Question map
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
The correct answer is option D because both statements are incorrect.
**Statement 1 is incorrect:** India follows the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) electoral system for Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections. Under this system, the candidate who secures the highest number of votes (simple plurality) wins, regardless of whether they obtain 50% or more of the total votes polled. There is no constitutional or legal requirement for a winning candidate to secure at least 50% of votes.
**Statement 2 is incorrect:** The Constitution only requires that the Speaker should be a member of the House[1], and the Speaker is elected by "a simple majority of members present and voting in the House."[1] While usually, the speaker comes from the ruling party (or ruling alliance), while the post of Deputy Speaker goes to the opposition party (or opposition alliance)[2], this is merely a convention and not a constitutional provision. There have been certain exceptional cases in this regard.[2] The Constitution does not mandate that the Speaker's post must go to the majority party or the Deputy Speaker's to the Opposition.
Therefore, neither statement 1 nor statement 2 is correct.
Sources- [2] Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 23: Parliament > Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha > p. 232
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a classic 'Source Authority' trap. Statement 1 tests the basic definition of the FPTP system (NCERT level), while Statement 2 tests your ability to distinguish between the 'Constitution' and 'Parliamentary Convention'. If a political practice feels like a 'gentleman's agreement' (like giving the Dy. Speaker post to the Opposition), it is rarely written in the Constitution.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: In Indian Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections, is a winning candidate required to obtain at least 50% of the votes polled to be declared elected?
- Statement 2: According to the Constitution of India, does the Lok Sabha Speaker's post go to the majority party?
- Statement 3: According to the Constitution of India, does the Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker's post go to the Opposition?
States that Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections use the first‑past‑the‑post (FPTP) system where the candidate with the maximum votes wins.
A student can combine this rule with the definition of FPTP (plurality wins) to suspect that >50% is not required and then check constituency results.
Explicitly says the winning candidate need not secure a majority of the votes and names the method as First Past the Post/Plurality system.
Use this explicit statement to conclude that under the prescribed method a simple plurality (not necessarily ≥50%) suffices; verify by sampling constituency tallies.
Provides a clear example/pattern comment that a candidate can win without securing even 50% of the total votes.
A student could look up real constituency vote shares (e.g., multi‑candidate contests) on an election map to find instances where winners had <50%.
Gives a concrete constituency example where the declared winner had about 50.82% and was declared elected because they had more votes than others—illustrating the plurality principle in practice.
Compare this with other constituency result tables to find winners with <50% and thus test whether ≥50% is a general requirement.
Describes a contrasting electoral method (Single Transferable Vote) where a minimum quota is required to be declared winner, showing that majority/quota requirements are system‑dependent.
A student can use this contrast to reason that any majority/quota requirement would be explicitly stated for the system in use; therefore, check whether such a quota is part of the FPTP rules used for Lok Sabha/Assemblies.
- States the constitutional method of electing the Lok Sabha Speaker: by a simple majority of members present and voting.
- Says no special qualifications are required—only that the Speaker be a member of the House, so the majority can choose their candidate.
States that the Speaker is elected by the Lok Sabha from among its members (election held as soon as may be after first sitting).
A student can combine this with the basic fact that the majority party controls voting in the House to infer that the majority can elect one of its members as Speaker.
Says the Speaker derives powers and duties from the Constitution, Rules of Procedure, and Parliamentary Conventions.
A student could reason that if conventions influence the Speaker's role, there may also be conventions about which party supplies the Speaker (e.g., majority party), even if not constitutionally mandated.
Contains a test-paper statement asserting (as an option) that 'according to the provisions laid down in the Constitution... the Speaker's post goes to the majority party'.
A student might treat this as an example of common textbook/academic assertion to be checked against the constitutional text and practical practice.
Explains that the President appoints a Speaker Pro Tem (usually the seniormost member) before the newly elected Lok Sabha elects a regular Speaker.
A student can use this example of a non-electoral, convention-based appointment to contrast formal constitutional mechanisms with political practice in choosing permanent Speakers.
Notes the parliamentary system principle that the Prime Minister must have the support of the majority in the Lok Sabha and that majority makes the PM powerful.
By analogy, a student could infer that majority control of the House generally enables the majority to secure key offices (like Speaker) through internal elections.
- Explicitly states that 'usually' the Deputy Speaker's post goes to the opposition party/alliance.
- Also notes there have been 'certain exceptional cases', indicating this is a convention rather than an absolute rule.
- States the Deputy Speaker is elected by the Lok Sabha from among its members and the date is fixed by the Speaker.
- Describes the procedural election mechanism with no mention of a constitutional requirement that the Deputy Speaker must be from the Opposition.
- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Direct hits from Laxmikanth (Chapter: Parliament & Elections) and NCERT Class XI (Constitution at Work).
