UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC rejects plea against caste count in census

Q1. With reference to the Supreme Court's 2026 order dismissing the plea against caste enumeration in Census 2027, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The bench that dismissed the plea was headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
  2. The Court held that whether the census should be caste-based falls within the government's policy domain.
  3. The plea was dismissed solely on the ground that only Parliament, and not the executive, is competent to decide the content of a census.
  4. The petitioner had sought exclusion of caste enumeration from Census 2027.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q2. In dismissing the plea, the Supreme Court reasoned that deciding whether the census should be caste-based is a 'policy matter' beyond its purview. This reasoning is the clearest application of which one of the following constitutional doctrines?

  • A. Doctrine of separation of powers / judicial restraint
  • B. Doctrine of pith and substance
  • C. Doctrine of colourable legislation
  • D. Doctrine of eclipse

Q3. With reference to Census 2027, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It is billed as India's first fully digital census.
  2. Phase I is the Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO).
  3. Caste data will be captured during Phase II, the Population Enumeration (PE).
  4. The Union Cabinet approved an outlay of about Rs 1,17,000 crore for it.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q4. Census 2027, like earlier censuses, is conducted by which one of the following authorities?

  • A. Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, under the Ministry of Home Affairs
  • B. National Statistical Office, under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
  • C. Unique Identification Authority of India, under the Ministry of Electronics and IT
  • D. National Sample Survey Office, under NITI Aayog

Q5. With reference to the history of caste enumeration in the Indian census, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The last census to enumerate all castes was the 1931 Census.
  2. From the 1951 Census onward, only Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were enumerated by caste.
  3. The SECC 2011 was the first exercise since 1931 to attempt collection of caste data.
  4. Enumeration of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is mandated under Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 3

Q6. The Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A caste-data exercise conducted outside the ambit of the Census Act, 1948
  • B. The caste-count component of the decennial population Census conducted under the Census Act, 1948
  • C. A survey confined only to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
  • D. A statutory survey conducted by the National Commission for Backward Classes

Q7. With reference to the 2025 decision to include caste enumeration in the census, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The decision was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs.
  2. The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs is chaired by the Prime Minister.
  3. It was decided that caste enumeration would be carried out as a separate survey, distinct from the main census.
  4. The decision marks the first inclusion of caste beyond SC/ST in a national census since Independence.
  • A. 1 and 4
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3
  • D. 1 only

Q8. The decision to include caste enumeration in Census 2027 was taken by which one of the following Cabinet Committees?

  • A. Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs
  • B. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
  • C. Cabinet Committee on Security
  • D. Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs

Q9. In which one of the following cases did the Supreme Court first propound the basic structure doctrine, subsequently held to include separation of powers?

  • A. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973)
  • B. Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain (1975)
  • C. Minerva Mills v. Union of India (1980)
  • D. I.C. Golaknath v. State of Punjab (1967)

Q10. Which one of the following provisions of the Constitution directs the State to take steps to separate the judiciary from the executive in the public services?

  • A. Article 50
  • B. Article 40
  • C. Article 44
  • D. Article 51

Q11. The subject of 'census' finds place as which one of the following entries of the Union List (List I) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution?

  • A. Entry 69
  • B. Entry 45
  • C. Entry 97
  • D. Entry 42

Q12. The Bihar Caste-Based Survey of 2022–23 was ultimately upheld as valid by which one of the following authorities?

  • A. The Patna High Court
  • B. The Supreme Court of India
  • C. The National Commission for Backward Classes
  • D. The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India