UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC seeks CBI status report on Manipur violence cases

Q1. In February 2026, the Supreme Court directed which one of the following central agencies to file a status report on 11 cases of sexual and other heinous offences committed during the Manipur ethnic violence?

  • A. National Investigation Agency (NIA)
  • B. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
  • C. Enforcement Directorate (ED)
  • D. Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)

Q2. The Supreme Court Bench that, on 13 February 2026, directed the CBI to file a status report on the Manipur sexual violence cases was headed by which one of the following?

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

Q3. The Supreme Court has designated criminal trials in the CBI-investigated Manipur ethnic violence cases to be conducted by designated courts located primarily in which one of the following cities?

  • A. Imphal
  • B. New Delhi
  • C. Kolkata
  • D. Guwahati

Q4. With reference to the Supreme Court's order of February 2026 in the Manipur ethnic violence sexual offences matter, consider the following statements: 1. The Bench directed the CBI to file a status report on the 11 cases of sexual and other heinous offences transferred to it. 2. The Bench proposed that the Chief Justices of the Manipur High Court and the Gauhati High Court monitor the progress of the criminal trials. 3. The Bench ordered that the trials be transferred from Guwahati back to designated courts in Imphal. 4. The Bench directed the CBI to furnish copies of the chargesheets to the victims or their families. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The Bench directed the CBI to file a status report on the 11 cases of sexual and other heinous offences transferred to it.
  2. The Bench proposed that the Chief Justices of the Manipur High Court and the Gauhati High Court monitor the progress of the criminal trials.
  3. The Bench ordered that the trials be transferred from Guwahati back to designated courts in Imphal.
  4. The Bench directed the CBI to furnish copies of the chargesheets to the victims or their families.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q5. In the context of the Supreme Court's intervention in the Manipur ethnic violence cases, the expression 'suo motu cognisance' is best described as:

  • A. A petition filed by an aggrieved private party invoking the writ jurisdiction of the Court under Article 32
  • B. The Court's exercise of jurisdiction on its own motion, without a formal petition being filed by any party
  • C. A reference made by the President of India to the Supreme Court under Article 143 for its advisory opinion
  • D. A transfer petition moved by the Attorney General for India to consolidate cases pending in different High Courts