2026 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2026 · GS Paper I

Question 57: Polity and Governance

Consider the following statements about the provisions pertaining to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in India :

  1. 1.Provisions regarding the administration of the Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram are given in the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
  2. 2.Some tribes of India are entitled to exemption from paying Income Tax on certain incomes.
  3. 3.The Constitution of India provides for reservation of seats in Panchayats for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.

Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct ?

aThere are two correct statements, that include statement 2.
bThere are two correct statements, that are statements 1 and 3.
cThere is only one correct statement.
dAll three statements are correct.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

Administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram is under the Sixth Schedule, not the Fifth, which covers Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in other States, so statement 1 is wrong. Section 10(26) of the Income-tax Act exempts certain incomes of members of Scheduled Tribes in specified areas, so statement 2 is right. Article 243D reserves seats in Panchayats for SCs and STs, with one-third of those seats for women of those groups, so statement 3 is right.

  • 1. These tribal areas fall under the Sixth Schedule, not the Fifth.
  • 2. Certain incomes of Scheduled Tribe members are exempt from income tax.
  • 3. Panchayat seats are reserved for SC and ST women within the SC and ST quota.
Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Right: statements 2 and 3 are correct.
  • (b) Wrong: statement 1 is false, since these areas are under the Sixth Schedule.
  • (c) Wrong: two statements are correct.
  • (d) Wrong: statement 1 is false.

Only the provisional key (27 May 2026) was found; the final key replaces it when found.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.