UPSC Previous Year Question | Prelims GS | 2017

Consider the following statements: 1. In the election for Lok Sabha or State Assembly, the winning candidate must get at least 50 percent of the votes polled, to be declared elected. 2. According to the provisions laid down in the Constitution of India, in Lok Sabha, the Speaker's post goes to the majority party and the Deputy Speaker's to the Opposition. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer

Correct Answer

Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

India follows the First-Past-the-Post system where the candidate with the most votes wins, without any 50% threshold requirement (statement 1 wrong). The Constitution does not mandate any convention regarding which party gets the Speaker/Deputy Speaker post — this is a parliamentary convention, not a constitutional provision, so statement 2 is also wrong.

Topics: elections and legislature, first-past-the-post system / speaker, lok sabha election and speaker's post, polity and governance