2026 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2026 · GS Paper I

Question 59: Polity and Governance

Consider the following statements about the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes of the Parliament of India :

  1. 1.Although members of this Committee are elected from both Houses of Parliament, the Chairperson of this Committee is appointed by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
  2. 2.Twenty members are elected by the Rajya Sabha and ten members by the Lok Sabha.
  3. 3.No Minister, except for the Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, is eligible to be a member of this Committee.
  4. 4.Members are elected for a fixed term of two years from the date they enter their office.

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

aThere are four correct statements.
bThere is only one correct statement, that is statement 2.
cThere are two correct statements, that include statement 1.
dThere is no correct statement.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).

The Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has 30 members, 20 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha, elected by proportional representation. Its chairperson is appointed by the Speaker from among its Lok Sabha members. A Minister is not eligible to be a member, with no exception, and members serve for a term of one year. So every one of the four statements fails.

  • 1. The Speaker appoints the chairperson.
  • 2. The Lok Sabha elects 20 members and the Rajya Sabha 10.
  • 3. No Minister is eligible, without exception.
  • 4. The term is one year, not two.
Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Wrong: none of the statements is correct.
  • (b) Wrong: the numbers are reversed; Lok Sabha elects 20 and Rajya Sabha 10.
  • (c) Wrong: the Speaker, not the Rajya Sabha Chairman, appoints the chairperson.
  • (d) Right: none of the statements is correct.

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.