UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC records M.P. govt.’s assurance of peaceful worship at disputed site
Q1. In January 2026, the Supreme Court bench that recorded the Madhya Pradesh government's assurance of peaceful worship at the Bhojshala–Kamal Maula Mosque complex, headed by the Chief Justice of India, consisted of how many judges in all?
- A. Two
- B. Three
- C. Five
- D. Seven
Q2. With reference to the Supreme Court's January 2026 order on the Bhojshala–Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar, consider the following statements:
1. Hindus were permitted to perform prayers from sunrise to sunset on the occasion of Basant Panchami.
2. Muslims were permitted to offer Friday namaz between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in separately demarcated spaces.
3. The bench, led by the Chief Justice of India, recorded the assurance given by the Government of Madhya Pradesh.
4. The Court simultaneously directed the Archaeological Survey of India to begin fresh physical excavation of the complex.
Which of the above statements is/are NOT correct?
- Hindus were permitted to perform prayers from sunrise to sunset on the occasion of Basant Panchami.
- Muslims were permitted to offer Friday namaz between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in separately demarcated spaces.
- The bench, led by the Chief Justice of India, recorded the assurance given by the Government of Madhya Pradesh.
- The Court simultaneously directed the Archaeological Survey of India to begin fresh physical excavation of the complex.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 3 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 4 only
Q3. The Supreme Court bench that, in January 2026, recorded the Madhya Pradesh government's assurance to permit simultaneous Basant Panchami puja and Friday namaz at the Bhojshala–Kamal Maula complex was led by which one of the following?
- A. Chief Justice D. Y. Chandrachud
- B. Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna
- C. Chief Justice B. R. Gavai
- D. Chief Justice Surya Kant
Q4. The Bhojshala–Kamal Maula Mosque complex at Dhar, central to the 2026 Supreme Court proceedings, is a centrally protected monument administered by the Archaeological Survey of India, which functions under which one of the following Union Ministries?
- A. Ministry of Home Affairs
- B. Ministry of Tourism
- C. Ministry of Culture
- D. Ministry of Education
Q5. With reference to the legal framework governing sites like Bhojshala, consider the following statements comparing the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (AMASR Act) and the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991:
1. While the AMASR Act, 1958 brings monuments of historical or archaeological interest existing for not less than 100 years under central protection, the 1991 Act freezes the religious character of places of worship as it existed on 15 August 1947.
2. Section 4(3) of the Places of Worship Act, 1991 explicitly excludes any place of worship that is an ancient and historical monument or archaeological site covered by the AMASR Act, 1958 from its purview.
3. Both Acts mandate prior approval of the Supreme Court before any change in the religious character of the site concerned.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- While the AMASR Act, 1958 brings monuments of historical or archaeological interest existing for not less than 100 years under central protection, the 1991 Act freezes the religious character of places of worship as it existed on 15 August 1947.
- Section 4(3) of the Places of Worship Act, 1991 explicitly excludes any place of worship that is an ancient and historical monument or archaeological site covered by the AMASR Act, 1958 from its purview.
- Both Acts mandate prior approval of the Supreme Court before any change in the religious character of the site concerned.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3