UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — The rules that failed 15 lives in Lucknow

Q1. The two-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to probe the June 2026 Lucknow Aliganj building fire was headed by which one of the following officers?

  • A. Amrit Abhijat, Additional Chief Secretary (Tourism)
  • B. Praveen Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (Lucknow Zone)
  • C. Prathamesh Kumar, Vice-Chairman, Lucknow Development Authority
  • D. The District Magistrate, Lucknow

Q2. How many people were killed in the June 2026 fire at the commercial building in Sector D, Aliganj, Lucknow?

  • A. 7
  • B. 14
  • C. 15
  • D. 19

Q3. At the Union level, the Directorate General of Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards — which frames policy and coordinates fire services across India — functions under which Ministry?

  • A. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
  • C. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
  • D. Ministry of Labour and Employment

Q4. Under the Uttar Pradesh Fire and Emergency Services Act, 2022, the term 'Fire Safety Certificate' most precisely refers to:

  • A. A certificate issued by a Fire Officer not below the rank of Chief Fire Officer certifying that a building complies with prescribed fire-safety requirements
  • B. A clearance issued by the local police certifying crowd-control and evacuation arrangements at a premises
  • C. An insurance instrument purchased by a building owner to indemnify against losses from fire
  • D. A load-sanction certificate issued by the Directorate of Electrical Safety for a commercial electricity connection