For election to the Lok Sabha, a nomination paper can be filed by
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- Aanyone residing in India.
- Ba resident of the constituency from which the election is to be contested.
- Cany citizen of India whose name appears in the electoral roll of a constituency.
- Dany citizen of India.
Show answer
Answer: (C) any citizen of India whose name appears in the electoral roll of a constituency.
To file a nomination for election to the Lok Sabha, a person must satisfy three key qualifications:
(1) Must be a citizen of India,
(2) Must be at least 25 years of age, and
(3) Must be registered as an elector (voter) for any parliamentary constituency in India.
Option (a) is wrong because mere residence in India is not enough — citizenship and electoral registration are required.
Option (b) is wrong because you do NOT need to be a resident of the particular constituency you are contesting from — you only need to be on the electoral roll of any parliamentary constituency.
Option (d) is wrong because being a citizen alone is insufficient — you must also be registered as a voter.
The correct answer is (c) because it captures both essential conditions: citizenship + name on electoral roll.
(Source: Laxmikant, chapter on Parliament)
A candidate can contest Lok Sabha elections from any constituency in India, even if they are not a resident there, as long as they are registered as a voter somewhere in the country.
The question tests the distinction between residency requirements (which don't exist for candidates) versus voter registration requirements (which do exist).
Lok Sabha Eligibility Qualifications
Indian Polity nomination paper election to the Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha Eligibility: Constitutional Qualifications & UPSC Traps
Must be Indian citizen + registered elector + 25+ years old
Can contest from any constituency - no residence requirement for that specific seat
Electoral registration can be in any parliamentary constituency in India
Constitutional Framework
Article 84 of the Constitution lays down three mandatory qualifications for Lok Sabha membership. These are eligibility barriers that every candidate must cross before filing nomination papers.
Lok Sabha Qualifications
Requirement | Details | Constitutional Provision |
|---|---|---|
Citizenship | Must be citizen of India | Article 84(a) |
Age | Must be at least 25 years | Article 84(b) |
Electoral Registration | Name must appear on electoral roll of any parliamentary constituency | Article 84(c) |
Key Distinctions
No residence requirement: Can contest from any constituency regardless of where you live
Electoral roll flexibility: Registration in any parliamentary constituency suffices - not necessarily the one you're contesting
Citizenship vs residence: Mere residence without citizenship is insufficient
Age calculation: Must be 25 years on the date of filing nomination
Question Analysis
This question tests the precise combination of qualifications needed. Option C correctly captures both citizenship and electoral registration requirements, while other options miss one or both conditions.
Trap: Confusing residence requirement - you need electoral registration but not residence in the specific constituency
Trap: Thinking citizenship alone is sufficient - electoral registration is equally mandatory
Trap: Assuming you must be registered in the same constituency you're contesting - registration in any constituency works
Trap: Missing the age requirement entirely - 25+ years is constitutional mandate
Rajya Sabha vs Lok Sabha Qualifications
Indian Polity
Parliamentary Qualifications: Lok Sabha vs Rajya Sabha Comparison
Rajya Sabha: 30+ years age requirement vs Lok Sabha: 25+ years
Both houses require citizenship + electoral registration
No domicile requirement for either house
Qualification Comparison
Qualification | Lok Sabha | Rajya Sabha | Constitutional Source |
|---|---|---|---|
Citizenship | Indian citizen | Indian citizen | Articles 84(a) & 85(a) |
Age | 25+ years | 30+ years | Articles 84(b) & 85(b) |
Electoral Registration | Any parliamentary constituency | Any constituency | Articles 84(c) & 85(c) |
Residence | Not required | Not required | Constitutional silence |
Common Misconceptions
Domicile confusion: Neither house requires domicile in the state/constituency being represented
State representation: Rajya Sabha members need not be permanent residents of the state they represent
Electoral roll: Same flexibility applies to both houses - registration anywhere in India works
Trap: Swapping age limits - Rajya Sabha requires 30 years, Lok Sabha 25 years
Trap: Assuming state domicile requirement for Rajya Sabha - no such requirement exists
Trap: Thinking different citizenship rules apply - same citizenship requirement for both houses
Disqualifications for Parliament Membership
Indian Polity
Parliamentary Disqualifications: Constitutional & Legal Barriers
Article 102 lists disqualifications - office of profit, unsound mind, bankruptcy, criminal conviction
Defection: Automatic disqualification under 10th Schedule (Anti-Defection Law)
Election Commission decides on disqualification matters except defection
Disqualification Categories
# Parliamentary Disqualifications
## Constitutional (Art 102)
- Office of Profit
- Unsound Mind
- Undischarged Insolvent
- Non-citizen
## Criminal Convictions
- 2+ years imprisonment
- Election offences
- Corrupt practices
## Political (10th Schedule)
- Defection
- Anti-party activities
- Whip violationKey Disqualifications
Type | Details | Duration | Deciding Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
Office of Profit | Holding office under Govt with remuneration | Till office held | Election Commission |
Criminal Conviction | 2+ years imprisonment | 6 years from release | Courts |
Defection | Voluntary party membership change | Till next election | Speaker/Chairman |
Corrupt Practices | Electoral malpractices | 6 years | Election Tribunals |
Trap: Office of Profit confusion - Election Commission decides, not Parliament directly
Trap: Criminal conviction period - disqualification lasts 6 years from release, not from conviction
Trap: Defection authority - Speaker for Lok Sabha, Chairman for Rajya Sabha, not Election Commission