UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SIR in Manipur is a pathway to exclusion

Q1. With reference to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls conducted by the Election Commission of India, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. It is undertaken drawing on the Election Commission's powers of superintendence over electoral rolls under Article 324 of the Constitution.
2. Booth Level Officers appointed under the Representation of the People Act, 1950 carry out house-to-house enumeration of electors.
3. It is conducted entirely by officers specially deputed from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
4. Electors are required to submit a filled enumeration form as part of the exercise.

• A. 1 and 2
• B. 2, 3 and 4
• C. 1, 2 and 4
• D. 1 and 4

Q2. The following statements distinguish a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) from a routine Summary Revision of electoral rolls. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Unlike a routine Summary Revision, a Special Intensive Revision involves fresh house-to-house verification of every elector.
2. A Summary Revision, unlike an SIR, always requires every existing elector to submit fresh documentary proof of eligibility.
3. Both a Summary Revision and a Special Intensive Revision are conducted under the superintendence of the Election Commission of India.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. With reference to the onset of the Manipur ethnic conflict of 2023, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The violence began on 3 May 2023 with a Tribal Solidarity March held in the hill districts.
2. Its immediate trigger was linked to a Manipur High Court order concerning the demand for Scheduled Tribe status for the Meitei community.
3. The march was organised in support of granting Scheduled Tribe status to the Meiteis.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. The Tribal Solidarity March of 3 May 2023, whose fallout triggered the Manipur ethnic conflict, was held in response to a directive of which one of the following?

• A. A Manipur High Court order directing the State to consider recommending Scheduled Tribe status for the Meitei community
• B. A Supreme Court order on delimitation of the State's hill constituencies
• C. A National Commission for Scheduled Tribes recommendation on Kuki-Zo status
• D. A Gauhati High Court order on the inner-line permit regime

Q5. With reference to the demographic and constitutional profile of Manipur, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

1. The Meitei community is concentrated largely in the Imphal Valley.
2. Article 371C of the Constitution provides for a Hill Areas Committee in the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
3. The Kuki-Zo and Naga communities are settled mainly in the hill districts.
4. All Scheduled Tribe status in Manipur is confined exclusively to the Meitei community.

• A. 1 and 2
• B. 4 only
• C. 2 and 3
• D. 3 and 4

Q6. With respect to the population and governance structure of Manipur, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. The Meitei community accounts for a little over half of the State's population.
2. The Naga population is concentrated largely in the northern districts of the State.
3. The Kuki-Zo community forms the single largest population group in the Imphal Valley.
4. The Hill Areas Committee under Article 371C is composed of members representing the hill constituencies of the State Assembly.

• A. 1, 2 and 3
• B. 2 and 3
• C. 1, 2 and 4
• D. 1 and 3

Q7. According to the Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur, the base electoral roll on which the 2026 Special Intensive Revision in Manipur was carried out contained approximately how many electors?

• A. About 20.9 lakh
• B. About 14.5 lakh
• C. About 7.4 crore
• D. About 59,000

Q8. The house-to-house enumeration during the Special Intensive Revision in Manipur is operationally carried out by which one of the following?

• A. Booth Level Officers functioning under the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur
• B. Enumerators of the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner
• C. Officials of the Foreigners Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs
• D. Staff of the National Population Register wing

Q9. In the context of the Bihar and West Bengal exercises, which one of the following best describes a 'Special Intensive Revision' of electoral rolls?

• A. A revision in which the electoral roll is effectively prepared afresh through house-to-house enumeration rather than merely updated
• B. A routine annual updating of the roll through additions and deletions based on claims and objections received
• C. A one-time exercise to link every voter's electoral photo identity card with Aadhaar
• D. A judicial audit of deleted voters ordered and supervised by the Supreme Court

Q10. Kuki-Zo, Zomi and Hmar organisations objected to the Manipur SIR citing the risk of exclusion of approximately how many displaced tribal members?

• A. About 59,000
• B. About 47,000
• C. About 65,000
• D. About 22,000

Q11. With reference to the delimitation of constituencies in India, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

1. The 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976) froze the allocation of Lok Sabha seats among States on the basis of the 1971 Census.
2. The 84th Constitutional Amendment (2001) extended this freeze until the first Census taken after the year 2026.
3. Article 82 of the Constitution provides for readjustment of the allocation of seats after each Census.
4. The freeze on delimitation was originally imposed by the 44th Constitutional Amendment of 1978.

• A. 1 and 2
• B. 3 only
• C. 4 only
• D. 3 and 4

Q12. The superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for all elections in India is vested in the Election Commission under which one of the following provisions of the Constitution?

• A. Article 324
• B. Article 326
• C. Article 329
• D. Article 327