Defection

noun

/dɪˈfɛkʃən/

The act of an elected legislator abandoning allegiance to the political party on whose ticket they were elected — either by voluntarily giving up party membership, voting against the party whip, or abstaining from voting contrary to party directions — resulting in disqualification under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

The Tenth Schedule was inserted to curb the rampant defection that had reduced legislative loyalty to a marketable commodity, thereby insulating the people's mandate from the lure of office and lucre.

Synonyms

desertionapostasydef' to (turncoating)abandonmentdisloyaltysecession

Antonyms

allegianceloyaltyfidelityadherence

🌱 Word Family

defect (n/v), defector (n), defective (adj), defectively (adv), defectiveness (n)

🔡 Root

Latin dēficere = to desert, fail; dē- = away from + facere = to do, make; noun form dēfectiō

📜 Etymology

From Latin dēfectiō ("a failing, revolt, desertion"), from dēficere ("to undo, fail, desert"), from dē- ("from, away") + facere ("to do, to make").

🧠 Memory Hook

DEFECTion shares its root with DEFECT — a defector is one who "defects," i.e. leaves a fault in the ranks by walking away (de- "away" + facere "to do") to join the other side.

📝 Seen in UPSC Question Papers

Prelims 2022 — Parliament
Prelims 2014 — Amendment Procedure
Prelims 2014 — Constitutional Schedules
Mains 2013 · GS2 · 10 marks — Indian Polity

Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Defection” — proof this word earns its place on your list.

⚖️ Polity & Constitution 📖 Seen in: Anti-Defection Law, PIL & Tribunals — ...

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