UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Corruption and prior sanction, case of a divided house

Q1. With reference to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, 'Section 17A' refers to a provision which:

  • A. requires prior sanction of the competent authority before a police officer initiates any enquiry, inquiry or investigation against a public servant for acts relatable to recommendations made or decisions taken in discharge of official functions
  • B. bars a trial court from taking cognizance of a corruption offence against a sitting Member of Parliament without the sanction of the Presiding Officer
  • C. grants statutory immunity to public servants from civil suits for any decision taken in good faith in the course of official duties
  • D. requires the prior recommendation of the Lokpal before a chargesheet is filed against a Union Minister or a Secretary to the Government of India

Q2. Who is the senior-most among the following judges who constituted the two-judge Supreme Court Bench that delivered the January 2026 split verdict on the constitutional validity of Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988?

  • A. Justice B.V. Nagarathna
  • B. Justice K.V. Viswanathan
  • C. Justice Surya Kant
  • D. Justice Sanjiv Khanna

Q3. Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, mandating prior sanction for inquiry or investigation into acts done by a public servant in discharge of official functions, was inserted into the principal Act by which one of the following?

  • A. The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2013
  • B. The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018
  • C. The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013
  • D. The Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Act, 2014

Q4. With reference to Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and its statutory predecessor Section 6A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, consider the following statements: 1. Section 6A of the DSPE Act, 1946 required prior approval of the Central Government for the CBI to investigate officers of the rank of Joint Secretary and above, and was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2014 as violative of Article 14. 2. Unlike Section 6A, Section 17A applies to a public servant irrespective of his rank or seniority. 3. Section 17A was inserted into the principal Act by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2013. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Section 6A of the DSPE Act, 1946 required prior approval of the Central Government for the CBI to investigate officers of the rank of Joint Secretary and above, and was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2014 as violative of Article 14.
  2. Unlike Section 6A, Section 17A applies to a public servant irrespective of his rank or seniority.
  3. Section 17A was inserted into the principal Act by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2013.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. The 'competent authority' whose prior sanction is mandated under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 before initiating an enquiry or investigation against a public servant is:

  • A. the Central Vigilance Commission, in respect of every public servant irrespective of the employer
  • B. the Lokpal at the Centre and the Lokayukta in the States, in all cases
  • C. the appropriate Government (Central or State) which is competent to remove the public servant from office
  • D. the Chief Vigilance Officer of the Ministry or Department in which the public servant is serving