UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — ‘Freebies’ different from investing in welfare for the marginalised, says SC

Q1. Who chaired the Supreme Court bench that on 22 January 2026 drew a distinction between irrational pre-election freebies and structured welfare investment in marginalised sections?

  • A. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud
  • B. Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna
  • C. Chief Justice B.R. Gavai
  • D. Chief Justice Surya Kant

Q2. In the PILs seeking judicial declaration that irrational pre-poll freebies amount to a 'corrupt practice', the term 'corrupt practice' is statutorily defined under which provision of the Representation of the People Act, 1951?

  • A. Section 29A
  • B. Section 123
  • C. Section 126
  • D. Section 8

Q3. With reference to the constitutional anchors invoked in the Supreme Court's distinction between 'freebies' and welfare for the marginalised, consider the following Articles of the Constitution of India: 1. Article 38 2. Article 39 3. Article 41 4. Article 48A Which of the above are correctly identified as Directive Principles relied upon to characterise welfare for the marginalised as a constitutional obligation of the State?

  1. Article 38
  2. Article 39
  3. Article 41
  4. Article 48A
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. With reference to the Supreme Court's evolving position on pre-election freebies, consider the following statements: 1. In S. Subramaniam Balaji v. State of Tamil Nadu (2013), the Court held that election manifesto promises of free goods by themselves constitute a 'corrupt practice' under the Representation of the People Act, 1951. 2. The January 2026 observations of the CJI Surya Kant-led bench distinguished 'distribution of state largesse to individuals' from 'investing state largesse in public welfare schemes' for the marginalised. 3. In Subramaniam Balaji (2013), the Court directed the Election Commission of India to frame guidelines on the content of election manifestos. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. In S. Subramaniam Balaji v. State of Tamil Nadu (2013), the Court held that election manifesto promises of free goods by themselves constitute a 'corrupt practice' under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
  2. The January 2026 observations of the CJI Surya Kant-led bench distinguished 'distribution of state largesse to individuals' from 'investing state largesse in public welfare schemes' for the marginalised.
  3. In Subramaniam Balaji (2013), the Court directed the Election Commission of India to frame guidelines on the content of election manifestos.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. How many judges constituted the Supreme Court bench that in February 2026, while hearing the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd plea on free electricity, observed that the 'freebies culture hampers India's economic development'?

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