UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Left parties oppose delimitation, back women’s reservation

Q1. As per the composition of the Delimitation Commission provided in the Delimitation Bill, 2026, consider the following as members. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as a member?

  1. A serving or former Judge of the Supreme Court, as Chairperson
  2. The Chief Election Commissioner or an Election Commissioner nominated by him
  3. The State Election Commissioner of the State concerned
  4. The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 4 only

Q2. With reference to the freeze on inter-State allocation of Lok Sabha seats, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The 42nd Amendment (1976) froze the allocation of Lok Sabha seats among States on the basis of the 1971 Census.
  2. The freeze was originally to operate until the first Census taken after the year 2000.
  3. The 84th Amendment (2001) extended the freeze until the first Census taken after the year 2026.
  4. During the freeze period, readjustment of the boundaries of constituencies within a State was wholly prohibited.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. The freeze on the inter-State allocation of Lok Sabha seats was extended up to the first Census taken after the year 2026 by which one of the following Constitutional Amendment Acts?

  • A. The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976
  • B. The 84th Amendment Act, 2001
  • C. The 87th Amendment Act, 2003
  • D. The 91st Amendment Act, 2003

Q4. With reference to the reservation introduced by the 106th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023 (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam), consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It reserves, as nearly as may be, one-third of all seats for women in the Lok Sabha.
  2. The reservation extends to the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
  3. Within the seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, one-third are reserved for women.
  4. The reservation also applies to seats in the Rajya Sabha and the State Legislative Councils.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 1 and 3
  • D. 4 only

Q5. Under the 106th Amendment Act, the actual coming into operation of women's reservation is made conditional, following the relevant Census, primarily upon the completion of which one of the following?

  • A. A delimitation exercise
  • B. An update of the National Population Register
  • C. Ratification by one-half of the State legislatures
  • D. A proclamation issued by the President

Q6. With reference to the delimitation-related Bills of 2026, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The Delimitation Bill, 2026 proposes to base the next delimitation on the 2011 Census.
  2. The Delimitation Bill, 2026 proposes to raise the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha from 550 to 850.
  3. A Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was introduced as part of the same package.
  4. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 sought to retain the census-based trigger for women's reservation.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 principally seeks to amend which of the following Articles, which govern the allocation of Lok Sabha seats to States and their readjustment?

  • A. Articles 80 and 83
  • B. Articles 81 and 82
  • C. Articles 170 and 171
  • D. Articles 330 and 332

Q8. With reference to the procedure for amending the Constitution under Article 368, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. A Constitution Amendment Bill must be passed in each House by a majority of the total membership of that House.
  2. It must additionally be passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of that House present and voting.
  3. An amendment affecting the representation of States in Parliament requires ratification by the legislatures of not less than one-half of the States.
  4. A Constitution Amendment Bill, if the two Houses disagree, can be passed only at a joint sitting summoned by the President.
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q9. Comparing the projected effect of a 2011-Census-based delimitation on different States, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. Tamil Nadu's Lok Sabha seats would fall from 39 to 32.
  2. Uttar Pradesh's Lok Sabha seats would rise from 80 to 89.
  3. Under the proposed delimitation, Kerala would gain seats while Bihar would lose seats.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. The Left parties, while opposing its linkage to delimitation, demanded immediate implementation of women's reservation as already enacted under which one of the following?

  • A. The 84th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2001
  • B. The 101st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016
  • C. The 106th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023
  • D. The 128th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023

Q11. Comparing the present strength of the Lok Sabha with what the 2026 Bills propose, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The current elected strength of the Lok Sabha is 543.
  2. The maximum permissible strength of the Lok Sabha under the Constitution is at present 550.
  3. The Delimitation Bill, 2026 proposes to raise this maximum strength to 888.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3