UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — On delimitation and Parliament seats

Q1. With reference to the Delimitation Bill, 2026 and past delimitation in India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It provides for ten associate members for each State, drawn equally from that State's Lok Sabha MPs and its Legislative Assembly members.
  2. The associate members are to be nominated by the Governor of the State.
  3. Associate members may assist the Commission but have no right to vote on or sign its decisions.
  4. Delimitation in the past was carried out under Delimitation Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 1, 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 3
  • D. 1, 2 and 4

Q2. Which one of the following Constitutional Amendments first froze the State-wise allocation of Lok Sabha seats on the basis of the 1971 Census?

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

Q3. With reference to the freezing of Lok Sabha seat allocation, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The freeze on State-wise Lok Sabha seat allocation based on the 1971 Census was first imposed by the 84th Amendment.
  2. The 84th Amendment (2001) extended the freeze until the first census taken after 2026.
  3. The freeze has been retained as a motivational measure to enable States to pursue population stabilisation.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. With reference to the three delimitation-related Bills introduced in the Lok Sabha on 16 April 2026, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 sought to raise the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha from 550 to 850.
  2. The Delimitation Bill, 2026 sought to repeal the Delimitation Act, 2002.
  3. The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was one of the three Bills introduced on that day.
  4. The 131st Amendment Bill proposed raising the maximum number of seats to be filled from the States from 530 to 850.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q5. Which one of the following correctly describes the fate of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 and its companion legislation?

  • A. It was negatived in the Lok Sabha, after which the Delimitation Bill, 2026 became infructuous
  • B. It was passed by the Lok Sabha but rejected by the Rajya Sabha
  • C. It was unanimously passed by both Houses and received Presidential assent
  • D. It was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee before being taken up

Q6. The one-third reservation for women introduced by the 106th Amendment (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023) applies to which one of the following?

  • A. The Lok Sabha and the Legislative Assemblies of the States and of the National Capital Territory of Delhi
  • B. The Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha and all State Legislative Assemblies
  • C. The Lok Sabha, the State Legislative Assemblies and the State Legislative Councils
  • D. Only the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha

Q7. Under the 106th Amendment, women's reservation takes effect only after a delimitation exercise carried out on the basis of the relevant Census. Which authority is empowered to carry out this delimitation?

  • A. A Delimitation Commission constituted by the Central Government
  • B. The Election Commission of India acting on its own motion
  • C. The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India
  • D. The Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice

Q8. If the Lok Sabha retains its current strength while seats are re-allocated among States on population, consider the following projected changes: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Tamil Nadu's seats are projected to fall from 39 to 32.
  2. Uttar Pradesh's seats are projected to rise from 80 to 89.
  3. Kerala's seats are projected to increase from 15 to 20.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. Southern States opposing a purely population-based delimitation argue that they are being penalised for successfully implementing which one of the following?

  • A. The National Population Policy of 1976
  • B. The National Population Policy, 2000
  • C. The National Health Policy, 1983
  • D. The National Rural Health Mission, 2005

Q10. With reference to the Jammu and Kashmir Delimitation Commission and how it differed from the frozen national exercise, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It carried out delimitation on the basis of the 2001 Census, even while national Lok Sabha seat allocation stayed frozen on the 1971 Census.
  2. It was constituted under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, read with the Delimitation Act, 2002.
  3. It increased the number of elected Assembly seats in the Union Territory from 83 to 90 and reserved Assembly seats for Scheduled Tribes for the first time.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. Under the Constitution, the readjustment after each census of the allocation of seats in the House of the People to the States, and the division of each State into territorial constituencies, is provided for under which one of the following Articles?

  • A. Article 82
  • B. Article 81
  • C. Article 170
  • D. Article 327