UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC gives two-week deadline for sanction to prosecute Vijay Shah

Q1. How many members did the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted on the Supreme Court's direction in May 2025 to probe the remarks made by Madhya Pradesh Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah against Col. Sofiya Qureshi comprise?

  • A. Three
  • B. Five
  • C. Seven
  • D. Nine

Q2. With reference to the official briefings on 'Operation Sindoor' held at the National Media Centre, New Delhi in May 2025, consider the following: 1. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi - Indian Army 2. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh - Indian Air Force 3. Vikram Misri - Foreign Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs 4. Lt General Rajiv Ghai - Chief of Defence Staff Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi - Indian Army
  2. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh - Indian Air Force
  3. Vikram Misri - Foreign Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs
  4. Lt General Rajiv Ghai - Chief of Defence Staff
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. Who presided over the Supreme Court Bench which, on January 19, 2026, gave the Madhya Pradesh government a two-week deadline to decide on the SIT's request for sanction to prosecute Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah?

  • A. Chief Justice Surya Kant
  • B. Justice Dipankar Datta
  • C. Justice Joymalya Bagchi
  • D. Justice B. R. Gavai

Q4. The provision requiring prior sanction of the competent government for prosecution of judges and public servants for acts done in the discharge of official duty - invoked in the SIT's request in the Kunwar Vijay Shah case - is presently contained in which one of the following sections of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023?

  • A. Section 187
  • B. Section 197
  • C. Section 218
  • D. Section 223

Q5. With reference to the law governing prior sanction for prosecution of public servants, as relevant to the Kunwar Vijay Shah case, consider the following statements: 1. Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 has been replaced by Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. 2. Unlike its CrPC predecessor, the BNSS prescribes a fixed outer time-limit of 120 days within which the competent authority must decide on a sanction request, failing which the sanction is deemed to have been granted. 3. Prior sanction under these provisions is required only for offences alleged to have been committed while acting or purporting to act in the discharge of official duty. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 has been replaced by Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
  2. Unlike its CrPC predecessor, the BNSS prescribes a fixed outer time-limit of 120 days within which the competent authority must decide on a sanction request, failing which the sanction is deemed to have been granted.
  3. Prior sanction under these provisions is required only for offences alleged to have been committed while acting or purporting to act in the discharge of official duty.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3