UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — HC seeks Centre’s reply on maternity policy for athletes

Q1. Under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, as it stands today, a woman is not entitled to maternity benefit unless she has actually worked in the establishment of the employer from whom she claims it for a minimum number of days in the twelve months immediately preceding the date of her expected delivery. What is that minimum number of days?

  • A. Fifty days of actual work in that twelve-month period
  • B. One hundred and sixty days of actual work in that twelve-month period
  • C. Eighty days of actual work in that twelve-month period
  • D. Two hundred and forty days of actual work in that twelve-month period

Q2. Consider the following statements comparing the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 before and after the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017: 1. The amendment raised maternity leave from twelve weeks to twenty-six weeks for a woman with less than two surviving children, while a woman with two or more surviving children continues to be entitled to twelve weeks. 2. The crèche obligation introduced by the amendment, which applies to establishments employing fifty or more employees, was brought into force later than the rest of the amendment, which took effect from 1 April 2017. 3. The amendment placed a woman who legally adopts a child below three months of age on the same footing as a biological mother by extending the full twenty-six weeks of leave to her. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The amendment raised maternity leave from twelve weeks to twenty-six weeks for a woman with less than two surviving children, while a woman with two or more surviving children continues to be entitled to twelve weeks.
  2. The crèche obligation introduced by the amendment, which applies to establishments employing fifty or more employees, was brought into force later than the rest of the amendment, which took effect from 1 April 2017.
  3. The amendment placed a woman who legally adopts a child below three months of age on the same footing as a biological mother by extending the full twenty-six weeks of leave to her.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. The ordinary original civil jurisdiction of the High Court of Delhi — as distinct from the jurisdiction it exercises while entertaining writ petitions — is derived from which one of the following?

  • A. Article 227 of the Constitution of India, dealing with the power of superintendence over subordinate courts
  • B. Section 3 of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, dealing with the Legislative Assembly for Delhi
  • C. Section 5 of the Delhi High Court Act, 1966, a central enactment dealing with the jurisdiction of that Court
  • D. Article 131 of the Constitution of India, dealing with disputes between the Union and the States

Q4. In a writ petition under Article 226, when a High Court is reported to have 'issued notice' to the respondents, the correct legal import of that order is that the Court has —

  • A. recorded a prima facie satisfaction that the rights asserted by the petitioner have in fact been infringed by the respondents
  • B. required the respondents to enter appearance and place their response on record, without at that stage pronouncing upon the merits of the claim
  • C. granted the petitioner interim protection which will operate against the respondents until the petition is finally decided
  • D. referred the matter from a Single Judge to a Division Bench after holding the petition to be maintainable in law

Q5. While dealing with the wrestler's challenge to the selection policy in 2026, the Delhi High Court observed that a legal or regulatory framework which disadvantages a woman athlete on account of pregnancy or post-partum recovery would principally offend which one of the following pairs of constitutional guarantees?

  • A. Article 19(1)(g), freedom to practise any profession, and Article 300A, the right to property
  • B. Article 16, equality of opportunity in matters of public employment, and Article 23, prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour
  • C. Article 15(3), special provision for women and children, and Article 39(d), equal pay for equal work
  • D. Article 14, equality before the law, and Article 21, the right to life and personal liberty

Q6. On 1 September 2026, the Delhi High Court issued notice on the wrestler's plea seeking a structured framework for women athletes returning to competition after maternity. On how many respondents was notice issued in that plea?

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

Q7. With reference to the conditions that a National Sports Federation such as the Wrestling Federation of India must satisfy under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, consider the following: 1. It must hold the recognition of, and affiliation to, the international sports body governing that sport. 2. Its executive committee may consist of up to fifteen members, and must include at least two sportspersons of outstanding merit and four women. 3. Recognition to it is granted by the Indian Olympic Association, which also registers its State and district level affiliate units. 4. Its President, Secretary General and Treasurer may not hold office for more than three consecutive terms, whether in the same role or in combination. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It must hold the recognition of, and affiliation to, the international sports body governing that sport.
  2. Its executive committee may consist of up to fifteen members, and must include at least two sportspersons of outstanding merit and four women.
  3. Recognition to it is granted by the Indian Olympic Association, which also registers its State and district level affiliate units.
  4. Its President, Secretary General and Treasurer may not hold office for more than three consecutive terms, whether in the same role or in combination.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q8. Under the National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026, who may be designated as a 'Sportsperson of Outstanding Merit' for the purpose of inclusion in the General Body of a national sports body?

  • A. Any sportsperson who has represented India at an Olympic Games, such a person being entitled to lifelong nomination to the General Body of every national sports body
  • B. A serving international athlete of any age, who thereby becomes automatically a member of the Athletes Committee of the federation concerned
  • C. A person not below twenty-five years of age who has retired from active sport and has not taken part in any competitive event leading to district, State or national selection for at least one year before applying
  • D. A medallist at a continental or world championship, such a medallist being exclusively eligible to be elected President of the national sports body concerned

Q9. With reference to the Indian Olympic Association, consider the following statements: 1. It functions as India's National Olympic Committee and is required to hold the recognition of, and affiliation to, the International Olympic Committee. 2. It was constituted in 1927, with Dorabji Tata as its first president. 3. Under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, it is the sole authority empowered to grant recognition to all national sports federations in the country. 4. Every office-bearer of the Association must, without exception, demit office on attaining seventy years of age. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It functions as India's National Olympic Committee and is required to hold the recognition of, and affiliation to, the International Olympic Committee.
  2. It was constituted in 1927, with Dorabji Tata as its first president.
  3. Under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, it is the sole authority empowered to grant recognition to all national sports federations in the country.
  4. Every office-bearer of the Association must, without exception, demit office on attaining seventy years of age.
  • A. 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4

Q10. Under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, the expression 'National Olympic Committee' is best understood as denoting —

  • A. a body set up by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to pick India's contingent for the Games, its members being nominated by the Union Government from among former medallists
  • B. a national sports body, recognised in that capacity by the National Sports Board, which holds the recognition of and affiliation to the International Olympic Committee
  • C. a standing committee of the National Sports Board charged with apportioning central government funding among the federations governing Olympic disciplines
  • D. a joint forum of all recognised national sports federations of Olympic disciplines, presided over by the Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

Q11. The post-pregnancy return-to-play framework announced by the International Cricket Council in 2026 is structured around six sequential stages, popularly called the 'six Rs'. Which one of the following correctly names those six stages?

  • A. Recover, Reassure, Rebuild, Re-enter, Reward and Review
  • B. Rest, Rehabilitate, Reassess, Reintegrate, Race and Retain
  • C. Readiness, Recovery, Referral, Rescheduling, Ranking and Return
  • D. Ready, Review, Restore, Recondition, Return and Refine

Q12. The wrestler's disqualification from the women's 50kg event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, following the second-day morning weigh-in, was tested in appeal before which forum, and on what reasoning was the disqualification allowed to stand?

  • A. The Disciplinary Commission of the International Olympic Committee, which held that no tolerance margin whatsoever is admissible at a second-day weigh-in
  • B. The Court of Arbitration for Sport, which held that the onus of remaining within the weight limit rests on the athlete, even while describing the consequence of failing that weigh-in as draconian
  • C. The Appeals Tribunal of United World Wrestling, which held that the second-day weigh-in may be dispensed with only in the case of athletes who have already qualified for the final
  • D. The Delhi High Court, which held that the choice of the weight category in which to compete was the athlete's own and therefore not open to judicial review