UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Eight Constitution Amendments Enacted in the Last Twelve Years, Government Informs Parliament

Question 1

The Government informed Parliament that the Constitution was amended eight times between the 99th and 106th Amendments. Of these eight Amendments, how many dealt primarily with reservation or backward-classes/weaker-sections provisions?

Accepted Answer

Five

Answer

Three

Answer

Four

Answer

Six

Question 2

The drafting and piloting of Constitution Amendment Bills, and the enumeration of enacted Constitution Amendment Acts placed before Parliament, is the responsibility of which wing of the Union Government?

Accepted Answer

The Legislative Department of the Ministry of Law and Justice

Answer

The Department of Legal Affairs of the Ministry of Law and Justice

Answer

The Department of Justice of the Ministry of Law and Justice

Answer

The Legislative Section of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs

Question 3

By which judgment did the Supreme Court declare the 99th Amendment (NJAC) unconstitutional and restore the collegium system?

Accepted Answer

Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association v. Union of India (2015)

Answer

S.P. Gupta v. Union of India (1981)

Answer

Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association v. Union of India (1993)

Answer

Special Reference No. 1 of 1998 (Third Judges Case)

Question 4

Consider the following statements about the composition of the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) as provided by the 99th Amendment:
1. The Chief Justice of India was to be its ex-officio Chairperson.
2. The Union Minister in charge of Law and Justice was to be an ex-officio member.
3. The two 'eminent persons' on the Commission were to be nominated solely by the Chief Justice of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 5

What does Article 246A, inserted by the 101st Amendment, specifically provide for?

Accepted Answer

Concurrent power to Parliament and State legislatures to make laws with respect to goods and services tax

Answer

Exclusive power to Parliament to levy GST on all supplies of goods and services

Answer

Exclusive power to State legislatures to tax all intra-State supplies

Answer

Power vested only in the GST Council to levy and collect GST

Question 6

Under Article 279A, every decision of the GST Council must be taken by a majority of not less than what fraction of the weighted votes of the members present and voting?

Accepted Answer

Three-fourths

Answer

Two-thirds

Answer

One-half

Answer

Three-fifths

Question 7

Consider the following statements comparing the EWS reservation with pre-existing reservations:
1. The 103rd Amendment inserted Articles 15(6) and 16(6) providing up to 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections.
2. EWS reservation is provided over and above the existing reservations available to SC, ST and OBC categories.
3. In Janhit Abhiyan v. Union of India (2022), the Supreme Court struck down the EWS reservation for breaching the 50% ceiling.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 8

Which Union Ministry is the nodal ministry for implementation of the EWS reservation, including notifying the income and asset criteria for identifying Economically Weaker Sections?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

Answer

Ministry of Minority Affairs

Answer

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

Answer

Ministry of Home Affairs

Question 9

The reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, extended by the 104th Amendment, is given practical effect (i.e., identifying which specific constituencies are reserved) through delimitation carried out by which body?

Accepted Answer

A Delimitation Commission constituted by the Central Government

Answer

The Election Commission of India acting suo motu

Answer

The Ministry of Law and Justice by executive order

Answer

Parliament by an ordinary law each decade

Question 10

Consider the following statements about the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) and comparable commissions:
1. Article 338B was inserted by the 102nd Amendment to grant constitutional status to the NCBC, placing it at par with the NCSC and NCST.
2. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes functions under Article 338 and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes under Article 338A.
3. Prior to the 102nd Amendment, the NCBC was a constitutional body established directly under the original Constitution.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 11

Under the 106th Amendment, women's reservation is to take effect after delimitation carried out on the basis of the first census after its commencement. Which agency conducts this census?

Accepted Answer

The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, under the Ministry of Home Affairs

Answer

The National Statistical Office, under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation

Answer

The Election Commission of India, under its constitutional mandate for electoral rolls

Answer

The NITI Aayog, through its statistical and monitoring division

Question 12

The obligation on the President to assent to a Constitution Amendment Bill duly passed under Article 368 (removing any discretion to withhold assent) was expressly introduced by which Amendment?

Accepted Answer

The Constitution (24th Amendment) Act, 1971

Answer

The Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976

Answer

The Constitution (44th Amendment) Act, 1978

Answer

The Constitution (1st Amendment) Act, 1951

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Eight Constitution Amendments Enacted in the Last Twelve Years, Government Informs Parliament

Q1. The Government informed Parliament that the Constitution was amended eight times between the 99th and 106th Amendments. Of these eight Amendments, how many dealt primarily with reservation or backward-classes/weaker-sections provisions?

Q2. The drafting and piloting of Constitution Amendment Bills, and the enumeration of enacted Constitution Amendment Acts placed before Parliament, is the responsibility of which wing of the Union Government?

Q3. By which judgment did the Supreme Court declare the 99th Amendment (NJAC) unconstitutional and restore the collegium system?

Q5. What does Article 246A, inserted by the 101st Amendment, specifically provide for?

Q6. Under Article 279A, every decision of the GST Council must be taken by a majority of not less than what fraction of the weighted votes of the members present and voting?

Q8. Which Union Ministry is the nodal ministry for implementation of the EWS reservation, including notifying the income and asset criteria for identifying Economically Weaker Sections?

Q9. The reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, extended by the 104th Amendment, is given practical effect (i.e., identifying which specific constituencies are reserved) through delimitation carried out by which body?

Q11. Under the 106th Amendment, women's reservation is to take effect after delimitation carried out on the basis of the first census after its commencement. Which agency conducts this census?

Q12. The obligation on the President to assent to a Constitution Amendment Bill duly passed under Article 368 (removing any discretion to withhold assent) was expressly introduced by which Amendment?