Elections — ECI, Electoral Reforms, Delimitation, Anti-defection & Political Parties

What should you study in Elections?

• ECI — Art.324; composition, powers, MCC; voter registration
• Electoral reforms — NOTA, EVM, postal ballot, VVPAT
• Anti-defection — 10th Schedule; Kihoto Hollohan case
• Political party regulation — symbols, defreezing, registration under RPA 1951

How often is Elections asked in UPSC Mains?

Asked in 4 of 10 years, including 3 of the last 5. Highlighted years below are the ones it appeared in.

1. 2016: not asked
2. 2017: not asked
3. 2018: asked
4. 2019: not asked
5. 2020: not asked
6. 2021: asked
7. 2022: not asked
8. 2023: not asked
9. 2024: asked
10. 2025: asked

About the Mains GS Paper II paper

GS Paper II is a 250-mark descriptive Mains paper covering governance, the Constitution, polity, social justice and international relations. See all 40 Mains GS Paper II topics.

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