UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Union Minister says SC/ST MPs not given enough time to speak

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the seat position in the Lok Sabha as fixed by the order issued by the Delimitation Commission in 2008: 1. Eighty-four seats are reserved for the Scheduled Castes. 2. Forty-seven seats are reserved for the Scheduled Tribes. 3. Before this order, the corresponding figures were seventy-nine for the Scheduled Castes and forty-one for the Scheduled Tribes. 4. Under the same order, the number of unreserved (General) seats was fixed at four hundred and two. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Eighty-four seats are reserved for the Scheduled Castes.
  2. Forty-seven seats are reserved for the Scheduled Tribes.
  3. Before this order, the corresponding figures were seventy-nine for the Scheduled Castes and forty-one for the Scheduled Tribes.
  4. Under the same order, the number of unreserved (General) seats was fixed at four hundred and two.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 4 only

Q2. With reference to the legal basis on which seats are reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, consider the following: 1. Article 330 — reservation of seats in the House of the People. 2. Article 332 — reservation of seats in the Legislative Assemblies of the States. 3. Sections 9(1)(c) and 9(1)(d) of the Delimitation Act, 2002 — provisions read with the above Articles while reserving constituencies. 4. Article 170 — reservation of seats in the Council of States. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Article 330 — reservation of seats in the House of the People.
  2. Article 332 — reservation of seats in the Legislative Assemblies of the States.
  3. Sections 9(1)(c) and 9(1)(d) of the Delimitation Act, 2002 — provisions read with the above Articles while reserving constituencies.
  4. Article 170 — reservation of seats in the Council of States.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q3. Consider the following statements comparing the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023 (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) with the earlier amendment that extended the reservation of seats under Article 334: 1. The 106th Amendment inserted new Articles 330A, 332A and 334A and also amended Article 239AA, whereas the earlier extension amendment merely altered the period specified in Article 334. 2. Unlike the earlier extension amendment, the 106th Amendment fell within the entrenched category and therefore required ratification by not less than one-half of the State Legislatures under Article 368. 3. The 106th Amendment reserves nearly one-third of the seats for women in the House of the People and the State Legislative Assemblies, including one-third of the seats already reserved for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The 106th Amendment inserted new Articles 330A, 332A and 334A and also amended Article 239AA, whereas the earlier extension amendment merely altered the period specified in Article 334.
  2. Unlike the earlier extension amendment, the 106th Amendment fell within the entrenched category and therefore required ratification by not less than one-half of the State Legislatures under Article 368.
  3. The 106th Amendment reserves nearly one-third of the seats for women in the House of the People and the State Legislative Assemblies, including one-third of the seats already reserved for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Women's reservation under the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023 takes effect only after a readjustment exercise is carried out. Which one of the following bodies finalises and publishes the order readjusting parliamentary and assembly constituencies, including the seats set apart for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes?

  • A. The Delimitation Commission constituted under the Delimitation Act, 2002
  • B. The Election Commission of India for all States, acting under Section 8A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950
  • C. The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, acting under the Census Act, 1948
  • D. The Department of Justice in the Ministry of Law and Justice, by executive order of the Union Government

Q5. With reference to how speaking time on the floor of the Lok Sabha is settled, consider the following: 1. The Business Advisory Committee of the Lok Sabha functions under the chairmanship of the Speaker. 2. The Speaker allots time only to parties as blocs, and in no case to an individual member. 3. The Business Advisory Committee reports on the allotment of time for Government and other business. 4. Floor time is governed by the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha together with the Directions by the Speaker. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The Business Advisory Committee of the Lok Sabha functions under the chairmanship of the Speaker.
  2. The Speaker allots time only to parties as blocs, and in no case to an individual member.
  3. The Business Advisory Committee reports on the allotment of time for Government and other business.
  4. Floor time is governed by the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha together with the Directions by the Speaker.
  • A. 1, 3 and 4
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q6. The committee that advises the Lok Sabha on the allotment of time for Government and other business works under the chairmanship of the Speaker. How many members, including the Speaker, does it consist of?

