UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Trinamool divide revives govt.’s delimitation hopes
Q1. Of the three legislative measures introduced together as the 'Delimitation Bills 2026' on 16 April 2026, which one alone required a two-thirds special majority in each House for its passage?
- A. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026
- B. The Delimitation Bill, 2026
- C. The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026
- D. The Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2026
Q2. With reference to how the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 differs from earlier delimitation arrangements, consider the following statements:
1. Whereas the 84th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2001 froze State-wise seat allocation in the Lok Sabha until the first Census taken after the year 2026, the 2026 Bill proposes to base the next delimitation on the 2011 Census.
2. Unlike the Delimitation Commission constituted in 2002, which only redrew constituency boundaries without changing the total number of seats, the 2026 Bill raises the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha from 550 to 850.
3. The 2026 Bill, like the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976, retains the principle of allocating an equal number of seats to every State irrespective of its population.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Whereas the 84th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2001 froze State-wise seat allocation in the Lok Sabha until the first Census taken after the year 2026, the 2026 Bill proposes to base the next delimitation on the 2011 Census.
- Unlike the Delimitation Commission constituted in 2002, which only redrew constituency boundaries without changing the total number of seats, the 2026 Bill raises the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha from 550 to 850.
- The 2026 Bill, like the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976, retains the principle of allocating an equal number of seats to every State irrespective of its population.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. With reference to the Delimitation Bill, 2026, which of the following are listed as members of the Delimitation Commission proposed to be constituted by the Central Government?
1. A person who is, or has been, a Judge of the Supreme Court, as Chairperson
2. The Chief Election Commissioner, or an Election Commissioner nominated by the Chief Election Commissioner
3. The State Election Commissioner of the State concerned
4. The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- A person who is, or has been, a Judge of the Supreme Court, as Chairperson
- The Chief Election Commissioner, or an Election Commissioner nominated by the Chief Election Commissioner
- The State Election Commissioner of the State concerned
- The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 1, 2 and 3 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q4. By exactly how many votes did the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 fall short of the two-thirds special majority required in the Lok Sabha when it was put to vote on 17 April 2026?
- A. 54 votes
- B. 36 votes
- C. 68 votes
- D. 122 votes
Q5. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 seeks to modify, among others, the Constitutional Article which mandates that 'upon the completion of each Census, the allocation of seats in the House of the People to the States and the division of each State into territorial constituencies shall be readjusted by such authority and in such manner as Parliament may by law determine.' This mandate is contained in which Article?
- A. Article 81
- B. Article 82
- C. Article 170
- D. Article 330