RAS question
The State Election Commission of Rajasthan conducts elections for:
Correct answer: (C) Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies.
The State Election Commission of Rajasthan conducts elections for Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies.
Explanation
The role of the State Election Commission is tied to local self-government, not to Parliament or the State Legislature. Article 243K vests in a State Election Commission the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to Panchayats. Article 243ZA extends the same control to all elections to Municipalities, referring back to the State Election Commission under Article 243K. That is why the Rajasthan State Election Commission conducts elections for Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies. Vidhan Sabha, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha elections fall under the Election Commission of India rather than the State Election Commission.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are parliamentary elections, while Article 243K and Article 243ZA assign the State Election Commission only elections to Panchayats and Municipalities.
- (B) Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha is the State Legislature, whereas the State Election Commission's constitutional role here is confined to Panchayat and Municipality elections.
- (D) All of the above is too broad because it wrongly includes parliamentary and Vidhan Sabha elections along with local-body elections.
Concept
This tests the constitutional separation between the Election Commission of India and State Election Commissions. It recurs in RAS because Panchayati Raj, urban local bodies and election administration are core parts of Rajasthan polity.