The cornerstone of the ECI's mandate derives from Article 324 of the Constitution. 
(A) Article 324 mandated that the commission is to be led by a Single Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) 
(B) The president can appoint additional commissioners 
(C) Judiciary is barred from interference in the election process 
(D) Election Commission also conducts the elections of Panchayats 
(E) During the Election Period CEC acts as Chief Executive Officer of Government of India 
Choose the correct answer from the options given below: 

Correct option is B

The correct answer includes statements (A), (B), and (C) as true based on Article 324 of the Indian Constitution:
· (A) Article 324 mandated that the commission is to be led by a Single Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is correct as initially, the Election Commission was established as a single-member body headed by the CEC.
· (B) The president can appoint additional commissioners is also correct. Article 324 grants the President of India the power to appoint additional Election Commissioners to assist the CEC, effectively making it a multi-member body when required.
· (C) Judiciary is barred from interference in the election process is true. The judiciary is generally restricted from intervening in the election process while it is underway to maintain the autonomy and uninterrupted functioning of the ECI.
Incorrect Statements:
· (D) Election Commission also conducts the elections of Panchayats is incorrect. While Article 324 empowers the ECI to conduct elections for Parliament and State Legislatures, Panchayat and Municipal elections are overseen by State Election Commissions.
· (E) During the Election Period, the CEC acts as the Chief Executive Officer of the Government of India is incorrect, as the CEC does not assume executive government functions; instead, the role is confined to overseeing the election process and ensuring compliance with the Model Code of Conduct.
Information Booster
1. Article 324 establishes the authority of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to conduct elections for the Union and State legislatures.
2. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is initially the head of a single-member commission but can be assisted by additional commissioners as per presidential appointment.
3. Independence from Judiciary: The ECI operates independently of judicial interference during election processes to ensure smooth and fair elections.
4. Panchayat and Municipal Elections: These are not conducted by the ECI but by individual State Election Commissions.
5. Election Autonomy: The ECI functions as an autonomous body to conduct free and fair elections without government or judicial intervention during elections.
6. Model Code of Conduct: The CEC enforces this code during elections to maintain a level playing field among candidates.