UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Reservation ruse

Q1. Under the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Constitution 106th Amendment Act, 2023), the one-third reservation for women applies to which of the following legislative bodies? Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The Lok Sabha
  2. The Legislative Assemblies of States
  3. The Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi
  4. The Rajya Sabha
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. As per the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, for what initial period is the reservation of seats for women to remain in effect (continuing thereafter until a date fixed by a law of Parliament)?

  • A. 15 years from commencement
  • B. 10 years from commencement
  • C. 20 years from commencement
  • D. 25 years from commencement

Q3. Which one of the following correctly describes the fate of the Women's Reservation Bill introduced in 2008?

  • A. It was passed by the Rajya Sabha but lapsed on the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha
  • B. It was passed by both Houses but struck down by the Supreme Court
  • C. It was passed by the Lok Sabha but rejected by the Rajya Sabha
  • D. It was enacted but never brought into force by notification

Q4. Women's reservation under the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023 is to be operationalised only after a delimitation exercise carried out by which of the following bodies?

  • A. A Delimitation Commission constituted by the Central Government
  • B. The Election Commission of India acting suo motu
  • C. NITI Aayog in consultation with the States
  • D. The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India

Q5. With reference to the constitutional freeze on inter-State allocation of Lok Sabha seats, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The freeze on inter-State allocation of Lok Sabha seats is based on the 1971 Census figures
  2. The freeze was extended in 2001 to remain in force until the first Census taken after 2026
  3. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 sought to lift this freeze
  4. The freeze was originally based on the 1961 Census figures
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 1 and 4
  • D. 4 only

Q6. With reference to Delimitation Commissions in India, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Delimitation Commissions have been constituted four times — in 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002
  2. No Delimitation Commission followed the 1981 or 1991 Census
  3. The 2002 Delimitation Commission changed the number of Lok Sabha seats allotted to each State
  4. Each Delimitation Commission has functioned under a separate Delimitation Act
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q7. Under the Delimitation Act, 2002, how many members does a Delimitation Commission consist of?

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

Q8. In the context of a Delimitation Commission, the term 'associate members' is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. Members of Parliament and State Legislatures who assist the Commission but have no right to vote on or sign its decisions
  • B. Ex-officio Election Commissioners who cast the deciding vote in the Commission
  • C. Retired High Court judges nominated to arbitrate boundary disputes
  • D. State Election Commissioners who chair the Commission's regional sittings

Q9. With reference to the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It proposed to raise the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha to 850
  2. It left the strength of the Rajya Sabha unchanged at 250
  3. It empowered Parliament to decide the timing and census basis of delimitation
  4. It proposed to raise the maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha to 850
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q10. On the basis of a 2011-Census delimitation, consider the following projected changes in the number of Lok Sabha seats. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Uttar Pradesh — gains 9 seats
  2. Tamil Nadu — loses 7 seats
  3. Kerala — loses 5 seats
  4. Bihar — loses 6 seats
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q11. With reference to legislative gender-quota systems in other countries, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Rwanda's Constitution reserves 30% of seats in decision-making organs for women
  2. Rwanda has the highest share of women in its lower house in the world
  3. France's parity law mandates gender alternation on candidate lists rather than reserving a fixed share of seats
  4. France's parity law reserves one-third of National Assembly seats exclusively for women
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q12. According to the Government's 2026 communication on women's reservation, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was formally notified on 16 April 2026
  2. Women's reservation will be operationalised through delimitation following the Census conducted after 2026
  3. The Government aims to have women's reservation in place for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections
  4. The Government stated that women's reservation would be implemented for the 2027 Lok Sabha elections
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 1 and 4
  • D. 4 only