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UPSC 2022 GS-II · 15 marks · 250 words

Critically examine the procedures through which the Presidents of India and France are elected.

भारत और फ्राँस के राष्ट्रपति के निर्वाचित होने की प्रक्रिया का आलोचनात्मक परीक्षण कीजिये।

What “Critically examine” demands

examine both sides AND arrive at a reasoned judgement; the criticism must be substantive, not a token final paragraph.

The characteristic failure: balanced description that never commits to a view.

What a top answer must contain

These are the checkable specifics from the marking standard for this question — the actual case, committee, datum or thinker, not an instruction to “give examples”.

  • India: indirect electoral college (elected MPs + MLAs), proportional representation by single transferable vote, weighted votes (Arts 54-55) — neutrality for a parliamentary head of state
  • France: direct two-round runoff for a semi-presidential executive
  • Critiques: India's 1971 population freeze in vote values, whip-less yet party-line reality; France's personalisation and cohabitation
  • Conclusion tied to design logic: method follows the office's real power

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