UPSC Prelims 2017 Question:

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?

Explanation: 

• • In the First Past The Post System (FPTP) system for the elections of Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assembly, the candidate who secures the highest number of valid votes polled in that constituency is declared elected, irrespective of whether he receives the majority of the valid votes polled or not. It may not necessarily be more than fifty per cent of votes polled. So, statement 1 is not correct.
    
    

• Upto the 10th Lok Sabha, both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker were usually from the ruling party. Since the 11th Lok Sabha, there has been a consensus that the Speaker comes from the ruling party (or ruling alliance) and the post of Deputy Speaker goes to the main opposition party. However, this convention is nowhere prescribed in the Consitution of India. So, statement 2 is not correct.
  
  

Therefore, option (4) is the correct answer.

Subject: Polity | Elections