UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Fight against hate speech must be on behalf of all, says SC

Q1. Which one of the following Judges headed the Supreme Court Bench that, in March 2026, declined to entertain a petition seeking recognition of 'Brahmophobia' as a punishable form of hate speech, observing that the fight against hate speech must be 'on behalf of all'?

  • A. Justice Surya Kant
  • B. Justice Vikram Nath
  • C. Justice B.V. Nagarathna
  • D. Justice Sanjiv Khanna

Q2. With reference to the hate-speech-related provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and their predecessors in the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, consider the following statements: 1. Section 196 of the BNS, dealing with promoting enmity between groups on grounds of religion, race, language, etc., corresponds to Section 153A of the IPC. 2. Section 299 of the BNS, dealing with deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings, corresponds to Section 295A of the IPC. 3. Section 353 of the BNS, dealing with statements conducing to public mischief, corresponds to Section 124A of the IPC. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Section 196 of the BNS, dealing with promoting enmity between groups on grounds of religion, race, language, etc., corresponds to Section 153A of the IPC.
  2. Section 299 of the BNS, dealing with deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings, corresponds to Section 295A of the IPC.
  3. Section 353 of the BNS, dealing with statements conducing to public mischief, corresponds to Section 124A of the IPC.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. With reference to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, consider the following pairs of Section and subject-matter: 1. Section 196 — Promoting enmity between groups on grounds of religion, race, language, etc. 2. Section 197 — Imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration 3. Section 299 — Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings 4. Section 302 — Sedition against the Government of India Which of the above are correctly matched?

  1. Section 196 — Promoting enmity between groups on grounds of religion, race, language, etc.
  2. Section 197 — Imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration
  3. Section 299 — Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings
  4. Section 302 — Sedition against the Government of India
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. Which one of the following is the FIRST State in India to introduce a dedicated State-level legislation specifically titled to prevent hate speech and hate crimes?

  • A. Maharashtra
  • B. Karnataka
  • C. Kerala
  • D. Tamil Nadu