Identify the INCORRECT statements about the Presidential Elections in India- I. Nominated members of the Rajya Sabha do not parti…

Question

Identify the INCORRECT statements about the Presidential Elections in India-

I. Nominated members of the Rajya Sabha do not participate in the election of the President, but participate in the impeachment process.

II. Elected members of the State Legislative Councils also vote in the Election of the President, if the state has a bicameral legislature.

III. According to Article 55(3) of the Indian Constitution, the Presidential Election is conducted by the secret ballot.

IV. The value of each MLA's vote is the same across all states to ensure the principle of "One member, One vote".

1. A. II and III only
2. B. I and III only
3. C. III and IV only
4. D. II and IV only (Correct answer)

Correct Answer

Option D — II and IV only

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is II and IV only.

Key Points

• The question asks for the INCORRECT statements.
  • Statement I is CORRECT. Nominated members of the Rajya Sabha do not vote in the presidential election, because the Electoral College under Article 54 consists only of *elected* members. They do, however, participate in the impeachment process, since that is conducted by the Houses as a whole.
  • Statement II is INCORRECT. Members of State Legislative Councils do not vote in the presidential election — whether elected or nominated. Only the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of States, together with those of Delhi and Puducherry, take part.
  • Statement III is CORRECT. Article 55(3) provides that the election shall be held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote, and that the voting shall be by secret ballot.
  • Statement IV is INCORRECT. The value of an MLA's vote differs from state to state, being derived from the state's population. It is therefore not "one member, one vote".
• The incorrect statements are II and IV.

Additional Information

• How the vote values are computed:
  • $\text{Value of an MLA's vote} = \frac{\text{Population of the State}}{\text{Number of elected MLAs}} \times \frac{1}{1000}$
  • $\text{Value of an MP's vote} = \frac{\text{Total value of all MLAs' votes}}{\text{Total number of elected MPs}}$
• Because of this formula, an MLA from Uttar Pradesh carries a vote value of 208, the highest in the country, while an MLA from Sikkim carries only 7. The value of each MP's vote is currently 700.
• The population figure used is still that of the 1971 Census, frozen by the 84th Amendment Act, 2001, until the first census after 2026 — a deliberate measure so that states which controlled population growth are not penalised.
• Impeachment of the President is under Article 61, for "violation of the Constitution". The charge may originate in either House, requires 14 days' notice signed by one-fourth of the members, and must be passed by a two-thirds majority of the total membership of each House. Nominated members participate, since this is not an election — the very distinction that makes Statement I correct.