UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Ready to drop FIRs against student protesters, says SC

Q1. Under Article 142(1) of the Constitution, a decree passed or order made by the Supreme Court is enforceable throughout the territory of India in such manner as may be prescribed by or under a law made by Parliament. Until such provision is made by Parliament, which one of the following is the authority competent to prescribe that manner?

  • A. The President of India, by order
  • B. The Chief Justice of India, through rules framed for the Court
  • C. The Parliament of India, by a resolution adopted in both Houses
  • D. The Ministry of Law and Justice, by a notification in the Official Gazette

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding Article 142 of the Constitution of India: 1. It empowers the Supreme Court to pass such decree or make such order as is necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it. 2. A decree passed under Article 142(1) is enforceable only within the territory in respect of which the Supreme Court exercises original jurisdiction. 3. Under Article 142(2), subject to any law made by Parliament, the Supreme Court has power to make orders for securing the attendance of any person, the discovery or production of documents, and the investigation or punishment of any contempt of itself. 4. The Supreme Court has held that the power under Article 142(1) may be exercised even where doing so violates fundamental principles of general or specific public policy. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It empowers the Supreme Court to pass such decree or make such order as is necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it.
  2. A decree passed under Article 142(1) is enforceable only within the territory in respect of which the Supreme Court exercises original jurisdiction.
  3. Under Article 142(2), subject to any law made by Parliament, the Supreme Court has power to make orders for securing the attendance of any person, the discovery or production of documents, and the investigation or punishment of any contempt of itself.
  4. The Supreme Court has held that the power under Article 142(1) may be exercised even where doing so violates fundamental principles of general or specific public policy.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 2 only
  • D. 3 and 4

Q3. In August 2026, while hearing petitions concerning FIRs against student protesters, the Supreme Court decided to entrust the fact-finding into allegations of excessive police force and of assault and online harassment of women protesters to which one of the following?

  • A. A Special Investigation Team headed by a serving Joint Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation
  • B. A three-member committee consisting of a former Supreme Court judge, a former High Court Chief Justice and a senior retired police officer
  • C. The National Human Rights Commission, acting through a statutory inquiry under its parent enactment
  • D. A commission of inquiry appointed by the Union Home Ministry under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952

Q4. In the Supreme Court's 2026 proceedings on the student protests, the relief contemplated under Article 142 — the 'quashing' of the FIRs — would mean which one of the following?

  • A. A permanent bar on the registration of any fresh first information report against any student anywhere in India
  • B. A blanket amnesty covering every person present at the protest sites, including those with serious criminal antecedents
  • C. Termination of the criminal proceedings arising from those FIRs, without any trial verdict on guilt or innocence
  • D. An acquittal after trial which operates as a conclusive finding of innocence binding on every court in the country

Q5. In its investigation into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, the CBI identified one individual as the principal source, or 'kingpin', of the leak. That person was:

  • A. Prahlad Vithalrao Kulkarni, a Chemistry expert with access to the papers through the NTA examination process
  • B. Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a Botany expert with access to the papers through the NTA examination process
  • C. Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, a Physics expert with access to the papers through the NTA examination process
  • D. A Biology paper-setter deputed by the CBSE, which conducted such entrance tests before the NTA was created in 2017

Q6. Consider the following statements about the NEET-UG 2026 paper-leak episode: 1. The examination conducted on 3 May 2026 was cancelled and a re-examination was announced for 21 June 2026. 2. The Central Bureau of Investigation arrested nine accused from places including Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune and Ahilyanagar. 3. Three subject experts appointed by the National Testing Agency, in Botany, Chemistry and Physics, were alleged to have been part of the conspiracy. 4. Following the leak, the Union Education Minister announced that all examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency, without exception, would move to computer-based mode from 2027. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The examination conducted on 3 May 2026 was cancelled and a re-examination was announced for 21 June 2026.
  2. The Central Bureau of Investigation arrested nine accused from places including Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune and Ahilyanagar.
  3. Three subject experts appointed by the National Testing Agency, in Botany, Chemistry and Physics, were alleged to have been part of the conspiracy.
  4. Following the leak, the Union Education Minister announced that all examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency, without exception, would move to computer-based mode from 2027.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q7. Consider the following statements comparing the constitutional and statutory position on protests in India: 1. Freedom of speech and expression is guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a), whereas the right to assemble peaceably and without arms is a separate guarantee under Article 19(1)(b). 2. In the Shaheen Bagh case (2020), the Supreme Court held that a public place may be occupied indefinitely for a protest so long as the protest remains peaceful and unarmed. 3. The power to issue prohibitory orders against assemblies and processions, which corresponded to Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, is now contained in Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Freedom of speech and expression is guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a), whereas the right to assemble peaceably and without arms is a separate guarantee under Article 19(1)(b).
  2. In the Shaheen Bagh case (2020), the Supreme Court held that a public place may be occupied indefinitely for a protest so long as the protest remains peaceful and unarmed.
  3. The power to issue prohibitory orders against assemblies and processions, which corresponded to Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, is now contained in Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. Reasonable restrictions specifically on the right of citizens to assemble peaceably and without arms may be imposed by the State under which one of the following provisions?

  • A. Article 19(2), which permits restrictions on every freedom listed in Article 19(1) on grounds such as decency and morality
  • B. Article 19(3), which permits restrictions in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India or public order
  • C. Article 19(6), which permits reasonable restrictions in the interests of the general public on the freedoms guaranteed by Article 19(1)
  • D. Article 21, which subjects all the freedoms in Part III to any procedure established by law made by the State

Q9. Consider the following statements about the National Testing Agency (NTA) as compared with the bodies that preceded it in conducting entrance examinations: 1. It was set up in 2017 as an autonomous and self-sustained testing organisation registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. 2. Entrance examinations for higher educational institutions that were being conducted by the CBSE and the AICTE were entrusted to it, and it began with the UGC-NET examination. 3. Unlike the CBSE, it was created as a statutory body by an Act of Parliament and is outside the purview of the Right to Information Act. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It was set up in 2017 as an autonomous and self-sustained testing organisation registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
  2. Entrance examinations for higher educational institutions that were being conducted by the CBSE and the AICTE were entrusted to it, and it began with the UGC-NET examination.
  3. Unlike the CBSE, it was created as a statutory body by an Act of Parliament and is outside the purview of the Right to Information Act.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. Which one of the following correctly describes the legal form in which the National Testing Agency was constituted and the authority under which it functions?

  • A. Constituted as a statutory body under the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, functioning under the Ministry of Education
  • B. Constituted as a central public sector enterprise under the Companies Act, 2013, functioning under the Ministry of Education
  • C. Constituted as an attached office of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship for conducting entrance tests
  • D. Constituted as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education

Q11. The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, which governs the registration of first information reports in cognizable cases and saves the inherent powers of the High Court, is administered by which ministry, and it came into force on which date?

  • A. Ministry of Home Affairs; 1 July 2024
  • B. Ministry of Home Affairs; 26 January 2024
  • C. Ministry of Law and Justice; 1 July 2024
  • D. Ministry of Law and Justice; 11 August 2023

Q12. The Central Bureau of Investigation, which registered and investigated the NEET-UG 2026 paper-leak case, exercises its powers of investigation by virtue of which one of the following?

  • A. A 1963 resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs, which by itself confers on it all its powers of investigation
  • B. The Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946
  • C. The Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003, under which its anti-corruption division was placed on a statutory footing
  • D. The Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, read with notifications issued by the Department of Personnel and Training