UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — ‘Wangchuk to end fast if focus of Parliament is on education’

Q1. Which one of the following was the first Autonomous Hill Development Council to be constituted in the region now forming the Union Territory of Ladakh?

  • A. Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council
  • B. Kargil Autonomous Hill Development Council
  • C. Bodoland Territorial Council
  • D. Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council

Q2. With reference to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and its relevance to Ladakh, consider the following statements: 1. The provisions of the Sixth Schedule apply only to specified tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. 2. Unlike the Fifth Schedule, the Sixth Schedule provides for elected Autonomous District Councils vested with certain legislative and judicial powers. 3. Ladakh has already been included in the Sixth Schedule, which is the constitutional basis of its Autonomous Hill Development Councils. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The provisions of the Sixth Schedule apply only to specified tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
  2. Unlike the Fifth Schedule, the Sixth Schedule provides for elected Autonomous District Councils vested with certain legislative and judicial powers.
  3. Ladakh has already been included in the Sixth Schedule, which is the constitutional basis of its Autonomous Hill Development Councils.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. The power to issue prohibitory orders in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger, earlier exercised under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, is now provided under which section of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023?

  • A. Section 144
  • B. Section 149
  • C. Section 163
  • D. Section 173

Q4. With reference to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, consider the following statements: 1. The BNSS replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. 2. Section 163 of the BNSS empowers a Magistrate to issue orders in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger. 3. An order issued under Section 163 of the BNSS can remain in force for a maximum period of six months without any extension. 4. The BNSS came into force by replacing the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The BNSS replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
  2. Section 163 of the BNSS empowers a Magistrate to issue orders in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger.
  3. An order issued under Section 163 of the BNSS can remain in force for a maximum period of six months without any extension.
  4. The BNSS came into force by replacing the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 1 and 3

Q5. With reference to the right to protest in India, consider the following statements: 1. The right to assemble peaceably and without arms is guaranteed under Article 19(1)(b). 2. In the Shaheen Bagh judgment (2020), the Supreme Court held that public places cannot be occupied indefinitely for protests. 3. The right to assemble under Article 19(1)(b) is available to both citizens and non-citizens. 4. Reasonable restrictions on the right to assemble may be imposed in the interest of public order under Article 19(3). Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. The right to assemble peaceably and without arms is guaranteed under Article 19(1)(b).
  2. In the Shaheen Bagh judgment (2020), the Supreme Court held that public places cannot be occupied indefinitely for protests.
  3. The right to assemble under Article 19(1)(b) is available to both citizens and non-citizens.
  4. Reasonable restrictions on the right to assemble may be imposed in the interest of public order under Article 19(3).
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. With reference to the constitutional position on the right to protest, consider the following statements: 1. The Shaheen Bagh judgment sought to balance the right to protest against the public's right to free movement. 2. Unlike Article 19(1)(a) which protects freedom of speech and expression, Article 19(1)(b) protects the freedom to assemble peaceably and without arms. 3. The Shaheen Bagh judgment recognised an absolute right to protest at any public place of the protesters' choosing. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Shaheen Bagh judgment sought to balance the right to protest against the public's right to free movement.
  2. Unlike Article 19(1)(a) which protects freedom of speech and expression, Article 19(1)(b) protects the freedom to assemble peaceably and without arms.
  3. The Shaheen Bagh judgment recognised an absolute right to protest at any public place of the protesters' choosing.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. With reference to Sonam Wangchuk, consider the following statements: 1. He is the founder of the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL). 2. He is a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award. 3. He is credited with inventing the Ice Stupa artificial-glacier technique. 4. He is the founder of the Barefoot College at Tilonia, Rajasthan. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. He is the founder of the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL).
  2. He is a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award.
  3. He is credited with inventing the Ice Stupa artificial-glacier technique.
  4. He is the founder of the Barefoot College at Tilonia, Rajasthan.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2 and 4

Q8. With reference to Sonam Wangchuk's work in Ladakh, consider the following statements: 1. SECMOL was founded by Sonam Wangchuk in 1988. 2. Wangchuk is popularly regarded as the inspiration for the character 'Phunsukh Wangdu' in the film 3 Idiots. 3. 'Operation New Hope' was a programme launched to build artificial glaciers for irrigation in Ladakh. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. SECMOL was founded by Sonam Wangchuk in 1988.
  2. Wangchuk is popularly regarded as the inspiration for the character 'Phunsukh Wangdu' in the film 3 Idiots.
  3. 'Operation New Hope' was a programme launched to build artificial glaciers for irrigation in Ladakh.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. With reference to Parliament, the Business Advisory Committee is best described as the committee which:

  • A. allocates and regulates the time for discussion of items of government and other business in the House
  • B. examines every Bill for constitutional validity before it is introduced in the House
  • C. scrutinises in detail the demands for grants of all the ministries
  • D. decides all questions relating to breach of privilege of members

Q10. Who presides over (chairs) the Business Advisory Committee of the Lok Sabha?

  • A. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
  • B. The Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha
  • C. The Leader of the House
  • D. The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs

Q11. With reference to reforms in the conduct of public examinations in India, consider the following statements: 1. The National Testing Agency is to conduct only entrance examinations for higher education and not recruitment examinations. 2. Under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, the offences are cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable. 3. The Act covers examinations conducted by bodies such as the UPSC and SSC and entrance tests such as NEET, JEE and CUET. 4. The high-level committee set up to recommend reforms in the conduct of examinations was headed by a former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. The National Testing Agency is to conduct only entrance examinations for higher education and not recruitment examinations.
  2. Under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, the offences are cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable.
  3. The Act covers examinations conducted by bodies such as the UPSC and SSC and entrance tests such as NEET, JEE and CUET.
  4. The high-level committee set up to recommend reforms in the conduct of examinations was headed by a former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q12. Irom Sharmila, the 'Iron Lady of Manipur', continued her hunger strike demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act for approximately how many years?

  • A. 6 years
  • B. 11 years
  • C. 16 years
  • D. 21 years