UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — International Women's Day 2026

Q1. With reference to the historical evolution and United Nations recognition of International Women's Day, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The first National Woman's Day was observed in the United States in honour of the 1908 New York garment workers' strike.
  2. The 1910 Socialist International conference that proposed an international Women's Day was held in Copenhagen.
  3. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a Day for Women's Rights and International Peace in 1977.
  4. International Women's Day was first marked internationally on 8 March 1911.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. With reference to the origins and United Nations adoption of International Women's Day, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The UN began marking 8 March as International Women's Day during International Women's Year in 1975.
  2. International Women's Day originated from early twentieth-century labour movements in North America and Europe.
  3. In 1911, International Women's Day was first observed in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland.
  4. The UN General Assembly first proclaimed a Day for Women's Rights and International Peace through a resolution adopted in 1945.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2 and 4

Q3. The annual United Nations observance of International Women's Day and the substantive servicing of the Commission on the Status of Women are led by which one of the following UN entities?

  • A. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
  • B. UN Women (UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women)
  • C. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  • D. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Q4. The 2026 International Women's Day theme, 'Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls', is built primarily around which one of the following central concerns?

  • A. Closing the digital gender divide
  • B. Ensuring equal access to justice and dismantling discriminatory laws
  • C. Accelerating women's participation in climate action
  • D. Eliminating child, early and forced marriage

Q5. With reference to the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) and the UN observance of International Women's Day 2026, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. CSW70 is scheduled from 9 to 19 March 2026 at UN Headquarters in New York.
  2. The Commission on the Status of Women is a functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
  3. The priority theme of CSW70 concerns ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls.
  4. The UN observance of International Women's Day 2026 was held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 and 2
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q6. International Women's Day 2026 is aligned with which numbered session of the Commission on the Status of Women?

  • A. 68th session
  • B. 69th session
  • C. 70th session
  • D. 71st session

Q7. With reference to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. It was enacted as the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023.
  2. It provides one-third reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies.
  3. The one-third reservation operates within the seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
  4. It also reserves one-third of seats for women in the Rajya Sabha and the State Legislative Councils.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q8. With reference to the constitutional articles affected by the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Act inserted Article 330A in the Constitution.
  2. The Act inserted Article 332A in the Constitution.
  3. The Act amended Article 239AA relating to the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
  4. The Act inserted Article 243D to provide reservation for women in the legislatures.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q9. In the context of India's shift towards 'women-led development', consider the following statements about associated schemes. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. NaMo Drone Didi equips women Self-Help Groups under DAY-NRLM with drones to provide agricultural services.
  2. Mission Shakti is an umbrella scheme of the Ministry of Women and Child Development comprising the Sambal and Samarthya sub-schemes.
  3. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana is a maternity-benefit component placed under Mission Shakti's Samarthya sub-scheme.
  4. Stand-Up India facilitates bank loans exclusively to women entrepreneurs in the manufacturing sector.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q10. International Women's Day observances in India and the umbrella scheme 'Mission Shakti' are coordinated by which one of the following Union ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Rural Development
  • B. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
  • C. Ministry of Women and Child Development
  • D. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare