Who was the first woman to became a Chief Election Commissioner of India ?
- (a)R. M. Nikam
- (b)S. K. Bedi
- (c)V. S. Ramadevi
- (d)G. D. Das
Correct — C, V. S. Ramadevi. Vellikkakathu Sankaran Ramadevi was the first woman Chief Election Commissioner of India, holding office briefly in 1990 (26 November to 11 December 1990), just before T. N. Seshan. She had earlier been the first woman Secretary-General of the Rajya Sabha, and later served as Governor of Himachal Pradesh and of Karnataka. (The booklet prints 'the first woman to became' — a grammatical slip in the original paper; the fact is unaffected.)
- (a)R. M. Nikam — Not a Chief Election Commissioner of India — a distractor name; no such person has held the office.
- (b)S. K. Bedi — Not a Chief Election Commissioner of India — a distractor name with no basis in the CEC list.
- (d)G. D. Das — Not a Chief Election Commissioner of India — a distractor name; the first woman CEC was V. S. Ramadevi.
The Election Commission of India is a constitutional body (Article 324) headed by the Chief Election Commissioner. Since 1993 it has usually been a three-member body (CEC + two Election Commissioners). V. S. Ramadevi's very short 1990 tenure makes her both a trivia favourite and the answer to 'first woman CEC'.
The other three options are unfamiliar names, so recognition of V. S. Ramadevi decides the question. A common mix-up is with the first CEC of India (Sukumar Sen, 1950) or the more famous T. N. Seshan, who directly succeeded Ramadevi.
- V. S. Ramadevi — first woman Chief Election Commissioner of India (1990)
- Her tenure lasted only about two weeks, followed by T. N. Seshan
- She later served as Secretary-General of the Rajya Sabha (1993-97) and as Governor of Karnataka
- The Election Commission is established under Article 324 of the Constitution
- Confusing the first woman CEC (V. S. Ramadevi) with the first CEC (Sukumar Sen)
- Mixing up the Election Commission of India with State Election Commissions
MPPSC/UPSC ask 'first woman/first holder of office X' and the constitutional basis of the ECI. Remember: first CEC = Sukumar Sen; first woman CEC = V. S. Ramadevi.
Consider the following statements with reference to India: 1. The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners enjoy equal powers but receive unequal salaries. 2. The Chief Election Commissioner is entitled to the same salary as is provided to a judge of the Supreme Court. 3. The Chief Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his office except in like manner and on like grounds as a judge of the Supreme Court. 4. The term of office of an Election Commissioner is five years from the date he assumes office or till he attains the age of 62 years, whichever is earlier. Which of these statements are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2
- (b) 2 and 3
- (c) 1 and 4
- (d) 2 and 4
Answer(b) 2 and 3
Same office — tests the salary, tenure and removal of the Chief Election Commissioner, the post V. S. Ramadevi first held as a woman.
Which one of the following statements is NOT correct?
- (a) In case of differences of opinion amongst the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners, the matter is decided by the Law Commission.
- (b) The Election Commissioners cannot be removed from their office except on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
- (c) The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners enjoy equal powers.
- (d) The term of office of Election Commissioners is six years from the date they assume office or till the day they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
Answer(a) In case of differences of opinion amongst the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners, the matter is decided by the Law Commission.
Same institution — MPPSC tested the working of the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commission of India.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Election Commission of India is established under which Article of the Constitution?
- (a)Article 280
- (b)Article 324
- (c)Article 315
- (d)Article 148
Answer(b) Article 324.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Who was the first Chief Election Commissioner of India?
- (a)Sukumar Sen
- (b)T. N. Seshan
- (c)V. S. Ramadevi
- (d)K. V. K. Sundaram
Answer(a) Sukumar Sen (1950).