NCERT Class 9 Political Science — Chapter 3: Electoral politics

The correct option is

The Delimitation Commission

Explanation

In a representative democracy, political equality is established through two complementary principles: 1. One Person, One Vote: Every eligible citizen has the right to cast a vote. 2. One Vote, One Value: Every vote cast should have roughly equal weight in determining representation. While the Constitution guarantees the right to vote, the Delimitation Commission is the statutory body responsible for ensuring that the weight of each vote remains equal across different constituencies.

Statement-wise Analysis

• Universal Adult Franchise Universal Adult Franchise:
  Incorrect in this specific context. Universal Adult Franchise (Article 326) ensures that every adult citizen has the right to vote without discrimination. This satisfies the principle of "One Person, One Vote." However, if constituency sizes vary significantly (e.g., one constituency has 10,000 voters and another has 100,000), the value of a vote in the smaller constituency is much higher. Universal Adult Franchise alone does not correct this imbalance.
• The Model Code of Conduct The Model Code of Conduct:
  Incorrect. This is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to regulate the conduct of political parties and candidates during elections to ensure free and fair polls. It does not deal with the mathematical value of a vote.
• The Delimitation Commission The Delimitation Commission:
  Correct. The primary mandate of the Delimitation Commission (under Article 82) is to readjust the boundaries of territorial constituencies based on population data. Its objective is to ensure that the ratio between the population of each constituency and the number of seats is the same throughout the State. By equalizing the population across constituencies, it ensures that every vote has approximately the same weight, thus reflecting the principle of "One Vote, One Value."
• The Anti-Defection Law The Anti-Defection Law:
  Incorrect. This law (10th Schedule) is designed to prevent political defections by legislators to ensure stability in the government. It is unrelated to the value of a citizen's vote.

Key Takeaway

Universal Adult Franchise grants the right to vote (One Person, One Vote), whereas Delimitation ensures the equal weight of that vote (One Vote, One Value) by adjusting constituency boundaries.