Constitutional and statutory bodies, elections, amendments, rights and governance: previous-year questions
42 real UPSC Prelims questions (2011–2026) with the official answer and a clear explanation. 17 of them came in the last five papers.
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Questions per year, counted from the official papers.
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With reference to the Delimitation Commission, consider the following statements :
- 1. The orders of the Delimitation Commission cannot be challenged in a Court of Law.
- 2. When the orders of the Delimitation Commission are laid before the Lok Sabha or State Legislative Assembly, they cannot effect any modifications in the orders.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer (c) & explanation
Both statements are correct (c). The Delimitation Commission, set up under a Delimitation Act, redraws constituency boundaries. Its orders have the force of law and cannot be questioned in any court, under Article 329(a) (1). When the orders are laid before the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies, these Houses cannot modify them (2). So (a), (b) and (d) fail.
Notice the history: commissions were set up in 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002. The seat count is frozen on the 1971 census until the first census after 2026 (84th and 87th Amendments), and the next delimitation after Census 2027 is politically sensitive for southern states. The 2022 J&K commission and the Assam delimitation (2023) were special exercises. Trap: Parliament can debate, but not alter, the orders.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
India is home to lakhs of persons with disabilities. What are the benefits available to them under the law ?
- 1. Free schooling till the age of 18 years in government-run schools.
- 2. Preferential allotment of land for setting up business.
- 3. Ramps in public buildings.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
Answer (d) & explanation
All three are correct (d). The Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995, in force in 2011, gave free education up to 18 years in suitable schools (1), preferential allotment of land at concessional rates for business, housing and special schools (2), and barrier-free access such as ramps in public buildings (3). So options (a), (b) and (c) leave out real benefits.
Notice the later law: the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 replaced it, raised recognised disabilities from 7 to 21, raised job reservation from 3% to 4%, kept free education for children with benchmark disability aged 6 to 18, and set accessibility deadlines. The Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat, 2015) pushes ramps and accessible transport.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.