Consider the following statements regarding State Election Commission, Rajasthan : (i) It was constituted in July, 1994 under Article 243 K of the Constitution of India. (ii) It is a single member commission headed by the State Election Commissioner.
- (1)Neither (i) nor (ii) is correct.
- (2)Both (i) and (ii) are correct.
- (3)Only (ii) is correct.
- (4)Only (i) is correct.
Answer
Why
Correct — option (2), Both (i) and (ii) are correct.
Statement (i) is correct. The State Election Commission's own About Us page says the Commission "was constituted in July 1994 under Article 243K of the Constitution of India." Its list of Commissioners opens with Amar Singh Rathore, whose tenure begins on 1 July 1994.
Statement (ii) is correct. The same page says "The SEC is a single member Commission headed by the State Election Commissioner."
That matches the Constitution. Article 243K(1) vests Panchayat elections in "a State Election Commission consisting of a State Election Commissioner to be appointed by the Governor." One Commissioner is the whole Commission.
With both statements correct, the code is option (2), Both (i) and (ii) are correct.
The idea to remember: Article 243K, July 1994, one State Election Commissioner.
Why the others are wrong
- (1)Neither (i) nor (ii) is correct. — Both statements repeat what the Commission's own website says: constituted in July 1994 under Article 243K, and a single member Commission headed by the State Election Commissioner.
This code would fit only if both details were changed, for example a different month or Article in (i) and a multi-member body in (ii).
- (3)Only (ii) is correct. — This drops statement (i), which is correct. The Commission's page gives July 1994 and Article 243K, and its first Commissioner's tenure starts on 1 July 1994.
A statement placing the constitution in December 1994 would be the one to reject. Article 243K is also the right Article: Article 243ZA hands municipal elections to the same Commission.
- (4)Only (i) is correct. — This drops statement (ii), which is correct. It carries over the form of the Election Commission of India, which under Article 324(2) consists of the Chief Election Commissioner and such other Election Commissioners, if any, as the President fixes.
Article 243K gives the State body a single State Election Commissioner, appointed by the Governor.
Concept
Part IX of the Constitution, on Panchayats, was inserted by the Constitution (Seventy-third Amendment) Act, 1992, with effect from 24 April 1993. Article 243K in that Part creates the State Election Commission.
Under Article 243K(1), the superintendence, direction and control of preparing electoral rolls and conducting all Panchayat elections vests in the Commission. Article 243ZA(1) gives it municipal elections too.
The Commissioner's independence is built in. Article 243K(2) lets the Governor fix service conditions by rule, subject to State law, but the Commissioner can be removed only like a High Court Judge, and conditions cannot be varied to his disadvantage after appointment.
The Election Commission of India under Article 324 is a separate body, covering Parliament, State Legislatures, the President and the Vice-President.
RPSC's 2023 Prelims syllabus lists "Rajasthan Public Service Commission, State Human Rights Commission, Lokayukt, State Election Commission, State Information Commission" among the institutions of Rajasthan.
The Commission's website records that Panchayati Raj elections have been held in Rajasthan since 1960, first by the Panchayat Department and then by the Election Department. From the sixth general election, in 1995, the SEC has conducted them.
Its list of State Election Commissioners begins with Amar Singh Rathore (1 July 1994 to 30 March 2000). On 1 October 2023 the office was held by Madhukar Gupta, whose tenure the list gives as 14 August 2022 to 16 September 2025.
The Commission prepares electoral rolls and holds elections for both Panchayati Raj Institutions and municipal bodies.
Key facts
- The State Election Commission, Rajasthan was constituted in July 1994 under Article 243K, according to its website.
- Article 243K(1): the State Election Commission consists of a State Election Commissioner appointed by the Governor.
- Article 243K(2): the State Election Commissioner can be removed only in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of a High Court.
- Article 243ZA(1): elections to the Municipalities are also vested in the State Election Commission referred to in Article 243K.
- Madhukar Gupta was Rajasthan's State Election Commissioner on 1 October 2023; the Commission lists his tenure as 14 August 2022 to 16 September 2025.
From Articles 243K, 243ZA and 324. SEC Rajasthan was constituted in July 1994, per its website.
Study next
Common traps
- Carrying the Election Commission of India's form to the State body: Article 243K provides a Commission consisting of a single State Election Commissioner.
- Shifting the month: the SEC's website gives July 1994 for its constitution, not December 1994.
- Citing Article 324 for local-body elections: Panchayat and municipal elections fall under Articles 243K and 243ZA.
A question can pair a statement on when and under which Article the State Election Commission was constituted with a statement on its composition.
A question can also contrast the State Election Commissioner with the Chief Election Commissioner on who appoints, who removes, and which elections each body conducts.
Related PYQs
Identify the correct statement regarding the Election Commission of India.
- (1) Election Commission of India is a permanent Constitutional Body and it was established in accordance with the Constitution on 25th January, 1952.
- (2) The concept of multi-member Commission has been in operation since 1995 with decision making power by majority vote.
- (3) Under the Constitution, the Commission also has advisory jurisdiction in the matter of post election disqualification of sitting members of Parliament and State Legislatures.
- (4) The President appoints Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners and they have tenure of five years, or up to the age of 60 years, whichever is earlier.
Answer(3)
The national counterpart. That question asks which statement about the Election Commission of India is correct (RPSC's key: its advisory jurisdiction on post-election disqualification of sitting members of Parliament and State Legislatures); this one is about the State body, which has a single Commissioner.
Practice
- practice — not a real PYQ
Under Article 243K of the Constitution of India, the State Election Commissioner shall not be removed from office except
- (a)by the Governor at his pleasure
- (b)in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of a High Court
- (c)by a resolution of the State Legislative Assembly passed by simple majority
- (d)on the advice of the Chief Election Commissioner of India
Answer(2) — The proviso to Article 243K(2) ties removal to the manner and grounds for a High Court Judge. Option (1) would make the office depend on the Governor, which the proviso rules out; options (3) and (4) are procedures the Article does not provide. - practice — not a real PYQ
Which Article of the Constitution of India vests the conduct of elections to the Municipalities in the State Election Commission?
- (a)Article 243K
- (b)Article 243ZA
- (c)Article 324
- (d)Article 243ZD
Answer(2) — Article 243ZA(1) vests municipal elections in the State Election Commission referred to in Article 243K. Option (1) covers Panchayat elections; option (3) is the Election Commission of India; option (4) deals with the Committee for district planning.