UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Consider Romeo-Juliet clause in POCSO: SC

Q1. Which one of the following is the nodal Ministry of the Government of India for the administration of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012?

• A. Ministry of Home Affairs
• B. Ministry of Law and Justice
• C. Ministry of Women and Child Development
• D. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

Q2. With reference to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, consider the following statements: 1. The Act defines a 'child' as any person below eighteen years of age. 2. It is administered by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. 3. It is a gender-neutral statute with respect to victims of sexual offences. 4. It currently contains a statutory 'close-in-age' exemption for adolescents between 16 and 18 years of age. Which of the above are correctly identified?

1. The Act defines a 'child' as any person below eighteen years of age.
2. It is administered by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
3. It is a gender-neutral statute with respect to victims of sexual offences.
4. It currently contains a statutory 'close-in-age' exemption for adolescents between 16 and 18 years of age.

• A. 1, 2 and 3 only
• B. 1 and 4 only
• C. 2, 3 and 4 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. With reference to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, consider the following statements: 1. The Act raised the age of consent in India from 16 to 18 years. 2. The Act is gender-neutral with respect to victims of sexual offences. 3. The Act incorporates a 'close-in-age' exemption decriminalising consensual sexual activity between adolescents within two years of each other. 4. The Act defines a 'child' as any person below eighteen years of age. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

1. The Act raised the age of consent in India from 16 to 18 years.
2. The Act is gender-neutral with respect to victims of sexual offences.
3. The Act incorporates a 'close-in-age' exemption decriminalising consensual sexual activity between adolescents within two years of each other.
4. The Act defines a 'child' as any person below eighteen years of age.

• A. 3 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 4 only
• D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Q4. In the context of the Supreme Court's January 2026 ruling in State of Uttar Pradesh v. Anurudh, what does the term 'Romeo-Juliet clause' precisely refer to?

• A. A judicial guideline mandating compulsory mediation between families before any POCSO First Information Report is registered
• B. A close-in-age exemption that decriminalises consensual sexual activity between adolescents who are close in age, typically between 16 and 18 years
• C. A statutory bail provision that permits release of a first-time juvenile offender accused under POCSO upon furnishing a personal bond
• D. A rebuttable presumption that any sexual act involving a person below 18 is to be treated as non-consensual unless the contrary is proved by the accused

Q5. With reference to the legal regime on age of consent in India before and after the enactment of the POCSO Act, 2012, consider the following statements: 1. Under the Indian Penal Code regime preceding POCSO, the age of consent stood at 16 years, whereas POCSO raised it to 18 years. 2. Unlike the earlier IPC provisions on rape, POCSO is gender-neutral with respect to the victim. 3. The 'Romeo-Juliet clause' urged by the Supreme Court in January 2026 has already been incorporated into POCSO through the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Under the Indian Penal Code regime preceding POCSO, the age of consent stood at 16 years, whereas POCSO raised it to 18 years.
2. Unlike the earlier IPC provisions on rape, POCSO is gender-neutral with respect to the victim.
3. The 'Romeo-Juliet clause' urged by the Supreme Court in January 2026 has already been incorporated into POCSO through the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 2 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3