UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Panel on demographic changes reaches Jammu, interacts with local groups

Question 1

Consider the following statements comparing the High-Level Committee on Demographic Change with a Commission of Inquiry appointed under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952:
1. The High-Level Committee on Demographic Change was constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs following approval by the Union Cabinet, whereas a Commission of Inquiry is appointed by the appropriate Government by notification in the Official Gazette.
2. The High-Level Committee on Demographic Change is headed by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court of India, whereas a Commission of Inquiry may consist of a single member.
3. The High-Level Committee on Demographic Change is to submit its report within one year of its constitution, extendable by six months, whereas the report of a Commission of Inquiry, together with a memorandum of action taken, is to be laid before the legislature within six months of its submission.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

1 only

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 2

With reference to the High-Level Committee on Demographic Change, consider the following persons and the capacities in which they are associated with it:
1. Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar, a retired judge of the Supreme Court — Chairman
2. Durga Shankar Mishra, a retired officer of the Indian Administrative Service — Member
3. Nalin Prabhat, a retired officer of the Indian Police Service — Member
4. Shamika Ravi, an economist associated with the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister — Member
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 4

Answer

1 and 3

Answer

2, 3 and 4

Answer

1 and 4 only

Question 3

Consider the following statements regarding the sequence by which the High-Level Committee on Demographic Change came into existence:
1. The Prime Minister announced a "High-powered Demography Mission" in the Independence Day address of 15 August 2025.
2. The Union Cabinet approved the proposal on 11 September 2025.
3. The Committee was formally constituted in May 2026 by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
4. The Committee has been required to submit its report within two years of its constitution, with no provision for extension.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2

Answer

2 and 3

Answer

1, 3 and 4

Answer

2 and 4

Question 4

Registration of Kashmiri migrant families and the disbursal of relief to them within Jammu and Kashmir is handled at the field level by which one of the following offices?

Accepted Answer

The Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrants), Jammu and Kashmir

Answer

The Foreigners Regional Registration Office functioning under the Bureau of Immigration

Answer

The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India

Answer

The Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Affairs Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs

Question 5

The High-Level Committee on Demographic Change, which carried out field interactions in the Jammu region, derives its authority from which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

An executive decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs taken pursuant to Union Cabinet approval, without any statutory backing

Answer

A notification issued under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, which vests it with all the powers of a civil court

Answer

A statutory mandate under the Census Act, 1948, exercised entirely through the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India

Answer

An order of the Supreme Court of India, which makes its recommendations binding on all State Governments

Question 6

Consider the following statements regarding relief and rehabilitation measures for displaced families in the Jammu region:
1. Under the Prime Minister's Development Package, 2015, one-time financial assistance of Rs 5.5 lakh per family is provided to families displaced from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir in 1947 and from the Chhamb area in 1965 and 1971.
2. The rehabilitation package for these displaced families is confined to families belonging to the Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist communities.
3. The Jagti township near Nagrota in Jammu was developed with two-room tenements under the Prime Minister's package for the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants.
4. The one-time financial assistance to these displaced families is disbursed through Direct Benefit Transfer into Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1, 3 and 4

Answer

1 and 2

Answer

2 and 3

Answer

3 and 4 only

Question 7

The largest township built for the resettlement of Kashmiri migrant families under the Prime Minister's rehabilitation and return package is located at:

Accepted Answer

Jagti, near Nagrota

Answer

Purkhoo, near Domana

Answer

Muthi, on the Jammu-Akhnoor road

Answer

Mishriwala, in Jammu district

Question 8

Under the Census Act, 1948, the Census Commissioner who supervises the taking of a census is appointed by which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

The Central Government, upon declaring its intention to take a census by notification in the Official Gazette

Answer

The President of India, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation

Answer

The State Governments, each appointing a Census Commissioner for the territory falling within that State

Answer

The Registrar General of India, in exercise of a standing decennial power conferred by the Constitution

Question 9

Under the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, which one of the following most accurately describes a person who qualifies as a refugee?

Accepted Answer

A person outside the country of their nationality owing to a well-founded fear of persecution on grounds of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, who is unable or unwilling to return

Answer

Any person who has left their habitual residence because of a lack of food, water, health care or livelihood, whether or not an international border has been crossed

Answer

Every person displaced by armed conflict within their own country, who is automatically entitled to exactly the same protection as those who have crossed a border

Answer

Any person registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, such registration being by itself conclusive of that person's legal status in the host country

Question 10

Consider the following statements regarding a Commission of Inquiry appointed under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952:
1. It is appointed by the appropriate Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, to inquire into any definite matter of public importance.
2. It has the powers of a civil court for the purpose of enforcing the attendance of witnesses.
3. Its report, along with a memorandum of the action taken on it, is to be laid before Parliament or the State Legislature, as the case may be, within six months of the submission of the report.
4. Its findings are binding on the Government, which is obliged to implement them within the period specified in the notification appointing it.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3

Answer

1 and 2

Answer

2, 3 and 4

Answer

3 and 4

Question 11

With reference to the legal and policy position of Rohingya migrants in India, consider the following statements:
1. The Union Government has taken the position before the Supreme Court that Rohingya migrants are illegal immigrants whose continued stay carries serious national security implications.
2. Action against foreigners staying illegally in India is taken under the Foreigners Act, 1946.
3. The Supreme Court has held that identity cards issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees by themselves protect their holders from deportation under Indian law.
4. Refugee identity cards in India are issued by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India under the Census Act, 1948.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

3 and 4

Answer

1 and 2

Answer

2 and 3

Answer

1 and 4

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Panel on demographic changes reaches Jammu, interacts with local groups

Q4. Registration of Kashmiri migrant families and the disbursal of relief to them within Jammu and Kashmir is handled at the field level by which one of the following offices?

Q5. The High-Level Committee on Demographic Change, which carried out field interactions in the Jammu region, derives its authority from which one of the following?

Q7. The largest township built for the resettlement of Kashmiri migrant families under the Prime Minister's rehabilitation and return package is located at:

Q8. Under the Census Act, 1948, the Census Commissioner who supervises the taking of a census is appointed by which one of the following?

Q9. Under the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, which one of the following most accurately describes a person who qualifies as a refugee?