclosures for candidates

2. How has the Election Commission attempted to improve internal democracy in political parties?

a) By restricting party activities

b) By making it compulsory for parties to hold organizational elections and file income tax returns

c) By banning opposition parties

d) By allowing party leaders to make all decisions

3. What is one proposed reform to increase women’s political representation?

a) Reservation of one-third of party tickets for women candidates

b) Eliminating reservations for women

c) Reducing the number of female candidates

d) Allowing only men to contest elections

4. What is state funding of elections?

a) The government provides financial assistance to parties for election campaigns

b) The government bans private funding for elections

c) The government controls all election-related activities

d) The government decides election results

5. Why is legal regulation of political parties a complex issue?

a) Political parties easily accept all reforms

b) Over-regulation may lead parties to find loopholes to bypass laws

c) The judiciary controls all political parties

d) Regulation completely eliminates corruption

Answers and Explanations

1. (b) Making it mandatory for candidates to file an affidavit declaring assets and criminal records.

• This reform aims to provide transparency but lacks a system to verify the information .

2. (b) By making it compulsory for parties to hold organizational elections and file income tax returns.

• This reform promotes accountability but is often treated as a mere formality .

3. (a) Reservation of one-third of party tickets for women candidates.

• A proposed reform is to mandate a quota for women in party tickets and decision-making bodies .

4. (a) The government provides financial assistance to parties for election campaigns.

• State funding can be provided in cash or kind to reduce dependence on private donors .

5. (b) Over-regulation may lead parties to find loopholes to bypass laws.

• Excessive legal control may result in unintended consequences .