Question

Which of the following statements are correct regarding election expenditure and age limits?

1. The security deposit for a Lok Sabha candidate is ₹25,000, with a concession for SC/ST candidates.

2. The spending limit for Lok Sabha candidates in big states is ₹95 lakhs.

3. The minimum age to contest for the office of President is 30 years.

4. The minimum age to contest for a Panchayat election is 21 years.

• A. 1, 2, and 4 only
• B. 1, 3, and 4 only
• C. 2 and 4 only
• D. 1, 2, 3, and 4

Answer 1

Answer:

A. 1, 2, and 4 only

Indian Polity - Elections & Age Limits

• Lok Sabha Elections: Security Deposit
  • For a Lok Sabha election, a general category candidate needs to deposit ₹25,000.
  • Candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST) categories are eligible for a concession and need to deposit ₹12,500.
  • This deposit is refunded if the candidate secures at least one-sixth of the total valid votes polled.
• Lok Sabha Elections: Spending Limit
  • The Election Commission of India (ECI) revises the election expenditure limits periodically.
  • For Lok Sabha elections, the spending limit for candidates in most states is ₹95 lakhs.
  • For Union Territories and smaller states, the limit is typically lower, set at ₹75 lakhs.
  • Candidates must maintain detailed accounts of their election expenses.
• Age Limit for President of India
  • The minimum age requirement to be eligible for the office of the President of India is 35 years, not 30 years.
  • This is stipulated in Article 58 of the Constitution of India.
• Age Limit for Panchayat Elections
  • To be eligible to contest in Panchayat elections (local self-government bodies), a candidate must be at least 21 years old.
  • This age requirement is consistent with the minimum age for voting (21 years at the time of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, now 18 years for general elections) and reflects the maturity needed for local governance.
• Key Constitutional Articles related to Elections
  • Article 324: Deals with the superintendence, direction, and control of elections by the Election Commission.
  • Article 325: No person to be ineligible for inclusion in a general electoral roll on grounds of religion, race, caste, or sex.
  • Article 326: Elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assemblies of States to be on the basis of adult suffrage.