Polity Quiz: State Election Commissioner, Election Symbols & Constitutional Amendments

Overview The daily UPSC Polity quiz covered five multiple‑choice questions on the State Election Commissioner , election symbols, constitutional amendment procedures, recent Supreme Court cases and the functioning of the Supreme Court. Each question was explained with reference to the Constitution and recent judgments. Key Developments Question 1: Only statements 2 and 4 about the SEC are correct. The SEC prepares Panchayat electoral rolls and its removal is on the same grounds as a High Court judge. The Governor, not the President, decides the SEC’s service conditions. Question 2: Both statements on party symbols are correct. Recognised parties keep their reserved symbols, while unrecognised parties and independents receive "free symbols" from the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 . The latest list (May 2025) contains 184 items. Question 3: All four provisions (Article 54, Chapter I of Part XI, Seventh Schedule, and representation of States in Parliament) need ratification by at least half of the State legislatures before presidential assent, making option (d) correct. Question 4: Both Supreme Court cases are correctly matched – the Voluntary Health Association of Punjab v. Union of India dealt with the PCPNDT Act, and Amit Kumar & Ors. v. Union of India (2026) created a National Task Force on student suicides. Question 5: Both statements about the Chief Justice of India’s vacancy and ad‑hoc judges are incorrect. The President appoints an acting CJI, and ad‑hoc judges are drawn from qualified High Court judges, not retired Supreme Court judges. Important Facts The SEC is appointed by the Governor under the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments . Article 54 deals with the election of the President; together with Articles 55, 73, 162, 241 and 279A, it requires State ratification for amendment. Article 368 outlines the amendment procedure and also mandates State ratification for certain changes. The Supreme Court can direct a qualified High Court judge to sit as an ad‑hoc judge under Article 127, not a retired Supreme Court judge. The National Task Force on student mental health is chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice S Ravindra Bhat . UPS​C Relevance These topics are core to the Polity syllabus (GS 2). Understanding the SEC’s autonomy helps answer questions on local governance. Knowledge of the Election Symbols Order is useful for recent Prelims questions on party recognition. Constitutional amendment provisions (Articles 54, 368, etc.) test the federal structure and amendment process. Recent Supreme Court judgments illustrate how the judiciary interprets social legislation, a frequent match‑the‑following theme. Way Forward for Aspirants Memorise the role, appointment and removal safeguards of the SEC . Remember that recognised parties retain reserved symbols while others use free symbols from the 1968 Order. Review the list of provisions that need State ratification (President‑election, lists, representation, etc.). Study the facts of the two Supreme Court cases and note the legal issues they addressed. Clarify the correct procedure for appointing an acting CJI and ad‑hoc judges under Articles 126 and 127.