UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Nicobarese tribal councils oppose draft election rules
Q1. With reference to the draft Andaman and Nicobar Islands Tribal Councils (Preparation of Electoral Rolls and Conduct of Elections) Rules, 2026, consider the following features:
1. Five-yearly elections to Village Councils and Island Tribal Councils.
2. Reservation of seats for women in tribal councils.
3. Direct election by villagers of the Chief Captain of each Island Tribal Council.
4. Extension of the provisions of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution to the Nicobar district.
Which of the above are correctly identified as features of the draft rules?
- Five-yearly elections to Village Councils and Island Tribal Councils.
- Reservation of seats for women in tribal councils.
- Direct election by villagers of the Chief Captain of each Island Tribal Council.
- Extension of the provisions of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution to the Nicobar district.
- A. 1, 2 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q2. Consider the following statements comparing the traditional Nicobarese captaincy system with the draft 2026 Tribal Council election rules:
1. Whereas the traditional system vested village leadership in three Captains chosen by community consensus, the draft rules require direct election of 5 to 9 Captains per village.
2. The draft rules introduce reservation of seats for women, which has no equivalent in the traditional captaincy system.
3. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Tribal Councils) Regulation, 2009 already prescribed five-yearly elections, and the 2026 draft only adds delimitation of constituencies.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Whereas the traditional system vested village leadership in three Captains chosen by community consensus, the draft rules require direct election of 5 to 9 Captains per village.
- The draft rules introduce reservation of seats for women, which has no equivalent in the traditional captaincy system.
- The Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Tribal Councils) Regulation, 2009 already prescribed five-yearly elections, and the 2026 draft only adds delimitation of constituencies.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. In the context of Nicobarese society, the term 'Tuhet' refers to:
- A. A large joint family that forms the basic social unit of the community
- B. The traditional village council headed by the First Captain
- C. An annual inter-island assembly of tribal chiefs
- D. A sacred forest reserve set aside for community rituals
Q4. Under the draft Andaman and Nicobar Islands Tribal Councils (Preparation of Electoral Rolls and Conduct of Elections) Rules, 2026, which one of the following is the highest functionary of each Island Tribal Council, directly elected by the villagers of that island?
- A. Chief Captain
- B. Vice-Chief Captain
- C. First Captain of the largest village
- D. Tuhet Head nominated by the Deputy Commissioner