UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — ‘Centre is trying to include NPR in Census work’

Q1. The Census Act, under which the decennial Census of India is conducted, is which numbered Act of the year 1948?

  • A. Act No. 21 of 1948
  • B. Act No. 37 of 1948
  • C. Act No. 43 of 1948
  • D. Act No. 57 of 1948

Q2. In the official framework of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the expression 'National Register of Indian Citizens' (NRIC) denotes which one of the following?

  • A. A register of all usual residents of the country, irrespective of citizenship, compiled at the village, sub-district, district, State and national levels
  • B. A register prepared by verifying the citizenship status of every usual resident already recorded in the National Population Register, on the basis of which national identity cards are issued
  • C. A register of every person enumerated in the decennial Census, which is automatically converted into a citizenship record once the Census tables are published
  • D. A register of all persons holding an Aadhaar number, seeded with passport and voter identity particulars to establish their nationality conclusively

Q3. With reference to the National Population Register (NPR) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), consider the following statements: 1. The Government decided to update the NPR under the Citizenship Act, 1955 along with the first phase of Census 2021. 2. The Government has so far taken no decision to prepare a National Register of Indian Citizens at the national level. 3. The NRC prepared in Assam followed the same enumeration-based process that the Rules prescribe for the rest of the country. 4. During the exercise of updating the NPR, enumerators were required to collect supporting documents from respondents to substantiate the particulars furnished. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Government decided to update the NPR under the Citizenship Act, 1955 along with the first phase of Census 2021.
  2. The Government has so far taken no decision to prepare a National Register of Indian Citizens at the national level.
  3. The NRC prepared in Assam followed the same enumeration-based process that the Rules prescribe for the rest of the country.
  4. During the exercise of updating the NPR, enumerators were required to collect supporting documents from respondents to substantiate the particulars furnished.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4

Q4. The intent of the Government of India to conduct the Population Census 2027 was formally declared through a notification in the Gazette of India issued on which one of the following dates?

  • A. 30th April 2025
  • B. 16th June 2025
  • C. 1st October 2026
  • D. 1st March 2027

Q5. Census 2027, including its mobile-application-based digital data collection and the self-enumeration portal, is operationalised by which one of the following bodies?

  • A. The National Statistical Office, functioning under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
  • B. The Unique Identification Authority of India, a statutory authority under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
  • C. The Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, functioning under the Ministry of Home Affairs
  • D. The National Informatics Centre, the technology partner attached to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

Q6. The decision to add caste as an item of enumeration in Census 2027 was taken by which one of the following?

  • A. The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, at its meeting held on 30th April 2025
  • B. The Registrar General of India, in exercise of the rule-making power vested exclusively in that office
  • C. The Union Cabinet, simultaneously with its approval of the Census 2027 scheme costing Rs. 11,718.24 crore
  • D. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, on the recommendation of the National Commission for Backward Classes

Q7. In the constitutional scheme, the placement of 'Census' in the Union List of the Seventh Schedule means which one of the following?

  • A. Parliament alone can legislate on it, and a State Legislature may enact a parallel census law only with the prior assent of the President
  • B. It is a concurrent responsibility on which a State law prevails within that State unless Parliament expressly declares otherwise by resolution
  • C. Only Parliament can legislate on it, though the enumeration in the field is carried out largely through State government employees deputed to census duty
  • D. The Union may legislate on it, but its actual conduct in any State requires the prior consent of that State Government under the residuary power