UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Home Ministry calls Ladakhi leaders for talks on February 4

Q1. In the context of the ongoing Centre-Ladakh dialogue, the 'Leh Apex Body (LAB)' is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A statutory advisory council created under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 to advise the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh
  • B. A civil society umbrella platform of socio-religious and political organisations of Leh district that articulates the region's constitutional demands
  • C. An autonomous district council established for Leh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution
  • D. The executive wing of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh, constituted under the 1995 Act

Q2. The High-Powered Committee constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs for the Union Territory of Ladakh has formally identified how many broad agenda areas as the framework for its negotiations with the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Six

Q3. With reference to the existing Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) and the Sixth Schedule status currently demanded by Ladakhi civil society, consider the following statements: 1. Unlike the LAHDCs, which derive their authority from a parliamentary statute, Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh would derive directly from the Constitution. 2. The LAHDCs presently exercise legislative powers over land, forests and customary law comparable to those of an Autonomous District Council under the Sixth Schedule. 3. As it currently stands, the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution applies only to certain tribal areas in four north-eastern States. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Unlike the LAHDCs, which derive their authority from a parliamentary statute, Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh would derive directly from the Constitution.
  2. The LAHDCs presently exercise legislative powers over land, forests and customary law comparable to those of an Autonomous District Council under the Sixth Schedule.
  3. As it currently stands, the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution applies only to certain tribal areas in four north-eastern States.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. The High-Powered Committee constituted by the Union Government to negotiate with the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance on Ladakh's constitutional demands is chaired by which one of the following authorities?

  • A. The Union Home Minister
  • B. The Minister of State for Home Affairs
  • C. The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh
  • D. The Union Home Secretary