UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Quota will put more women in political leadership: Om Birla
Q1. Under the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, what precisely is the relationship between the one-third reservation for women and the seats already reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes?
- A. One-third of the seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes shall themselves be reserved for women of those communities
- B. One-third of the seats reserved for women shall be set apart for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe women over and above the existing reserved seats
- C. Seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes stand excluded, the women's quota operating only on the remaining general seats
- D. One-third of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe seats is reserved for women in the State Legislative Assemblies alone and not in the Lok Sabha
Q2. Consider the following statements comparing the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023 with the Women's Reservation Bill introduced in 2008:
1. Unlike the 2008 Bill, the 2023 Act extends the women's reservation to the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
2. Both the 2008 Bill and the 2023 Act limited the reservation for women to a period of fifteen years from the commencement of the amendment.
3. Unlike every earlier Bill on the subject, the 2023 Act makes the reservation permanent and places it entirely beyond the reach of any future law made by Parliament.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Unlike the 2008 Bill, the 2023 Act extends the women's reservation to the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
- Both the 2008 Bill and the 2023 Act limited the reservation for women to a period of fifteen years from the commencement of the amendment.
- Unlike every earlier Bill on the subject, the 2023 Act makes the reservation permanent and places it entirely beyond the reach of any future law made by Parliament.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. The stipulation that the reservation of seats for women shall take effect only after a delimitation exercise undertaken following publication of the figures of the first census taken after commencement of the amendment is contained in which one of the following Articles?
- A. Article 334A
- B. Article 330A
- C. Article 332A
- D. Article 239AA
Q4. Under the scheme laid down by the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, which one of the following must be completed first, before any of the other steps in bringing the women's reservation into force?
- A. Publication of the relevant figures of the first census taken after the commencement of the Amendment Act
- B. Completion of the delimitation exercise undertaken for the purpose of determining the reserved seats
- C. Enactment by Parliament of a law prescribing the manner of rotation of the seats reserved for women
- D. Ratification of the Amendment Act by the Legislatures of not less than one-half of the States
Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the Women's Reservation Bills introduced before 2023:
1. The Bills introduced in 1996, 1998 and 1999 each lapsed with the dissolution of the Lok Sabha in which they were pending.
2. Each of the Bills introduced in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2008 was passed by at least one House of Parliament before it lapsed.
3. The Bill introduced in 2008 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha and lapsed on the dissolution of the Fifteenth Lok Sabha.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The Bills introduced in 1996, 1998 and 1999 each lapsed with the dissolution of the Lok Sabha in which they were pending.
- Each of the Bills introduced in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2008 was passed by at least one House of Parliament before it lapsed.
- The Bill introduced in 2008 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha and lapsed on the dissolution of the Fifteenth Lok Sabha.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q6. With reference to the pre-2023 attempts to enact a women's reservation law, consider the following:
1. The Bill introduced in 1996 was examined by a Joint Committee of Parliament.
2. The Bill introduced in 2008 sought to reserve one-third of the seats in the Rajya Sabha and in the State Legislative Councils as well.
3. The Bill introduced in 2008 was examined by the Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice.
4. The Bill introduced in 2008 was numbered as the Constitution (One Hundred and Eighth Amendment) Bill.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- The Bill introduced in 1996 was examined by a Joint Committee of Parliament.
- The Bill introduced in 2008 sought to reserve one-third of the seats in the Rajya Sabha and in the State Legislative Councils as well.
- The Bill introduced in 2008 was examined by the Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice.
- The Bill introduced in 2008 was numbered as the Constitution (One Hundred and Eighth Amendment) Bill.
- A. 1, 3 and 4
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 1 and 2 only
- D. 3 and 4 only
Q7. With reference to the constitution of the National Commission for Women under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990, consider the following:
1. The Chairperson is nominated by the Central Government from among persons committed to the cause of women.
2. Apart from the Chairperson, the Commission consists of five Members and a Member-Secretary.
3. The Chairperson and the Members are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee headed by the Prime Minister.
4. At least one Member each shall be from amongst persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- The Chairperson is nominated by the Central Government from among persons committed to the cause of women.
- Apart from the Chairperson, the Commission consists of five Members and a Member-Secretary.
- The Chairperson and the Members are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee headed by the Prime Minister.
- At least one Member each shall be from amongst persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 1, 2 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q8. The National Commission for Women Act, 1990 casts a duty of consultation on the Central Government. That duty extends to which one of the following?
- A. Every major policy matter affecting women, irrespective of the administrative Ministry concerned
- B. Every Bill that seeks to amend or codify the personal laws of any religious community in India
- C. Every proposal for the appointment of women judges to the High Courts and the Supreme Court
- D. Every case of atrocity against a woman that is taken up for investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation
Q9. As against the constitutional minimum of one-third reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions, how many States have made provision for 50 per cent reservation for women in these institutions?