UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and guidance of Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, Government of India rationalizes Indian visa regime
Q1. With reference to the constitutional allocation of power over the entry and stay of foreigners in India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Since passports and visas are a Union List subject, the Union can restructure visa categories without obtaining the consent of the States.
- The constitutional entry that covers the admission of foreigners into India also covers their expulsion from India.
- The subject 'citizenship, naturalisation and aliens' is enumerated in the Concurrent List of the Seventh Schedule.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 only
- C. 1 and 2 only
- D. 2 and 3 only
Q2. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- The 2026 reduction in India's visa main categories from 13 to 9 was carried out by the Union executive without Parliament amending the immigration statute.
- The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 lists each visa category and its sub-categories in a schedule to the Act.
- A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
- B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
- C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
- D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
Q3. With reference to India's e-Visa facility, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A traveller holding an e-Visa may enter India through any authorised immigration check post in the country.
- A traveller who entered India on an e-Visa may leave the country through any authorised immigration check post.
- The e-Visa facility is open to nationals of every country, without any notified list of eligible countries.
- A. 2 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 1 only
- D. 2 and 3 only
Q4. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- A foreign national whose e-Visa status shows 'GRANTED' may nonetheless be refused entry on arrival at an Indian airport.
- Under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, a foreigner may be refused entry on grounds such as a threat to national security, and the Immigration Officer's decision on this is final.
- A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
- B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
- C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
- D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
Q5. A foreign national is lawfully residing in India on a Student Visa. Consider the following rights under Part III of the Constitution: Which of the above can this person claim?
- Equality before the law and the equal protection of the laws
- Equality of opportunity in matters of employment or appointment to an office under the State
- Freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion
- Protection against conviction under a retrospective criminal law and against double jeopardy
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 1, 3 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q6. Suppose a State Legislature enacts a law prescribing additional visa conditions for foreign tourists visiting certain districts of that State, and Parliament's immigration law is silent on such conditions. Which one of the following correctly describes the position of this State law?
- A. It is valid if it was reserved for the President's consideration and received the President's assent.
- B. It is valid until Parliament enacts a law on the same matter, after which it becomes repugnant.
- C. It is valid because matters left unoccupied by Parliament fall within the residuary power of the States.
- D. It is invalid, because the subject falls in a list on which only Parliament can legislate.
Q7. Under India's 2026 visa rationalisation, the Tourist Visa was renamed the Visitor Visa. Its V-1 sub-category covers short-term activities such as business meetings, medical consultations, wellness retreats and short courses. Main categories were cut from 13 to 9, and application form fields were reduced by 65–70% with the stated aim of enabling more focused scrutiny. Consider the following inferences: Which of the inferences given above can validly be drawn?
- Classification now turns more on the activity a traveller intends to undertake than on a narrow label such as tourism.
- A V-1 holder may now take up short-term paid employment with an Indian firm without any other visa.
- Shorter application forms indicate that the State has given up security screening of visa applicants.
- A traveller combining a business meeting with a wellness retreat on one short trip could be covered by a single sub-category.
- A. 2 and 3 only
- B. 1, 2 and 4 only
- C. 1 only
- D. 1 and 4 only
Q8. Article 19(1) of the Constitution opens with 'All citizens shall have the right…' and includes the freedoms to move freely throughout, and to reside and settle in any part of, the territory of India. Article 21 provides that 'No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law.' Consider the following inferences: Which of the inferences given above can validly be drawn?
- A foreigner in India may be detained without any procedure, since Article 19 does not apply to foreigners.
- A foreigner in India can invoke a fundamental right against deprivation of personal liberty that does not follow procedure established by law.
- A foreigner admitted on a valid visa acquires, under Article 21, a right to remain in India permanently.
- A foreigner cannot claim, as a fundamental right, to settle in any place of their choice in India.
- A. 2 and 4 only
- B. 1, 2 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 2 only