For how long does the Chief Election Commissioner of India hold office under the Election Commission Act and related provisions?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your knowledge of the tenure of the Chief Election Commissioner of India, an important constitutional authority responsible for conducting free and fair elections. Details such as tenure and age limits of key constitutional posts are frequently asked in examinations on Indian polity and constitutional provisions.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The office in question is the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India.
• The tenure is defined in terms of a fixed number of years and a maximum age, with whichever condition is met earlier leading to retirement.
• Several combinations of age and tenure are provided as options.

Concept / Approach:
Under the Election Commission Act and related service conditions, the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners hold office for a term of six years from the date they assume office or until they attain the age of sixty five years, whichever is earlier. The dual condition ensures that a person does not serve beyond a certain age while also limiting the maximum duration of the tenure. This structure is similar to other constitutional and statutory bodies where both age and number of years are specified.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Election Commission of India is a constitutional body whose members have defined terms of office and age limits.Step 2: Remember that for the Chief Election Commissioner, the term is six years or until the age of sixty five, whichever condition arises first.Step 3: Compare this knowledge with the options and identify option B as matching the correct combination.Step 4: Eliminate the other options which propose a six year term but with different, incorrect age limits.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick verification method is to compare tenure rules with those of other authorities. For example, Supreme Court judges retire at sixty five, while High Court judges retire at sixty two. The age of sixty five is also used for several national level positions. Linking the CEC age limit with this pattern reinforces that sixty five years, combined with a six year term, is the correct rule.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A: Sixty years or six years is not the standard rule for the Chief Election Commissioner and would significantly reduce the potential tenure.Option C: Sixty eight years as the age limit is higher than provided in law and does not match the actual service conditions.Option D: Seventy years is even higher and is not used for the CEC; the correct age limit is sixty five.

Common Pitfalls:
Many students confuse the retirement ages of different constitutional authorities and mix them up with one another. To avoid this, it helps to create a small table listing key posts such as President, Supreme Court judge, High Court judge, Comptroller and Auditor General, and Chief Election Commissioner, along with their age and tenure limits. Regular revision of this table can prevent errors in questions like this one.

Final Answer:
Correct answer: 65 years of age or for six years, whichever is earlier