UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Delimitation after 2027, redrawing power in India

Q1. Which one of the following is the most recent Census whose data has been used for the inter-State allocation of seats in the Lok Sabha?

  • A. 1971 Census
  • B. 1991 Census
  • C. 2001 Census
  • D. 2011 Census

Q2. With reference to the Delimitation Bills introduced in Parliament in April 2026, consider the following statements: 1. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 proposed to raise the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha to 850 members. 2. The Delimitation Bill, 2026 provided that the latest published Census as on the date of constitution of the Delimitation Commission would be used as the basis for delimitation. 3. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 was passed by the Lok Sabha but defeated in the Rajya Sabha. 4. Under the Delimitation Bill, 2026, the Delimitation Commission was to comprise a sitting or former Supreme Court Judge as Chairperson, the Chief Election Commissioner or a nominated Election Commissioner, and the State Election Commissioner of the concerned State. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 proposed to raise the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha to 850 members.
  2. The Delimitation Bill, 2026 provided that the latest published Census as on the date of constitution of the Delimitation Commission would be used as the basis for delimitation.
  3. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 was passed by the Lok Sabha but defeated in the Rajya Sabha.
  4. Under the Delimitation Bill, 2026, the Delimitation Commission was to comprise a sitting or former Supreme Court Judge as Chairperson, the Chief Election Commissioner or a nominated Election Commissioner, and the State Election Commissioner of the concerned State.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. Under which one of the following Constitutional Amendment Acts was the inter-State allocation of seats in the Lok Sabha frozen until the first Census taken after the year 2026?

  • A. The Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976
  • B. The Constitution (84th Amendment) Act, 2001
  • C. The Constitution (87th Amendment) Act, 2003
  • D. The Constitution (91st Amendment) Act, 2003

Q4. What was the proposed maximum strength of the Lok Sabha under the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, that was introduced in Parliament in April 2026?

  • A. 753 members
  • B. 790 members
  • C. 848 members
  • D. 850 members

Q5. In the context of the forthcoming Census 2027 in India, what is meant by its 'reference date'?

  • A. The date on which the Central Government issued the Gazette Notification commencing the Census process.
  • B. The point of time with reference to which the population is enumerated, namely 00:00 hours of 1 March 2027 for most of the country (and 00:00 hours of 1 October 2026 for specified snow-bound areas).
  • C. The date on which the Delimitation Commission is to be constituted on the basis of the new Census figures.
  • D. The cut-off date prescribed for completion of the Houselisting and Housing Census phase across all States and Union Territories.
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