UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Cabinet clears draft amendment Bill over women’s reservation

Q1. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which provides for one-third reservation of seats for women, was enacted as which one of the following Constitution Amendment Acts?

  • A. Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023
  • B. Constitution (105th Amendment) Act, 2021
  • C. Constitution (104th Amendment) Act, 2020
  • D. Constitution (108th Amendment) Act, 2023

Q2. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which sought to revise the implementation framework of women's reservation, was introduced in the Lok Sabha by which Union Ministry?

  • A. Ministry of Law and Justice
  • B. Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
  • C. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Women and Child Development

Q3. With reference to the composition of the Delimitation Commission as provided under the Delimitation Bill, 2026, consider the following as its members: 1. A Chairperson who is, or has been, a Judge of the Supreme Court 2. The Chief Election Commissioner or an Election Commissioner nominated by him 3. The State Election Commissioner of the concerned State 4. The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as a member?

  1. A Chairperson who is, or has been, a Judge of the Supreme Court
  2. The Chief Election Commissioner or an Election Commissioner nominated by him
  3. The State Election Commissioner of the concerned State
  4. The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q4. Consider the following pairings of a constitutional measure with its effect on delimitation and the census freeze: 1. 42nd Amendment (1976) — froze the total number of Lok Sabha seats on the basis of the 1971 Census 2. 84th Amendment (2001) — extended the freeze until the first census taken after 2026 3. Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 — sought delimitation on the basis of the 2011 Census 4. Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023 — originally mandated delimitation on the basis of the 2011 Census Which of the above are correctly identified?

  1. 42nd Amendment (1976) — froze the total number of Lok Sabha seats on the basis of the 1971 Census
  2. 84th Amendment (2001) — extended the freeze until the first census taken after 2026
  3. Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 — sought delimitation on the basis of the 2011 Census
  4. Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023 — originally mandated delimitation on the basis of the 2011 Census
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q5. As per the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, to what maximum figure was the total strength of the Lok Sabha proposed to be raised?

  • A. 816
  • B. 850
  • C. 848
  • D. 888

Q6. The task of redrawing constituency boundaries and allocating the enlarged Lok Sabha seats, including the seats to be reserved for women, was to be carried out by which body?

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

Q7. When the Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill, 2023 (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) was passed in the Lok Sabha, how many members voted against it?

  • A. 2
  • B. 0
  • C. 4
  • D. 5

Q8. The Women's Reservation Bill first introduced in 1996 was referred for examination to which of the following bodies?

  • A. The Joint Parliamentary Committee headed by Geeta Mukherjee
  • B. The Swaran Singh Committee
  • C. The Sarkaria Commission
  • D. The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee

Q9. With reference to the women's reservation legislation of 2023 and 2026, consider the following statements: 1. The Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill was introduced in 2023, whereas the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill was introduced in 2026. 2. The 2026 legislative package comprised three Bills, including a Delimitation Bill and a Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill. 3. Both the Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 were passed and enacted into law. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill was introduced in 2023, whereas the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill was introduced in 2026.
  2. The 2026 legislative package comprised three Bills, including a Delimitation Bill and a Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill.
  3. Both the Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 were passed and enacted into law.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. In the procedure for amending the Constitution under Article 368, whose assent is finally required to bring a duly passed and ratified amendment into force?

  • A. The President of India
  • B. The Vice-President of India
  • C. The Chief Justice of India
  • D. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha

Q11. Under Article 243D inserted by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, what is the minimum proportion of seats reserved for women in the Panchayats?

  • A. Not less than one-third
  • B. Not less than one-half
  • C. Not less than one-fourth
  • D. Not less than one-fifth

Q12. The women's reservation under the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023 applies to which one of the following legislative bodies at the Union level?

  • A. The Lok Sabha
  • B. The Rajya Sabha
  • C. State Legislative Councils
  • D. Both the Rajya Sabha and State Legislative Councils