  • A. Ten
  • B. Eleven
  • C. Fifteen
  • D. Twenty-one

Q7. The Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes consists of thirty members in all. How many of them are drawn from the Rajya Sabha on nomination by its Chairman?

  • A. Six
  • B. Ten
  • C. Twelve
  • D. Fifteen

Q8. Consider the following statements comparing certain committees of Parliament: 1. The Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and the Committee on Empowerment of Women each consist of thirty members, with twenty from the Lok Sabha and ten from the Rajya Sabha. 2. Unlike these two committees, which are headed by a Chairperson drawn from among the members, the Business Advisory Committee of the Lok Sabha functions under the chairmanship of the Speaker. 3. In the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, the twenty Lok Sabha members are nominated by the Speaker, while the ten Rajya Sabha members are elected by proportional representation through the single transferable vote. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and the Committee on Empowerment of Women each consist of thirty members, with twenty from the Lok Sabha and ten from the Rajya Sabha.
  2. Unlike these two committees, which are headed by a Chairperson drawn from among the members, the Business Advisory Committee of the Lok Sabha functions under the chairmanship of the Speaker.
  3. In the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, the twenty Lok Sabha members are nominated by the Speaker, while the ten Rajya Sabha members are elected by proportional representation through the single transferable vote.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, in taking up with the Lok Sabha Speaker in September 2026 the complaint that SC/ST members are not given adequate time to speak on important Bills, described the periodicity of the NDA parliamentarians' group dialogue forum at which the grievance had been voiced. As stated by him, how many such meetings are held in a year?

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

Q10. With reference to the constitutional machinery for safeguards for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, consider the following: 1. Article 338 — the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, which reports on the working of the constitutional safeguards for the Scheduled Castes. 2. The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes — presents its report on the working of the safeguards for the Scheduled Tribes to the Prime Minister. 3. Article 338A — the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. 4. Article 82 — reservation of seats for the Scheduled Tribes in the Council of States. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Article 338 — the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, which reports on the working of the constitutional safeguards for the Scheduled Castes.
  2. The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes — presents its report on the working of the safeguards for the Scheduled Tribes to the Prime Minister.
  3. Article 338A — the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.
  4. Article 82 — reservation of seats for the Scheduled Tribes in the Council of States.
  • A. 2 and 4
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 only

Q11. Consider the following statements regarding delimitation and reserved constituencies in India: 1. Articles 170 and 82 lay down that the number of seats in each State Legislative Assembly and the allocation of seats in the House of the People to the States shall not be altered until the relevant figures of the first census taken after the year 2026 have been published. 2. The Delimitation Bill, 2002 was notified as Act No. 33 of 2002. 3. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Lok Sabha in April 2026 and was passed in the same session with the required supermajority. 4. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 sought to amend Articles 81 and 82 so as to enable Parliament to determine when delimitation occurs and which census it is based on. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Articles 170 and 82 lay down that the number of seats in each State Legislative Assembly and the allocation of seats in the House of the People to the States shall not be altered until the relevant figures of the first census taken after the year 2026 have been published.
  2. The Delimitation Bill, 2002 was notified as Act No. 33 of 2002.
  3. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Lok Sabha in April 2026 and was passed in the same session with the required supermajority.
  4. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 sought to amend Articles 81 and 82 so as to enable Parliament to determine when delimitation occurs and which census it is based on.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q12. A constitution amendment Bill taken up in the Lok Sabha during the Budget Session of 2026 was negatived because it failed to obtain the supermajority support required for its passage. The requirement of such a special majority is laid down in which one of the following provisions, and on what terms?

  • A. Article 368, which additionally requires ratification by not less than one-half of the State Legislatures only for certain entrenched provisions
  • B. Article 368, which additionally requires ratification by not less than two-thirds of the State Legislatures for every constitution amendment Bill
  • C. Article 82 read with the Delimitation Act, 2002, which prescribes the majority needed for any readjustment of seats
  • D. Article 118, under which each House frames rules prescribing the majorities applicable to constitution amendment Bills