UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — ‘Copy-paste’ order led to detention: Wangchuk

Q1. Sonam Wangchuk, the Ladakh-based activist whose preventive detention was revoked by the Centre in March 2026, was originally detained in September 2025 under which one of the following statutes?

  • A. Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967
  • B. Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978
  • C. National Security Act, 1980
  • D. Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958

Q2. The September 2025 preventive detention order against Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act, 1980 was issued by which one of the following authorities?

  • A. Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh
  • B. District Magistrate of Leh
  • C. Union Ministry of Home Affairs
  • D. Director General of Police, Ladakh

Q3. With reference to the National Security Act, 1980 (NSA) and the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978 (PSA) — both invoked in recent preventive-detention controversies — consider the following statements: 1. While the NSA permits a maximum detention of 12 months, the PSA allows detention up to two years on certain grounds. 2. Both Acts require every detention order to be placed before an Advisory Board within three weeks of detention. 3. Sonam Wangchuk's detention under the NSA was revoked by the Centre in March 2026 only after he had completed the maximum permissible detention period under the Act. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. While the NSA permits a maximum detention of 12 months, the PSA allows detention up to two years on certain grounds.
  2. Both Acts require every detention order to be placed before an Advisory Board within three weeks of detention.
  3. Sonam Wangchuk's detention under the NSA was revoked by the Centre in March 2026 only after he had completed the maximum permissible detention period under the Act.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. The habeas corpus petition that produced the observation that Sonam Wangchuk's NSA detention was 'illegal and an arbitrary exercise violating fundamental rights' was filed and heard primarily before which one of the following fora?

  • A. High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh at Srinagar
  • B. Rajasthan High Court at Jodhpur
  • C. Delhi High Court
  • D. Supreme Court of India

Q5. With reference to the constitutional status of Union Territories following the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 — context invoked in the Ladakh statehood agitation that preceded Sonam Wangchuk's detention — consider the following Union Territories: 1. Ladakh 2. Jammu and Kashmir 3. Puducherry 4. Andaman and Nicobar Islands Which of the above are correctly identified as Union Territories having a Legislative Assembly?

  1. Ladakh
  2. Jammu and Kashmir
  3. Puducherry
  4. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 2, 3 and 4