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Q32 (IAS/2018) Polity & Governance › Union Executive › Presidential election process Official Key

With reference to the election of the President of India, consider the following statements : 1. The value of the vote of each MLA varies from State to State. 2. The value of the vote of MPs of the Lok Sabha is more than the value of the vote of MPs of the Rajya Sabha. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The correct answer is option A (1 only).

**Statement 1 is correct:** The value of vote of each MLA varies from state to state, as shown in the Presidential Election 2022 data where Andhra Pradesh MLAs have a value of 159 per vote, while Arunachal Pradesh MLAs have a value of 8 per vote[1]. This variation occurs because the value of an MLA's vote is calculated based on the state's population divided by the number of elected MLAs, which differs across states.

**Statement 2 is incorrect:** The value of the vote of an MP is calculated as the total value of votes of all MLAs of all states divided by the total number of elected members of Parliament[2]. This means all MPs—whether from Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha—have the same vote value in presidential elections. There is no distinction between the vote values of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs.

Therefore, only statement 1 is correct, making option A the right answer.

Sources
  1. [1] Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 18: President > 200 ,yj' lndian Polity > p. 201
  2. [2] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 18: President > ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT > p. 187
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. With reference to the election of the President of India, consider the following statements : 1. The value of the vote of each MLA varie…
At a glance
Origin: Mixed / unclear origin Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 5/10 · 0/10

This is a classic 'Sitter' from standard static sources (Laxmikanth). It tests the operational mechanics of Article 55 rather than just the theory. If you only memorized 'who votes' but ignored 'how the vote is valued', you would struggle here.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
In the election of the President of India, does the value of the vote of each Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) vary from state to state?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 18: President > 200 ,yj' lndian Polity > p. 201
Presence: 5/5
“Table 18.3 Articles Related to President at a Glance Table 18.4 Presidential Election, 2022 (Value of Votes of Elected MLAs and MPs)17 • 51 No: ; NAME OF STATE UNION TERRITORY: ANDHRA PRADESH; NUMBER OF ASSEMBLY SEATS (ELECTIVE): 175; POPULATION (11971 CENSUS): 27800586; VALUE OF VOTE OF EACH MLA: 159; TOTAL VALUE OF VOTES FOR THE STATE: 159 " 175 = 27825 • 51 No: 2; NAME OF STATE UNION TERRITORY: ARUNACHAL PRADESH; NUMBER OF ASSEMBLY SEATS (ELECTIVE): 60; POPULATION (11971 CENSUS): 467511; VALUE OF VOTE OF EACH MLA: 8; TOTAL VALUE OF VOTES FOR THE STATE: 008 " 060 :;: 480 • 51 No: 3; NAME OF STATE UNION TERRITORY: ASSAM; (Contd.) I?This information is obtained from the official website of the Election Commission of India.”
Why this source?
  • Contains a state-wise table listing the 'value of vote of each MLA' with different numeric values for different states (e.g., Andhra Pradesh = 159; Arunachal Pradesh = 8).
  • Shows total value for each state computed as (value per MLA × number of MLAs), demonstrating distinct per-MLA values across states.
Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 18: President > ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT > p. 187
Presence: 3/5
“This can be expressed as: I J Value of the vote of an MP = Total value of votes of all MLAs of all states Total number of elected members of Parliament An illustration of the value of votes of each Member of the Legislative Assemblies of the states, total value of votes of each of the states, the value of votes of each Member of Parliament, the total value of votes of the Members of Parliament and the grand total of value of all the members in the electoral college for the presidential election, 2022 is given in Thble 18.4.”
Why this source?
  • Refers to an illustration of the value of votes of each MLA of the states, indicating that MLA vote-values are specified state-wise in official calculations.
  • Explains the broader context of vote-value calculations used in the presidential election, linking MLA vote-values to the electoral arithmetic.
Statement 2
In the election of the President of India, is the value of the vote of a Lok Sabha Member of Parliament greater than the value of the vote of a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 18: President > ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT > p. 187
Strength: 5/5
“This can be expressed as: I J Value of the vote of an MP = Total value of votes of all MLAs of all states Total number of elected members of Parliament An illustration of the value of votes of each Member of the Legislative Assemblies of the states, total value of votes of each of the states, the value of votes of each Member of Parliament, the total value of votes of the Members of Parliament and the grand total of value of all the members in the electoral college for the presidential election, 2022 is given in Thble 18.4.”
Why relevant

Gives the general formula: Value of the vote of an MP = Total value of votes of all MLAs of all states / Total number of elected members of Parliament.

How to extend

A student can use this rule plus the counts of MPs to infer that the per-MP value is the same for all MPs regardless of house.

Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 18: President > ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT > p. 187
Strength: 5/5
“This can be expressed as: I J Value of the vote of an MP = Total value of votes of all MLAs of all states Total number of elected members of Parliament An illustration of the value of votes of each Member of the Legislative Assemblies of the states, total value of votes of each of the states, the value of votes of each Member of Parliament, the total value of votes of the Members of Parliament and the grand total of value of all the members in the electoral college for the presidential election, 2022 is given in Thble 18.4.”
Why relevant

Repeats the same formula (confirming it as a stated rule), emphasising the per-MP value depends on aggregate MLA value and total MPs.

How to extend

Combine with the separate counts of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members to see the per-MP value does not distinguish between LS and RS.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 18: President > 200 ,yj' lndian Polity > p. 202
Strength: 4/5
“No (A) VALUE OF EACH VOTE OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, TOTAL MEMBERS - LOK SABHA (543) + RAJYA SABHA (233) = 776 VALUE OF EACH VOTE = 5,43,231 = 700 776 (B) TO'TAL VALUE OF VOTES OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT = 700 x 776 = 5,43,200 (C) TO'TAL ELECTORS FOR THE PRESIDENT ELECTION = MLAs (4033) + M.Ps (776) = 4809 (D) TOTAL VALUE OF VOTES OF 4809 ELECTORS FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2022 = 5,43,231 + 5,43,200 = 10,86,431”
Why relevant

Provides concrete totals used in calculation (Total MPs = Lok Sabha 543 + Rajya Sabha 233 = 776) and shows a computed 'value of each vote of members of Parliament'.

How to extend

Using these totals, a student can calculate per-MP vote value and note it is a single figure for all MPs, not different by house.

Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 18: President > 200 ,yj' lndian Polity > p. 202
Strength: 4/5
“No. | (A) VALUE OF EACH VOTE OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, TOTAL MEMBERS - LOK SABHA (543) + RAJYA SABHA (233) = 776 VALUE OF EACH VOTE = 5,43,231 = 700 776 | (B) TO'TAL VALUE OF VOTES OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT = 700 x 776 = 5,43,200 | (C) TO'TAL ELECTORS FOR THE PRESIDENT ELECTION = MLAs (4033) + M.Ps (776) = 4809 (D) TOTAL VALUE OF VOTES OF 4809 ELECTORS FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2022 = 5,43,231 + 5,43,200 = 10,86,431”
Why relevant

Same numeric illustration as [1] (total MPs = 776 and a single 'value of each vote' for MPs) reinforcing that all MPs share that value.

How to extend

A student could compare the single MP vote value with MLA vote values (from other parts) to judge relative weights but not differentiate LS vs RS.

Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: Universal Franchise and India’s Electoral System > Election of the President of India > p. 136
Strength: 3/5
“The President of India is not directly elected by the common people. Instead, an electoral college is formed to carry out the election. This Electoral College consists of: • Members of Parliament (MPs) from both the houses of the Parliament — Lok Sabha (Lower House) and the Rajya Sabha (Upper House)• Members of the Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) from each of India's states and the union territories of Delhi and Puducherry The single transferable vote system is followed in this election. Since the president represents the whole country, this method ensures the support of both the central and state governments.”
Why relevant

Explains the electoral college composition: MPs from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are part of the same electoral college for the President.

How to extend

Knowing both houses' MPs participate in the same college supports applying the single-MP-value formula to all MPs together when testing the statement.

Pattern takeaway: UPSC has shifted from asking 'Who appoints X?' to 'How is X elected/removed?'. They focus on the procedural nuances—specifically numbers, formulas, and special majorities—that differentiate one constitutional post from another.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Directly solvable from Laxmikanth, Chapter 18 (President). No current affairs required.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Article 55 (Manner of Election of President). The core theme is 'Parity' between the Union and the States.
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: 1. Base Population: 1971 Census (frozen by 84th Amendment). 2. Nomination: 50 proposers + 50 seconders (vs 20+20 for VP). 3. Dispute: Decided by Supreme Court (Article 71), decision is final. 4. Security Deposit: ₹15,000 (forfeited if <1/6th votes polled). 5. Anti-Defection: Does NOT apply to Presidential elections (open ballot not allowed, but no whip).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: When studying Constitutional bodies, move beyond 'Composition' to 'Computation'. UPSC loves asking about the *weightage* and *math* behind the seats (e.g., Delimitation, Vote Value) because that is where the federal balance lies.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 State-wise value of an MLA's vote
💡 The insight

The provided table explicitly lists different numeric 'value of vote of each MLA' for individual states, showing variation across states.

High-yield for UPSC prelims/GS: questions often ask whether MLA vote-values are uniform or vary and may require reading/interpreting state-wise tables. It connects to understanding the electoral college and numerical problems on presidential election vote-weighting; practice with such tables enables quick elimination in MCQs and accurate computation in mains-type numerical questions.

