Consider the following statements:
- 1.The Election Commission of India is a five-member body.
- 2.Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the election schedule for the conduct of both general elections and bye-elections.
- 3.Election Commission resolves the disputes relating to splits/mergers of recognised political parties.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (d) 3 only
Only statement 3 is correct. The Election Commission itself, not the Home Ministry, fixes election schedules, it is not a five-member body, and the Symbols Order gives it the power to decide disputes over splits and mergers of recognised parties.
- ✗ 1. Article 324 provides for a Chief Election Commissioner and such other Election Commissioners as the President fixes. In practice the Commission is a three-member body, the CEC and two Election Commissioners, with equal powers.
- ✗ 2. The Election Commission determines the timing of elections and prepares the election schedule. The Home Ministry does not decide it.
- ✓ 3. Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 lets the Commission decide which rival group of a recognised party is that party, and paragraph 16 deals with amalgamation of parties. Its decision on rival groups is binding.
Remember · The Election Commission fixes election schedules, is a three-member body (CEC plus two ECs), and settles party-split disputes under para 15 of the Symbols Order, 1968.
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 11 Indian Constitution at Work, Ch 3 (practise this chapter) · Class 11 Indian Constitution at Work, Ch 3 (practise this chapter)
Sources
- NCERT Class 11 · Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter 3 “The CEC and the two Election Commissioners have equal powers to take all decisions relating to elections as a collective body.”
- NCERT Class 11 · Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter 3 “It also determines the timing of elections and prepares the election schedule.”
- The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, paragraphs 15 and 16 (Legislative Department, Government of India) ↗ “When the Commission is satisfied on information in its possession that there are rival sections or groups of a recognised political party each of whom claims to be that party the Commission may”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2017, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·