UPSC Prelims 2023 Question:

Consider the following statements in respect of election to the President of India:

1. The members nominated to either House of the Parliament or the Legislative Assemblies of the States are eligible to be included in the electoral college.
2. Higher the number of elected Assembly seats, higher is the value of vote of each MLA of that state.
3. The value of vote of each MLA of Madhya Pradesh is greater than that of Kerala.
4. The value of vote of each MLA of Puducherry is higher than that of Arunachal Pradesh because the ratio of total population to total number of elective seats in Puducherry is greater as compared to Arunachal Pradesh.
   
   

How many of the above statements are correct?

Learn more about the elections of the president of India from the given explanation below.

Explanation:

As per Article 54 of the Constitution, the President of India is elected by the Members of an Electoral College consisting of (a) the elected members of both Houses of Parliament, and (b) the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of all States [including National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union Territory of Puducherry]. The Members nominated to either House of Parliament or the Legislative Assemblies of States, including NCT of Delhi and Union Territory of Puducherry, are not eligible to be included in the Electoral College. So, statement 1 is not correct.

Election of President of India

• The value of the vote of an MP in a presidential election is based on the number of elected members in legislative assemblies of states and union territories, including Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir. If the number of elected Assembly seats increased, the value of vote of each MLA of that state will decrease. So, statement 2 is not correct.
• The value of vote of each MLA of Madhya Pradesh is 131 which is less than that of Kerala where it is 152. So, statement 3 is not correct.
• The value of vote of each MLA of Puducherry (16) is higher than that of Arunachal Pradesh (8) because the ratio of total population to total number of elective seats in Puducherry is greater as compared to Arunachal Pradesh. So, statement 4 is correct.

So, only one of the above statements is correct.

Therefore, option (1) is the correct answer.

Subject: Polity | Union Executive