UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — If BNS distinguishes between throwing and administering acid, RPwD Act must too: SC

Q1. The May 2026 notification amending the Schedule of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 to cover victims subjected to forced ingestion of acid was issued by which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • B. Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
  • C. Ministry of Women and Child Development
  • D. Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Q2. With reference to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the offence of voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid — covering both 'throwing' and 'administering' of acid — is dealt with under which one of the following?

  • A. Section 124
  • B. Section 125
  • C. Section 326A
  • D. Section 326B

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016: 1. It increased the number of specified disabilities from seven to twenty-one. 2. Acid attack victims are listed in its Schedule as a specified disability. 3. It came into force on 19 April 2017. 4. It was enacted by Parliament prior to India's ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. It increased the number of specified disabilities from seven to twenty-one.
  2. Acid attack victims are listed in its Schedule as a specified disability.
  3. It came into force on 19 April 2017.
  4. It was enacted by Parliament prior to India's ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q4. The March 2026 Supreme Court observation directing the Union to amend the RPwD Act's definition of 'acid attack victim' to include forced ingestion was made by a Bench headed by which one of the following?

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

Q5. With reference to the differences between the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995, consider the following statements: 1. The 2016 Act is rights-based whereas the 1995 Act was welfare-based. 2. The 2016 Act expanded the list of specified disabilities from seven to twenty-one. 3. Unlike the 1995 Act, the 2016 Act removed reservation in government employment for persons with benchmark disabilities. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The 2016 Act is rights-based whereas the 1995 Act was welfare-based.
  2. The 2016 Act expanded the list of specified disabilities from seven to twenty-one.
  3. Unlike the 1995 Act, the 2016 Act removed reservation in government employment for persons with benchmark disabilities.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3
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