UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Amid tussle, NCSC panel to probe Centre’s de-reservation proposals

Q1. The rules laying down the conditions of service and tenure of office of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Members of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes were notified in February 2004 by which one of the following?

  • A. The Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel
  • B. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India
  • C. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
  • D. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India

Q2. In the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, the allocation of subjects and responsibilities among the Members is done by which one of the following?

  • A. The President of India, by warrant under his hand and seal
  • B. The Vice-Chairperson of the Commission
  • C. The Chairperson of the Commission
  • D. The Secretary to the Commission

Q3. Before a final decision is taken on a proposal to de-reserve a reserved vacancy, the proposal must first be examined by the National Commission concerned, as applicable. How many such National Commissions are specified in all for this purpose?

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

Q4. With reference to the review of the Centre's de-reservation proposals taken up by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes in 2026, consider the following statements: 1. The review is confined to de-reservation proposals moved during the current financial year alone. 2. The review is focused on de-reservation of vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes in promotion. 3. The Commission has cited a recurring problem of proposals that do not show what alternate efforts were made to fill the reserved posts. 4. Under the framework being reviewed, the general position is a ban on de-reservation, with only narrow exceptions. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The review is confined to de-reservation proposals moved during the current financial year alone.
  2. The review is focused on de-reservation of vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes in promotion.
  3. The Commission has cited a recurring problem of proposals that do not show what alternate efforts were made to fill the reserved posts.
  4. Under the framework being reviewed, the general position is a ban on de-reservation, with only narrow exceptions.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 1 and 4

Q5. The instructions and processing timelines for de-reservation proposals relating to reserved promotion vacancies in central services — the very proposals now under scrutiny — are issued by which one of the following?

  • A. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India
  • B. The Union Public Service Commission, a constitutional body
  • C. The Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel
  • D. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes, under Article 338

Q6. With reference to the Department of Personnel and Training Office Memorandum of 26 May 2026 on de-reservation proposals, consider the following statements: 1. It revised the timelines for processing de-reservation proposals in respect of promotion vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. 2. It reduced the period available to the Commissions for communicating objections from one month to two weeks. 3. It was issued after consultation with the National Commissions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. 4. The requirement that a de-reservation proposal be examined by the National Commission concerned continues to operate after the Memorandum. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It revised the timelines for processing de-reservation proposals in respect of promotion vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
  2. It reduced the period available to the Commissions for communicating objections from one month to two weeks.
  3. It was issued after consultation with the National Commissions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
  4. The requirement that a de-reservation proposal be examined by the National Commission concerned continues to operate after the Memorandum.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4

Q7. Consider the following statements comparing the position before and after the Office Memorandum of 26 May 2026 on de-reservation of reserved promotion vacancies: 1. Before the Memorandum the Commissions had a fortnight to communicate objections on a proposal, whereas after it they have a month. 2. Both before and after the Memorandum, the revised procedure applies to promotion vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. 3. The Memorandum was issued by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, which frames recruitment instructions for central services, the Department of Personnel and Training having only been consulted. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Before the Memorandum the Commissions had a fortnight to communicate objections on a proposal, whereas after it they have a month.
  2. Both before and after the Memorandum, the revised procedure applies to promotion vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
  3. The Memorandum was issued by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, which frames recruitment instructions for central services, the Department of Personnel and Training having only been consulted.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. Which one of the following constitutional amendments first introduced an enabling provision for reservation in matters of promotion in favour of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes?

  • A. The Constitution (Eighty-first Amendment) Act, 2000
  • B. The Constitution (Eighty-second Amendment) Act, 2000
  • C. The Constitution (Eighty-fifth Amendment) Act, 2001
  • D. The Constitution (Seventy-seventh Amendment) Act, 1995

Q9. Unfilled reserved vacancies of a year, when carried forward, are treated as a separate class and are not counted along with the vacancies of the year in which they are filled while determining the ceiling of fifty per cent. This is provided for by which one of the following?

  • A. Article 16(4)
  • B. Article 16(4A)
  • C. Article 16(4B)
  • D. Article 335

Q10. Consider the following statements about the national commissions for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the backward classes: 1. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commissions came into existence as two separate bodies in 2004, replacing the erstwhile combined commission. 2. The Scheduled Tribes Commission owes its existence to Article 338A, inserted by the Constitution (Eighty-ninth Amendment) Act, 2003. 3. The backward classes body acquired constitutional status under Article 338B through the Constitution (One Hundred and Second Amendment) Act, 2018. 4. Unlike the other two commissions, the backward classes commission consists of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and five other Members. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commissions came into existence as two separate bodies in 2004, replacing the erstwhile combined commission.
  2. The Scheduled Tribes Commission owes its existence to Article 338A, inserted by the Constitution (Eighty-ninth Amendment) Act, 2003.
  3. The backward classes body acquired constitutional status under Article 338B through the Constitution (One Hundred and Second Amendment) Act, 2018.
  4. Unlike the other two commissions, the backward classes commission consists of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and five other Members.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4