GS PrelimsPolityElection System1997

State Funding of elections takes place in

A

USA and Canada

B

Britain and Switzerland

C

France and Italy

D

Germany and Austria

Correct Answer: Option D

Explanation

1. State funding of elections refers to the system where public funds are used to finance the election campaigns of political parties or candidates. 2. The rationale is often to reduce the influence of private money in politics and create a more level playing field. 3. Many countries employ some form of public funding, either direct subsidies or indirect support (like free media time). 4. Among the options provided, Germany and Austria have well-established systems of public funding for political parties, often based on their electoral performance or membership numbers. 5. While the USA has some public funding for presidential elections (if candidates agree to spending limits), it's not as comprehensive as in Germany or Austria, and congressional elections rely heavily on private funds. Canada also has provisions for public funding and reimbursement. 6. Britain has limited state funding (e.g., policy development grants), but campaign funding largely relies on private donations. Switzerland relies mostly on private funding. 7. France and Italy also have systems of state funding. 8. However, Germany and Austria are prominent examples often cited for their relatively extensive state funding mechanisms.

More Polity PYQs

View all Polity questions →

Master UPSC Revision

Get 10,000+ topic-wise MCQs, spaced repetition, daily CSAT challenges, and detailed performance analytics.

Coming Soon to Play Store
Coming Soon to Play Store