📚 Reading List :
  • Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 18: President > 200 ,yj' lndian Polity > p. 201
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 18: President > 200 ,yj' lndian Polity > p. 201
🔗 Anchor: "In the election of the President of India, does the value of the vote of each Me..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Deriving MP vote-value from total MLA vote-values
💡 The insight

Reference gives the formula linking total value of all MLAs to the value of each MP, showing interdependence between MLA totals and MP vote value.

Important for solving multi-step numerical questions on the presidential election where MP vote-value must be computed from MLA totals. Mastery helps answer calculation-style prelims questions and conceptual mains questions on the composition/weighting of the electoral college.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 18: President > ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT > p. 187
  • Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 18: President > 200 ,yj' lndian Polity > p. 202
🔗 Anchor: "In the election of the President of India, does the value of the vote of each Me..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Electoral College composition (MLAs + MPs)
💡 The insight

References identify that the electoral college comprises MLAs and MPs, which is the framework within which per-MLA vote-values matter.

Foundational concept: many questions combine composition with vote-weight calculations. Knowing who the electors are is essential before delving into vote-value computations or constitutional provisions—useful across prelims and mains interlinked topics (federalism, elections, constitutional provisions).

📚 Reading List :
  • Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: Universal Franchise and India’s Electoral System > Election of the President of India > p. 136
  • Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 18: President > 200 ,yj' lndian Polity > p. 201
🔗 Anchor: "In the election of the President of India, does the value of the vote of each Me..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Formula for value of an MP's vote
💡 The insight

References give the formula: value of each MP's vote = total value of all MLAs' votes ÷ total number of elected MPs.

High-yield for UPSC: enables computation of MP vote value for presidential election problems and links state MLA weightage to national calculation; useful for numerical and conceptual questions on electoral college mechanics.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 18: President > ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT > p. 187
  • Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 18: President > ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT > p. 187
🔗 Anchor: "In the election of the President of India, is the value of the vote of a Lok Sab..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Composition of the Presidential Electoral College
💡 The insight

References enumerate who forms the electoral college — MPs (both houses) plus MLAs — and give counts used in calculations.

Important for conceptual clarity: distinguishes MPs vs MLAs roles, shows why MLA totals affect MP vote value; frequently tested in polity questions about presidential election procedure and vote weightage.

📚 Reading List :
  • Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: Universal Franchise and India’s Electoral System > Election of the President of India > p. 136
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 18: President > 200 ,yj' lndian Polity > p. 202
🔗 Anchor: "In the election of the President of India, is the value of the vote of a Lok Sab..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Uniformity of MP vote value (across Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha)
💡 The insight

The formula and the numeric illustration treat 'members of Parliament' as a single pool, implying all MPs have the same vote value regardless of house.

Prevents a common misconception that Lok Sabha MPs carry greater individual weight; useful for direct-answer conceptual questions and for setting up correct calculations in problems involving vote totals.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 18: President > 200 ,yj' lndian Polity > p. 202
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 18: President > ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT > p. 187
🔗 Anchor: "In the election of the President of India, is the value of the vote of a Lok Sab..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

The '1971 Census' Trap. The value of the vote is calculated based on the 1971 population, not the current one, to encourage population control. A future statement might trick you by saying 'based on the latest published census'.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

The 'Bicameral Equality' Logic. If Lok Sabha MPs had a higher vote value than Rajya Sabha MPs (Statement 2), the President would become a representative of the popular majority (Government), undermining the Rajya Sabha's role as the Council of States. Since the President is the Head of State (Federal Head), not Head of Government, both Houses must logically have equal weight.

🔗 Mains Connection

Federalism (Mains GS2): The formula (Total Value of MPs = Total Value of all MLAs) is a mathematical expression of Federal Parity. It ensures the Union Parliament has exactly equal weight to all State Assemblies combined, preventing the President from being solely a 'Central' agent.

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2023 · Q80 Relevance score: 6.65

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 States are also eligible to be included in the Electoral College. 2. Higher the number of elective 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?

IAS · 2003 · Q122 Relevance score: 4.72

Consider the following statements: In the electoral college for Presidential Election in India. 1. The value of the vote of an elected Member of Legislative Assembly equals 2. The value of the vote of an elected Member of parliament equals 3. There were more than 5000 members in the latest election Which of these statements is/are correct?

CAPF · 2014 · Q24 Relevance score: 3.33

Which of the following statements are correct regarding the election of the President of India ? 1. He is elected indirectly 2. He is elected through an electoral college consisting of all elected MPs and MLAs 3. He is elected directly 4. Members of the Legislative Council have no right to vote in the Presidential election Select the correct answer using the code given below :

NDA-I · 2013 · Q95 Relevance score: 3.09

The President of India is elected by proportional representative system by a single transferable vote. This implies that

IAS · 2017 · Q76 Relevance score: 3.02

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 ?