Consider the following statements in respect of election to the President of India:
- 1.The members nominated to either House of the Parliament or the Legislative Assemblies of States are also eligible to be included in the Electoral College.
- 2.Higher the number of elective Assembly seats, higher is the value of vote of each MLA of that State.
- 3.The value of vote of each MLA of Madhya Pradesh is greater than that of Kerala.
- 4.The value of vote of each MLA of Puducherry is higher than that of Arunachal Pradesh because the ratio of total population to total number of elective seats in Puducherry is greater as compared to Arunachal Pradesh.
How many of the above statements are correct?
- A.Only one
- B.Only two
- C.Only three
- D.All four
▶ Answer & Explanation
Correct answer: A. Only one
The Electoral College for the President's election comprises elected members of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies. Nominated members are explicitly excluded. The value of an MLA's vote is calculated by dividing the state's total population by the number of elected members in the Legislative Assembly, multiplied by a factor determined by national population and total state assembly seats. Therefore, a higher number of assembly seats leads to a lower individual MLA vote value, and population disparities between states influence vote values. Puducherry and Arunachal Pradesh have specific provisions for representation, and their population-to-seat ratios are crucial for vote valuation.
Source: UPSC gs1 2023