Question

How many members are there in the Election Commission of India?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 5

Answer 1

Hint: The Constitution gives the power to direct, supervise and monitor elections for parliament, state legislatures, the office of the President of India, and the office of the Vice-President of India to the Election Commission of India.

Complete answer:
 The Election Commission is an independent legislative body overseeing elections in India and its affairs. It is made up of the President-appointed Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. The Election Commission was a one-member body from its creation in $1950$ until $15$ October $1989$, with only the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) as its sole member. The voting age was lowered from $21$ to $18$ years on $16$ October $1989$. So to cope with the expanded function of the election commission, two more election commissioners were appointed by the President. The Election Commission has been a multi-member body composed of $3$ electoral commissioners since then. Subsequently, in January $1990$, the two vacancies of Election Commissioners were abolished and the Election Commission returned to the previous role. This was replicated again later in October $1993$ when two more election commissioners were named by the president. The Election Commission has since served as a multi-member body composed of $3$commissioners.
The chief and the two other election commissioners have the same rights and emoluments as a judge of the Supreme Court, including salaries. In the event of a difference of opinion between the Chief Electoral Commissioner and the other two Electoral Commissioners, the matter is determined by a majority of the Board.
So, the correct answer is Option C.

Note: The Election Commission is an all-India agency common to the central government and the governments of the state. It must be noted here that the Municipal and Panchayat elections in the States are not discussed by the Commission. Hence the Constitution of India provides for a separate State Election Board.