UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Govt. confirms more time to debate changes to women’s quota Act

Q1. The statute popularly called the Women's Reservation Act, which inserted Article 330A into the Constitution, was enacted as which one of the following?

  • A. The Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023
  • B. The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Amendment) Act, 2023
  • C. The Constitution (One Hundred and Fifth Amendment) Act, 2021
  • D. The Constitution (One Hundred and Eighth Amendment) Act, 2008

Q2. Constitutional amendment Bills such as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam are piloted in Parliament exclusively by which one of the following as the nodal ministry?

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

Q3. With reference to the commencement trigger of the women's reservation and the change proposed by the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, consider the following statements: 1. As originally enacted in 2023, the reservation was to take effect only after a delimitation carried out on the basis of the first census conducted after the Act's commencement. 2. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 sought to permit delimitation on the basis of the 2011 census, decoupling the reservation from any post-2026 census. 3. The 2026 Bill proposed to remove the requirement of a delimitation exercise altogether and make the reservation self-executing on notification. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. As originally enacted in 2023, the reservation was to take effect only after a delimitation carried out on the basis of the first census conducted after the Act's commencement.
  2. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 sought to permit delimitation on the basis of the 2011 census, decoupling the reservation from any post-2026 census.
  3. The 2026 Bill proposed to remove the requirement of a delimitation exercise altogether and make the reservation self-executing on notification.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Under the Women's Reservation Act as originally enacted, which one of the following is the immediate legal precondition that must be satisfied before the one-third reservation for women becomes operative?

  • A. A delimitation exercise carried out on the basis of the first census taken after the Act's commencement
  • B. Ratification of the Act by the legislatures of not less than one-half of the States
  • C. Prior approval of the reservation scheme by the Election Commission of India
  • D. A separate enabling law passed by two-thirds of both Houses under Article 368

Q5. Under the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 debated during the extended Budget Session, the power to decide which census would form the basis of the next delimitation was proposed to be vested in which one of the following?

  • A. Parliament, by a law passed with a simple majority
  • B. The President of India, on the advice of the Council of Ministers
  • C. The Delimitation Commission, at its own discretion
  • D. The Election Commission of India, by notification

Q6. Of the three delimitation-related Bills introduced in the Lok Sabha in April 2026, which single one was the Constitution Amendment Bill that raised the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha and had to be passed by a special majority?

  • A. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026
  • B. The Delimitation Bill, 2026
  • C. The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026
  • D. The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill

Q7. Before the Women's Reservation Bill was finally enacted in 2023, how many times had a Women's Reservation Constitution Amendment Bill been introduced in Parliament (in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2008)?

  • A. Three times
  • B. Four times
  • C. Five times
  • D. Six times

Q8. With reference to the pre-2023 history of the Women's Reservation Bill, consider the following statements: 1. The Bill introduced in 2008 was passed by the Rajya Sabha in 2010. 2. Prior to 2023, the Women's Reservation Bill was never passed by the Lok Sabha. 3. The 2008 Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha but lapsed as the Lok Sabha did not vote on it. 4. The 2008 Bill received the assent of the President before it lapsed. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Bill introduced in 2008 was passed by the Rajya Sabha in 2010.
  2. Prior to 2023, the Women's Reservation Bill was never passed by the Lok Sabha.
  3. The 2008 Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha but lapsed as the Lok Sabha did not vote on it.
  4. The 2008 Bill received the assent of the President before it lapsed.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q9. With reference to the delimitation framework, consider the following: 1. The Chairperson of the Delimitation Commission is or has been a Judge of the Supreme Court. 2. The Chief Election Commissioner, or an Election Commissioner nominated by the CEC, is a member of the Commission. 3. The readjustment of Lok Sabha and State Assembly seats after a census is provided for under Articles 82 and 170 of the Constitution. 4. Orders made by the Delimitation Commission may be called in question before any court. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The Chairperson of the Delimitation Commission is or has been a Judge of the Supreme Court.
  2. The Chief Election Commissioner, or an Election Commissioner nominated by the CEC, is a member of the Commission.
  3. The readjustment of Lok Sabha and State Assembly seats after a census is provided for under Articles 82 and 170 of the Constitution.
  4. Orders made by the Delimitation Commission may be called in question before any court.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q10. The requirement that not less than one-third of the seats in every Panchayat be reserved for women — the precedent invoked for the Parliament/Assembly quota — is contained in which one of the following provisions?

  • A. Article 243D, inserted by the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992
  • B. Article 243T, inserted by the 74th Amendment Act, 1992
  • C. Article 330A, inserted by the 106th Amendment Act, 2023
  • D. Article 332A, inserted by the 106th Amendment Act, 2023

Q11. With reference to the passage of the Women's Reservation Act under Article 368, consider the following statements: 1. The Act was passed by a special majority in each House of Parliament. 2. Unlike amendments affecting the distribution of legislative powers between the Union and States, this Act did not require ratification by one-half of the State legislatures. 3. In the Rajya Sabha the Act was passed unanimously, with no member voting against it. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Act was passed by a special majority in each House of Parliament.
  2. Unlike amendments affecting the distribution of legislative powers between the Union and States, this Act did not require ratification by one-half of the State legislatures.
  3. In the Rajya Sabha the Act was passed unanimously, with no member voting against it.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. The rotation-based allotment of women's reserved seats — including those falling within seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes — to particular constituencies is carried out solely through the mechanism operated by which of the following?

  • A. The Delimitation Commission
  • B. The Election Commission of India
  • C. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes
  • D. The Ministry of Women and Child Development