UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Panel’s religion-wise queries stump States

Q1. Consider the following facts: I. A committee constituted by the Government of India is to recommend a mechanism for the identification, detention and deportation of illegal immigrants. II. The committee has asked State governments for district-wise data, including details of detention centres and of migrants apprehended. III. States say they can give religion-wise figures only from birth registration and from apprehension or deportation records. Which of the following inferences can validly be drawn from the above?

  1. Any mechanism the committee recommends will depend in part on administrative machinery operated by the States.
  2. No administrative record maintained by the States carries information on religion.
  3. The committee's terms of reference allow it to direct States to build new religion-wise datasets.
  4. Existing State records cannot, by themselves, answer a request for religion-wise voter registration figures.
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q2. A State government proposes to compile a district-wise register of residents' religious affiliation by combining several government databases. In the light of the Supreme Court's 2017 ruling on privacy, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The exercise would be permissible only if it is backed by law and is necessary for, and proportionate to, a legitimate purpose.
  2. Because privacy is a fundamental right, the State is completely barred from collecting any personal data relating to religion.
  3. Because the right to privacy can be enforced only against private entities, government databases fall outside its scope.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 only

Q3. Consider the following facts: I. The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 already provides the power to deport foreigners from India. II. The High-Level Committee on Demographic Change is to recommend a permanent operational mechanism for identifying, detaining and deporting illegal immigrants, and district-level holding centres. III. States hold records of undocumented migrants who have been apprehended or deported. Which of the following inferences can validly be drawn from the above?

  1. The committee's task is to recommend how an existing legal power should be operationalised, not to create the power to deport.
  2. The committee's recommendations will become binding on every State as soon as its report is submitted.
  3. Action against suspected illegal immigrants is already taking place before the committee has reported.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1 only