UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Implement women’s quota after caste census: SP chief

Q1. Under the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (the Constitution Amendment relating to women's reservation), the reservation of seats for women in the House of the People (Lok Sabha) is provided for by which one of the following newly inserted constitutional Articles?

  • A. Article 330A
  • B. Article 332A
  • C. Article 334A
  • D. Article 239AA

Q2. With reference to the provisions of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, consider the following statements: 1. It reserves one-third of the seats for women in the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. 2. The one-third reservation applies also within the seats already reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. 3. It extends one-third reservation for women to the Rajya Sabha and the State Legislative Councils. 4. The seats reserved for women are to be rotated after each delimitation exercise. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. It reserves one-third of the seats for women in the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
  2. The one-third reservation applies also within the seats already reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
  3. It extends one-third reservation for women to the Rajya Sabha and the State Legislative Councils.
  4. The seats reserved for women are to be rotated after each delimitation exercise.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. Under the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, once the relevant census has been published, the women's reservation becomes operative only after which one of the following is completed first?

  • A. A delimitation exercise based on that census
  • B. A nationwide caste enumeration
  • C. Ratification of the Amendment by one-half of the State Legislatures
  • D. A fresh general election to the Lok Sabha

Q4. With reference to the women's reservation framework, consider the following statements: 1. Under the 2023 Act the reserved seats rotate after every delimitation exercise, whereas the earlier 2008 Bill had proposed rotation after every general election. 2. Under the 2023 Act the reservation is provided for a fixed period of 15 years and cannot be continued thereafter. 3. Article 82 of the Constitution provides for the readjustment of the allocation of Lok Sabha seats to the States after each census. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. Under the 2023 Act the reserved seats rotate after every delimitation exercise, whereas the earlier 2008 Bill had proposed rotation after every general election.
  2. Under the 2023 Act the reservation is provided for a fixed period of 15 years and cannot be continued thereafter.
  3. Article 82 of the Constitution provides for the readjustment of the allocation of Lok Sabha seats to the States after each census.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. With reference to the three Bills introduced in the Lok Sabha in April 2026 relating to delimitation and women's reservation, consider the following statements: 1. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 sought to raise the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha to 850. 2. The Delimitation Bill, 2026 sought to enable delimitation on the basis of the 2011 Census. 3. The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 sought to abolish the Rajya Sabha. 4. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 sought to retain the 1971 Census as the basis for delimitation. Which of the statements given above are NOT correct?

  1. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 sought to raise the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha to 850.
  2. The Delimitation Bill, 2026 sought to enable delimitation on the basis of the 2011 Census.
  3. The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 sought to abolish the Rajya Sabha.
  4. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 sought to retain the 1971 Census as the basis for delimitation.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 4

Q6. Under the Delimitation Bill, 2026, the Delimitation Commission for carrying out the delimitation was to be constituted by which one of the following?

  • A. The Central Government
  • B. The Election Commission of India alone
  • C. The President solely on the advice of the Chief Justice of India
  • D. Each State Government exclusively for its own territory

Q7. With reference to caste enumeration in Indian censuses, consider the following statements: 1. The caste of the entire population was last enumerated in the 1931 Census. 2. Since 1951, the decadal Census has enumerated only Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes among caste groups. 3. The Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) of 2011 was conducted by the Election Commission of India. 4. In 2025, the Union Cabinet decided to include caste enumeration in the upcoming main Census rather than in a separate survey. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. The caste of the entire population was last enumerated in the 1931 Census.
  2. Since 1951, the decadal Census has enumerated only Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes among caste groups.
  3. The Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) of 2011 was conducted by the Election Commission of India.
  4. In 2025, the Union Cabinet decided to include caste enumeration in the upcoming main Census rather than in a separate survey.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q8. In which one of the following Censuses was the caste of the entire population of India last fully enumerated, before the 2025 decision to resume caste enumeration?

  • A. 1921
  • B. 1931
  • C. 1941
  • D. 1951

Q9. Under the Delimitation Bill, 2026, the Delimitation Commission was to consist of how many members?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Five
  • D. Seven

Q10. The Delimitation Commission constituted for delimitation of constituencies in India is headed (chaired) by which one of the following?

  • A. A serving or retired Judge of the Supreme Court
  • B. The Chief Election Commissioner
  • C. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
  • D. A retired Chief Justice of a High Court

Q11. With reference to women's political representation in India, consider the following statements: 1. The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments provide for reservation of not less than one-third of the seats for women in Panchayats and Municipalities. 2. The number of women members in the 18th Lok Sabha (2024) was higher than in the 17th Lok Sabha (2019). 3. Article 243D of the Constitution provides for reservation of seats for women in Panchayats. 4. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, on coming into force, will reserve one-third of the seats in the Rajya Sabha for women. Which of the statements given above are NOT correct?

  1. The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments provide for reservation of not less than one-third of the seats for women in Panchayats and Municipalities.
  2. The number of women members in the 18th Lok Sabha (2024) was higher than in the 17th Lok Sabha (2019).
  3. Article 243D of the Constitution provides for reservation of seats for women in Panchayats.
  4. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, on coming into force, will reserve one-third of the seats in the Rajya Sabha for women.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1 and 2
  • D. 3 and 4

Q12. The caste enumeration in the Census — sought before implementing women's reservation so that backward-community women can be identified — is carried out under the aegis of which one of the following?

  • A. The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner under the Ministry of Home Affairs
  • B. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment exclusively
  • C. The National Commission for Backward Classes alone
  • D. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation