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UPSC Prelims 2025 GS Paper 1, question 88

Topic: Polity and governance

Q88

Consider the following statements :

I. If any question arises as to whether a Member of the House of the People has become subject to disqualification under the 10th Schedule, the President's decision in accordance with the opinion of the Council of Union Ministers shall be final.

II. There is no mention of the word ‘political party’ in the Constitution of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. (a) I only
  2. (b) II only
  3. (c) Both I and II
  4. (d) Neither I nor IICorrect answer

Solution.

Answer: (d) Neither I nor II

  1. Statement I is incorrect: under Paragraph 6(1) of the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution, any question regarding disqualification on ground of defection is decided by the Chairman or the Speaker of the House (not by the President on the opinion of the Council of Ministers).
  2. Statement II is incorrect: while the original 1950 text did not contain the phrase, the Tenth Schedule (inserted by the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985) explicitly and repeatedly mentions the words 'political party'.