Q1. Who appointed the Tarkunde Committee on Electoral Reforms in 1974?
- Government of India
- Election Commission of India
- Jayaprakash Narayan
- Supreme Court of India
Correct Option: 3. Jayaprakash Narayan.
Explanation: The Tarkunde Committee was an unofficial committee appointed by Jaya Prakash Narayan during his “Total Revolution” movement to suggest electoral reforms.
Q2. What was the major reform introduced by the 61st Constitutional Amendment Act of 1988?
- Voter ID card issuance
- Introduction of EVMs
- Disqualification for criminal offences
- Lowering of the voting age
Correct Option: 4. Lowering of the voting age.
Explanation: The 61st Amendment reduced the voting age from 21 to 18 years, increasing youth participation in the democratic process.
Q3. Which committee was the first to officially recommend State Funding of Elections?
- Indrajit Gupta Committee
- Law Commission – 170th Report
- Dinesh Goswami Committee
- Tarkunde Committee
Correct Option: 1. Indrajit Gupta Committee.
Explanation: The 1998 Indrajit Gupta Committee recommended partial state funding of elections to reduce the role of black money in politics.
Q4. Which of the following reforms was introduced in the 1996 electoral reforms?
- Introduction of EVMs
- Paid holiday on polling day
- Use of VVPAT machines
- Online voting
Correct Option: 2. Paid holiday on polling day.
Explanation: 1996 reforms mandated paid leave for all registered voters to ensure they could vote without loss of wages, including daily wage workers.
Q5. What is the significance of the Vohra Committee Report (1993)?
- Suggested EVM usage
- Studied state funding
- Examined the crime-politics nexus
- Proposed simultaneous elections
Correct Option: 3. Examined the crime-politics nexus.
Explanation: The Vohra Committee exposed the growing criminalisation of politics, highlighting links between criminals, politicians, and bureaucrats.