UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Trans activists move top court, cite threat to right to self-identification

Q1. With reference to the directions and holdings of the Supreme Court in NALSA v. Union of India (2014), consider the following: 1. Recognition of transgender persons as a 'third gender'. 2. Right to self-identification of gender as male, female or third gender. 3. Treatment of transgender persons as a socially and educationally backward class for reservations. 4. Requirement of Sex Reassignment Surgery as a precondition for legal change of gender. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Recognition of transgender persons as a 'third gender'.
  2. Right to self-identification of gender as male, female or third gender.
  3. Treatment of transgender persons as a socially and educationally backward class for reservations.
  4. Requirement of Sex Reassignment Surgery as a precondition for legal change of gender.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 4 only

Q2. The landmark judgment in NALSA v. Union of India (2014) recognising the right to self-identification of gender was delivered by a Supreme Court bench of how many judges?

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

Q3. Consider the following categories with reference to the definition of a 'transgender person' under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019: 1. Trans-men and trans-women. 2. Persons with intersex variations. 3. Persons with same-sex sexual orientation such as gay and lesbian persons. 4. Persons with socio-cultural identities such as kinnar and hijra. Which of the above is/are correctly identified as included within the statutory definition?

  1. Trans-men and trans-women.
  2. Persons with intersex variations.
  3. Persons with same-sex sexual orientation such as gay and lesbian persons.
  4. Persons with socio-cultural identities such as kinnar and hijra.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. Which one of the following is the nodal Ministry responsible for administering the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019?

  • A. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
  • B. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • C. Ministry of Women and Child Development
  • D. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Q5. With reference to how the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026 differs from the 2019 Act, consider the following statements: 1. Under the 2019 Act the District Magistrate issued the certificate of identity without a medical board, whereas the 2026 Amendment requires the District Magistrate to consider the recommendation of a designated medical board. 2. The broad, self-identification-based definition of 'transgender person' in the 2019 Act is retained unchanged by the 2026 Amendment. 3. The 2026 Amendment expressly excludes persons with different sexual orientations and self-perceived sexual identities. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Under the 2019 Act the District Magistrate issued the certificate of identity without a medical board, whereas the 2026 Amendment requires the District Magistrate to consider the recommendation of a designated medical board.
  2. The broad, self-identification-based definition of 'transgender person' in the 2019 Act is retained unchanged by the 2026 Amendment.
  3. The 2026 Amendment expressly excludes persons with different sexual orientations and self-perceived sexual identities.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. Under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026, forcing an adult to present as a transgender person for the purpose of begging or forced labour is punishable with imprisonment extending up to a maximum of how many years?

  • A. Five
  • B. Seven
  • C. Ten
  • D. Fourteen

Q7. With reference to the petition filed by transgender activists before the Supreme Court against the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026, consider the following statements: 1. The petitioners argue that the 2026 Amendment departs from the NALSA (2014) principle that gender identity is self-determined and not contingent on biological or state verification. 2. The petition challenges the constitutional validity of the 2026 Amendment Act before the Supreme Court. 3. The petitioners contend that it was the 2019 Act that abolished self-identification, a position merely continued by the 2026 Amendment. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The petitioners argue that the 2026 Amendment departs from the NALSA (2014) principle that gender identity is self-determined and not contingent on biological or state verification.
  2. The petition challenges the constitutional validity of the 2026 Amendment Act before the Supreme Court.
  3. The petitioners contend that it was the 2019 Act that abolished self-identification, a position merely continued by the 2026 Amendment.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. In their challenge to the 2026 Amendment, the petitioners rely principally on which one of the following as the constitutional foundation of the right to self-identification of gender?

  • A. NALSA v. Union of India (2014)
  • B. Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India (2018)
  • C. Shafin Jahan v. Asokan K.M. (2018)
  • D. Joseph Shine v. Union of India (2018)

Q9. Consider the following pairings of a constitutional provision with the right relevant to gender identity as recognised in NALSA v. Union of India (2014): 1. Article 14 — equality before law. 2. Article 19(1)(a) — freedom of speech and expression, including gender expression. 3. Article 21 — right to life with dignity and personal liberty. 4. Article 25 — right to constitutional remedies. Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

  1. Article 14 — equality before law.
  2. Article 19(1)(a) — freedom of speech and expression, including gender expression.
  3. Article 21 — right to life with dignity and personal liberty.
  4. Article 25 — right to constitutional remedies.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q10. In NALSA v. Union of India (2014), the Supreme Court held that the fundamental rights of transgender persons are protected under how many Articles of the Constitution, namely Articles 14, 15, 16, 19(1)(a) and 21?

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

Q11. The National Council for Transgender Persons, constituted under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, includes how many expert members drawn from non-governmental organisations?

  • A. Three
  • B. Five
  • C. Seven
  • D. Ten

Q12. Which one of the following countries is widely recognised as the first in the world to enact a gender recognition law based purely on self-identification, without requiring medical diagnosis, surgery or judicial approval?

  • A. Argentina (2012)
  • B. Malta (2015)
  • C. Ireland (2015)
  • D. Denmark (2014)