The Electoral College for the election of the President consists of:
- (a)Members of both houses of Parliament
- (b)Members of both houses of Parliament and State Assemblies
- (c)Elected members of both houses of Parliament and elected members of State Assemblies
- (d)None of the above
Correct — C, elected members of both Houses of Parliament and elected members of State Assemblies. Under Article 54, the Electoral College for the President's election is made up ONLY of elected MPs (Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha) and elected MLAs of the State Legislative Assemblies — and, since the 70th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the NCT of Delhi and Puducherry as well. Nominated members and Legislative Council (MLC) members are deliberately excluded.
- (a)Members of both houses of Parliament — Wrong — this omits State Assemblies entirely and drops the 'elected' qualifier; the Electoral College is not Parliament alone.
- (b)Members of both houses of Parliament and State Assemblies — Close, but wrong — it is missing the crucial word 'elected'; nominated members (e.g., Rajya Sabha's nominated members) are not part of the Electoral College.
- (d)None of the above — Wrong — option (c) correctly and completely describes the Electoral College.
Article 54 constitutes the Electoral College that elects the President: the elected members of both Houses of Parliament plus the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States. The 70th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 extended this to the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union Territory of Puducherry, since both have their own legislatures.
The exam trap is dropping the word 'elected' — nominated Rajya Sabha members and members of State Legislative Councils (MLCs, found only in bicameral states) are NOT part of the Electoral College, even though they sit in a legislature.
- Article 54: Electoral College = elected members of both Houses of Parliament + elected members of State Legislative Assemblies
- Nominated MPs (Rajya Sabha) and MLCs (Legislative Council members) are excluded
- 70th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 added the elected members of the Delhi and Puducherry Legislative Assemblies
- The value of each vote is calculated under Article 55 (population-weighted for MLAs, uniform for MPs)
Article 54: only ELECTED members of Parliament and State Assemblies form the Electoral College — nominated MPs and MLCs are left out.
- Dropping the word 'elected' and assuming ALL MPs/MLAs, including nominated ones, qualify
- Confusing the President's Electoral College (includes State MLAs) with the Vice-President's (Parliament only)
MPPSC/UPSC test the exact composition (elected-only, Assemblies not Councils) and occasionally the 70th Amendment's UT additions.
Which one of the following is part of the electoral college for the election of the President of India but does not form part of the forum for his impeachment?
- (a) Lok Sabha
- (b) Rajya Sabha
- (c) State Legislative Councils
- (d) State Legislative Assemblies
Answer(d) State Legislative Assemblies.
UPSC 1996 tests the same Article 54 composition — State Legislative ASSEMBLIES (not Councils) are part of the electoral college, the identical distinction this question hinges on.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which of the following is NOT part of the Electoral College for the election of the President of India?
- (a)Elected members of the Lok Sabha
- (b)Elected members of the Rajya Sabha
- (c)Nominated members of the Rajya Sabha
- (d)Elected members of State Legislative Assemblies
Answer(c) Nominated members of the Rajya Sabha — only ELECTED members of Parliament and State Assemblies form the Electoral College.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The 70th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 added the elected members of which Union Territories' Legislative Assemblies to the Presidential Electoral College?
- (a)Chandigarh and Puducherry
- (b)NCT of Delhi and Puducherry
- (c)Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
- (d)Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar
Answer(b) NCT of Delhi and Puducherry.