UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India rejects rights abuses allegations of UN committee

Question 1

With reference to the functions conferred on the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination by the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, consider the following:
1. Examination of periodic reports submitted by States parties on measures taken to give effect to the Convention.
2. Adjudication of contentious cases between States parties and delivery of binding judgments on breaches of the Convention.
3. Consideration of complaints brought by one State party against another, without any separate declaration or ratification being required.
4. Consideration of communications from individuals or groups, but only where the State party concerned has made a separate declaration recognising that competence.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

2 only

Answer

1 and 3

Answer

2 and 4

Answer

3 and 4

Question 2

The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination was adopted by which one of the following United Nations General Assembly resolutions?

Accepted Answer

Resolution 2106 (XX), which opened the Convention for signature and ratification by States

Answer

Resolution 217 A (III), which set out a common standard of achievement for all peoples and nations

Answer

Resolution 2200 A (XXI), which adopted the two International Covenants on human rights

Answer

Resolution 3068 (XXVIII), which adopted the Convention on the suppression of the crime of apartheid

Question 3

With reference to India's review by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in 2026, consider the following:
1. The consideration of India took place during the Committee's 118th session held in Geneva in August 2026.
2. India's inter-ministerial delegation before the Committee was led by the Union Home Secretary.
3. It was the first time India was reviewed by this Committee since 2007.
4. The Committee's concluding observations recommended suspension of the National Register of Citizens and a review of the legislative framework.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 3 and 4

Answer

1 and 2

Answer

2 and 4

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 4

In the working procedure of a United Nations human rights treaty body such as the one that examined India in August 2026, the term 'concluding observations' refers to which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

The written concerns and recommendations addressed to the State party after its report has been examined by the expert body

Answer

The set of questions transmitted to the State party in advance of the dialogue, identifying the themes the experts intend to raise

Answer

The verbatim record of the oral dialogue between the expert members and the State party's delegation, published after the session

Answer

The authoritative interpretation of a provision of the treaty, addressed to all States parties rather than to any one of them

Question 5

With reference to India's official response to the 2026 concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, consider the following:
1. The response was articulated by the Ministry of External Affairs, the nodal ministry for India's engagement with United Nations human rights treaty bodies.
2. India characterised the report as containing politically motivated and highly malicious references.
3. India's rebuttal invoked its constitutional safeguards, its policy of affirmative action and the availability of judicial remedies.
4. The rejection was formally conveyed on behalf of the Government of India by the National Human Rights Commission.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3

Answer

2 and 4

Answer

1 and 4

Answer

3 and 4

Question 6

In rejecting the 2026 concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, India rested its rebuttal on its domestic framework. Of the following four grounds — constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes; a policy of affirmative action; the availability of judicial remedies; and India's accession to the 1951 Refugee Convention — how many were actually cited by India in its rebuttal?

Accepted Answer

Only three

Answer

Only one

Answer

Only two

Answer

All four

Question 7

Consider the following statements comparing India's constitutional and statutory safeguards for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes:
1. Article 15 prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth, whereas Article 46 directs the State to promote the educational and economic interests of the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections.
2. Article 335 abolishes untouchability, whereas Article 17 deals with the claims of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to services and posts.
3. Unlike the constitutional provisions, the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 additionally provides for Special Courts for the trial of offences of atrocities and for the relief and rehabilitation of victims.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

1 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 8

Consider the following Articles of the Constitution of India:
1. Article 15
2. Article 46
3. Article 44
4. Article 335
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as provisions cited by the Government of India among the legal safeguards protecting the rights of the Scheduled Tribes?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 4

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2, 3 and 4

Answer

3 and 4 only

Question 9

In the absence of a dedicated refugee statute, India regulates the entry, stay and exit of refugees and asylum-seekers, including the Rohingya, at par with foreigners under a set of domestic enactments. Which one of the following is the earliest of these enactments?

Accepted Answer

The Passport (Entry into India) Act, which regulates entry into India of persons holding travel documents

Answer

The Registration of Foreigners Act, which requires the registration of foreign nationals in India

Answer

The Foreigners Act, which empowers the Government to regulate the presence of foreign nationals

Answer

The Passport Act, which governs the issue of passports and travel documents to citizens

Question 10

India is not a party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees or to its 1967 Protocol, yet it states that it observes the principle of non-refoulement. On what authority does the Government of India say its refugee protection regime rests?

Accepted Answer

On the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India, read with the relevant provisions of domestic law

Answer

On the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, which India acceded to separately from the parent Convention

Answer

On the Statute of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, under which India determines refugee status

Answer

On the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, under which the National Human Rights Commission determines refugee claims

Question 11

Under which one of the following provisions must a State party make a separate declaration before the concerned expert body may receive and consider communications from individuals or groups within its jurisdiction?

Accepted Answer

Article 14 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

Answer

Article 11 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

Answer

Article 41 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Answer

Article 21 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

Question 12

With reference to India's engagement with United Nations human rights mechanisms, consider the following:
1. India was under review in 2008, 2012 and 2017 during the first three cycles of the Universal Periodic Review.
2. India ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in 1993, with declarations and a reservation.
3. India has been examined by the Human Rights Committee, the treaty body monitoring the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
4. India is a State party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and to its 1967 Protocol.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

4 only

Answer

1 and 2

Answer

2 only

Answer

3 and 4

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India rejects rights abuses allegations of UN committee

Q2. The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination was adopted by which one of the following United Nations General Assembly resolutions?

Q4. In the working procedure of a United Nations human rights treaty body such as the one that examined India in August 2026, the term 'concluding observations' refers to which one of the following?

Q8. Consider the following Articles of the Constitution of India: 1. Article 15 2. Article 46 3. Article 44 4. Article 335 Which of the above is/are correctly identified as provisions cited by the Government of India among the legal safeguards protecting the rights of the Scheduled Tribes?

Q9. In the absence of a dedicated refugee statute, India regulates the entry, stay and exit of refugees and asylum-seekers, including the Rohingya, at par with foreigners under a set of domestic enactments. Which one of the following is the earliest of these enactments?

Q10. India is not a party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees or to its 1967 Protocol, yet it states that it observes the principle of non-refoulement. On what authority does the Government of India say its refugee protection regime rests?

Q11. Under which one of the following provisions must a State party make a separate declaration before the concerned expert body may receive and consider communications from individuals or groups within its jurisdiction?