UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — States’ seats will rise 50% after delimitation: Centre

Q1. Prior to the reapportionment proposed in 2026, what was the maximum number of members in the Lok Sabha permitted under Article 81 of the Constitution?

  • A. 543
  • B. 545
  • C. 550
  • D. 552

Q2. With reference to the constitutional basis of delimitation, consider the following statements: 1. Article 82 provides for the readjustment of the allocation of Lok Sabha seats among the States upon completion of each census. 2. Article 170 provides for the readjustment of the total number of seats and territorial constituencies of the State Legislative Assemblies upon completion of each census. 3. Under both Articles, such readjustment can be effected only by a Delimitation Commission and never by any other authority. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Article 82 provides for the readjustment of the allocation of Lok Sabha seats among the States upon completion of each census.
  2. Article 170 provides for the readjustment of the total number of seats and territorial constituencies of the State Legislative Assemblies upon completion of each census.
  3. Under both Articles, such readjustment can be effected only by a Delimitation Commission and never by any other authority.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. After how many censuses was the delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies actually carried out before the seat totals of the States were frozen by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment, 1976?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five

Q4. With reference to the freeze on delimitation in India, consider the following statements: 1. The 42nd Amendment (1976) froze the allocation of Lok Sabha seats among the States on the basis of the 1971 census. 2. The 84th Amendment (2001) extended this freeze until the first census taken after the year 2026. 3. The freeze was intended as an incentive for States pursuing population stabilisation. 4. The freeze applied only to Lok Sabha seats and left the total seats of State Legislative Assemblies unaffected. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The 42nd Amendment (1976) froze the allocation of Lok Sabha seats among the States on the basis of the 1971 census.
  2. The 84th Amendment (2001) extended this freeze until the first census taken after the year 2026.
  3. The freeze was intended as an incentive for States pursuing population stabilisation.
  4. The freeze applied only to Lok Sabha seats and left the total seats of State Legislative Assemblies unaffected.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2 only

Q5. With reference to the package of three Bills introduced in the Lok Sabha on 16 April 2026, consider the following: 1. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 sought to raise the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha to 850. 2. The Delimitation Bill, 2026 empowered the central government to constitute a Delimitation Commission. 3. The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 extended delimitation-related provisions to Union Territories such as Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu & Kashmir. 4. The package proposed to carry out delimitation on the basis of the 2021 Census. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 sought to raise the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha to 850.
  2. The Delimitation Bill, 2026 empowered the central government to constitute a Delimitation Commission.
  3. The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 extended delimitation-related provisions to Union Territories such as Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu & Kashmir.
  4. The package proposed to carry out delimitation on the basis of the 2021 Census.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 and 2
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q6. Under which Article of the Constitution was the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 required to be passed by a special majority of each House of Parliament?

  • A. Article 249
  • B. Article 352
  • C. Article 368
  • D. Article 370

Q7. Under the reapportionment based on the 2011 Census as projected for the 2026 Bills, which State was expected to gain the largest number of additional Lok Sabha seats?

  • A. Bihar
  • B. Uttar Pradesh
  • C. Rajasthan
  • D. Madhya Pradesh

Q8. In the context of the 2026 Bills, the term 'delimitation' most precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The readjustment of the number of seats allotted to States and the redrawing of the boundaries of territorial constituencies on the basis of a census
  • B. The transfer of a fixed number of seats from the Rajya Sabha to the Lok Sabha to reflect population growth
  • C. The reservation of one-third of legislative seats for women and for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
  • D. The fixing of the maximum permissible size of the Union Council of Ministers

Q9. With reference to the federalism debate around the 2026 delimitation proposal, consider the following statements: 1. Compared with the 1971-frozen allocation, a reapportionment on the 2011 Census would increase the relative weight of northern States such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. 2. Southern States feared a reduction in their relative representation because they had achieved faster population stabilisation than the national trend since 1971. 3. The Centre's commitment that every State would retain its existing proportional share of seats was incorporated as an express provision in the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Compared with the 1971-frozen allocation, a reapportionment on the 2011 Census would increase the relative weight of northern States such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
  2. Southern States feared a reduction in their relative representation because they had achieved faster population stabilisation than the national trend since 1971.
  3. The Centre's commitment that every State would retain its existing proportional share of seats was incorporated as an express provision in the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. Under the reapportionment projected on the basis of the 2011 Census, which of the following States were expected to LOSE Lok Sabha seats? 1. Tamil Nadu 2. Kerala 3. Andhra Pradesh 4. Rajasthan Which of the above are correctly identified?

  1. Tamil Nadu
  2. Kerala
  3. Andhra Pradesh
  4. Rajasthan
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1 and 3
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q11. Had it been enacted, the Delimitation Bill, 2026 empowered which of the following authorities to constitute the Delimitation Commission?

  • A. The Election Commission of India
  • B. The Central Government
  • C. The President acting on the advice of the Supreme Court
  • D. The respective State Governments

Q12. With reference to the reservation provided under the 106th Constitutional Amendment (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam), consider the following: 1. It reserves one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha for women. 2. It reserves one-third of the seats in the State Legislative Assemblies and in the Delhi Legislative Assembly for women. 3. Within the seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, one-third are reserved for women. 4. It reserves one-third of the seats in the Rajya Sabha for women. Which of the above are correctly identified?

  1. It reserves one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha for women.
  2. It reserves one-third of the seats in the State Legislative Assemblies and in the Delhi Legislative Assembly for women.
  3. Within the seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, one-third are reserved for women.
  4. It reserves one-third of the seats in the Rajya Sabha for women.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4