UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Why women’s reservation cannot wait any longer

Q1. Under the framework of the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023, the actual demarcation and rotation of the seats to be reserved for women is to be carried out by which one of the following?

  • A. A Delimitation Commission
  • B. The Election Commission of India
  • C. NITI Aayog
  • D. The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner

Q2. When the Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill, 2023 was passed by the Lok Sabha in September 2023, how many members voted against it?

  • A. 0
  • B. 2
  • C. 7
  • D. 14

Q3. As per the delimitation proposal linked to operationalising women's reservation being debated in 2026, out of the enlarged proposed strength of the Lok Sabha, how many seats are envisaged to be reserved for women?

  • A. 181
  • B. 273
  • C. 543
  • D. 128

Q4. The publication of which agency's exercise was, under the 2023 Act as originally enacted, the trigger that must precede delimitation for women's reservation to take effect?

  • A. The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India
  • B. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
  • C. The Election Commission of India
  • D. The National Sample Survey Office

Q5. Which one of the following was the FIRST constitutional amendment to introduce reservation of seats for women in elected bodies in India?

  • A. 73rd Amendment Act, 1992
  • B. 74th Amendment Act, 1992
  • C. 106th Amendment Act, 2023
  • D. 61st Amendment Act, 1988

Q6. In the context of the 74th Constitutional Amendment, a 'Municipality' in which one-third of seats is reserved for women is best defined as an institution of self-government for which of the following?

  • A. Urban and town areas
  • B. Rural village clusters at the gram level
  • C. District-level planning committees only
  • D. Scheduled and tribal areas under the Fifth Schedule

Q7. The earlier Women's Reservation Bills of 1996, 1998 and 1999 are said to have 'lapsed'. In parliamentary practice, a Bill 'lapsing' on the dissolution of the Lok Sabha means that it:

  • A. Ceases to exist and must be introduced afresh in the newly constituted House
  • B. Is automatically deemed to have become law upon dissolution
  • C. Is invariably referred to a joint sitting of both Houses
  • D. Is permanently kept pending and revived by the President without reintroduction