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Parliamentary Officers & Electoral Systems (FPTP vs Proportional Representation).
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 'Source of Power' for key posts: Speaker's election date (President fixes it) vs Dy. Speaker's election date (Speaker fixes it). Pro Tem Speaker (Convention of seniority). Leader of Opposition (Statutory, 1977 Act). Whip (Convention/Rules, not Constitution).
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Create a 'Source Filter' in your mind. When reading a rule, ask: Is this in the Constitution (Articles)? Is it in a Law (RPA 1950/51)? Is it in the Rules of Procedure? Or is it just a Convention? UPSC swaps these labels to create false statements.
Explains how winners in Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections are determined — by most votes, not by achieving 50%.
High-yield for UPSC: clarifies a fundamental electoral principle used in multiple polity questions; connects to topics on representation, seat-vote distortion, and party systems. Master by comparing outcomes under FPTP vs proportional systems to answer questions on electoral fairness and seat allocation.
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 80: Elections > ELECTION PROCESSs > p. 576
- Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: ELECTION AND REPRESENTATION > Chapter 3: Election and Representation > p. 57
Directly addresses the statement's claim about a 50% threshold and shows that a majority is not required.
Important concept to rebut or justify claims about electoral mandates and legitimacy; useful in essays and prelims/CSAT questions on electoral outcomes and democratic representation. Learn typical examples where winners have <50% vote share.
- Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: ELECTION AND REPRESENTATION > Chapter 3: Election and Representation > p. 57
- Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: Universal Franchise and India’s Electoral System > Election to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies > p. 133
Provides a contrasting system where candidates must meet a quota, highlighting that not all Indian elections use FPTP.
Useful for comparative questions within the polity syllabus (difference between Lok Sabha/Assembly and Rajya Sabha elections); helps answer pattern-based questions on varied electoral rules and constitutional prescriptions. Study formulas and implications of quotas vs plurality.
- Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: ELECTION AND REPRESENTATION > How does PR work in Rajya Sabha elections > p. 60
The question hinges on how the Speaker is chosen; references state the Speaker is elected by the Lok Sabha from among its members.
High-yield: UPSC often asks about appointment procedures in parliamentary institutions. Mastering this clarifies the formal mechanism versus political convention and links to topics on legislative procedure and the President's limited scheduling role. Prepare by memorising the constitutional/formal process and distinguishing it from political practice.
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 23: Parliament > Speaker of Lok Sabha > p. 229
- Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 23: Parliament > Speaker of Lok Sabha > p. 229
Who holds the Speaker's post depends on tenure rules and removal procedure; references describe tenure and removal by a resolution passed by an effective majority.
Important for questions on constitutional safeguards and stability of office-holders. Understanding 'effective majority' helps in analysing removal scenarios, confidence motions and constitutional crises. Practice application-based Qs (e.g., removal scenarios) and link to parliamentary conventions.
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 23: Parliament > Speaker of Lok Sabha > p. 229
- Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 23: Parliament > Speaker of Lok Sabha > p. 229
The Speaker's substantive powers (e.g., final decision on Money Bills, presiding over joint sittings) explain the political significance of the office beyond mere party allocation.
High-yield for UPSC: shows why control of the Speaker matters in legislative outcomes. Connects to Union legislative process, centre-state finance issues and parliamentary functioning. Learn key powers and their constitutional sources; use past instances to illustrate impact.
- Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 23: Parliament > Unequal Status with Lok Sabha > p. 260
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 23: Parliament > Unequal Status with Lok Sabha > p. 260
References show the Deputy Speaker is elected by the Lok Sabha from among its members and the Speaker fixes the date of election.
High-yield for UPSC because it distinguishes between constitutional procedure (how the office is filled) and political practice (who is chosen). Connects to topics on parliamentary procedure and presiding officers; useful for questions on appointment/election and vacancy-filling rules.
- Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 23: Parliament > Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha > p. 231
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 23: Parliament > Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha > p. 231
The 'Leader of the Opposition' post. It is NOT mentioned in the Constitution. It is given statutory recognition by the 'Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977'. The '10% seat requirement' is a convention/Speaker's Direction (Direction 121), not a Constitutional Article.
The 'Political Nicety' Heuristic: If a statement claims the Constitution mandates a specific power-sharing arrangement between Ruling and Opposition parties (like Statement 2), it is likely FALSE. The Constitution establishes structure, not political etiquette. It rarely micromanages party dynamics.
Link the Speaker's powers to Mains GS2 (Separation of Powers). The Speaker's decision on disqualification (10th Schedule) was made subject to Judicial Review in the *Kihoto Hollohan* case (1992), bridging the gap between Legislative privilege and Judicial oversight.