UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Mosque committee to move SC against Bhojshala verdict

Question 1

Under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, the religious character of a place of worship must be maintained as it existed on which reference date?

Accepted Answer

15 August 1947

Answer

26 January 1950

Answer

26 November 1949

Answer

15 August 1950

Question 2

Which one of the following disputes is the ONLY express exception carved out from the bar imposed by the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991?

Accepted Answer

Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid, Ayodhya

Answer

Gyanvapi mosque, Varanasi

Answer

Shahi Idgah, Mathura

Answer

Bhojshala-Kamal Maula, Dhar

Question 3

Per the Madhya Pradesh High Court's 15 May 2026 verdict, the entire management of the Bhojshala complex is to remain with which body under the 1958 Act?

Accepted Answer

Archaeological Survey of India

Answer

National Monuments Authority

Answer

Madhya Pradesh State Archaeology Department

Answer

State Waqf Board

Question 4

With reference to the Madhya Pradesh High Court's 15 May 2026 Bhojshala verdict, consider the following:
1. The verdict was delivered by a bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi.
2. The court quashed the 2003 order that had permitted Muslim prayers at the site.
3. The court held that Muslims may request an alternative site for a mosque from the state government.
4. The court held that the 1991 Places of Worship Act applied and therefore barred the Hindu-side suits.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3

Answer

1 and 4 only

Answer

2, 3 and 4

Answer

1, 2 and 4

Question 5

The Archaeological Survey of India submitted its scientific survey report on the Bhojshala complex to which forum?

Accepted Answer

The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court

Answer

The Supreme Court of India

Answer

The Jabalpur principal seat of the Madhya Pradesh High Court

Answer

The Gwalior bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court

Question 6

Under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, how many metres from the boundary of a centrally protected monument constitute the 'prohibited area' where construction is barred?

Accepted Answer

100 metres

Answer

50 metres

Answer

200 metres

Answer

300 metres

Question 7

Under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, an 'ancient monument' is a structure of historical or archaeological interest that must have been in existence for a period of:

Accepted Answer

not less than 100 years

Answer

not less than 50 years

Answer

not less than 75 years

Answer

always more than 250 years

Question 8

With reference to the 1994 Ismail Faruqui v. Union of India case, consider the following:
1. It was decided by a five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court.
2. It held that a mosque is not integral/essential to the practice of Islam.
3. It struck down the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 as unconstitutional.
4. It arose in the context of acquisition of land at Ayodhya.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

3 only

Answer

1 and 3

Answer

2 and 4

Answer

3 and 4

Question 9

With reference to the history of the Bhojshala complex, consider the following:
1. Dhar served as a capital of the Paramara dynasty.
2. Raja Bhoja is believed to have installed the Vagdevi (Saraswati) statue there in 1034 AD.
3. Hindu groups hold that the Vagdevi statue was taken to London in 1875.
4. The complex was originally constructed by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3

Answer

1 and 4 only

Answer

2, 3 and 4

Answer

1, 3 and 4

Question 10

Comparing the Bhojshala dispute with other pending religious-site cases, consider the following statements:
1. The Supreme Court has stayed fresh surveys of mosques such as Gyanvapi (Varanasi) and Shahi Idgah (Mathura) pending its hearing on the 1991 Act.
2. Bhojshala is claimed to fall outside the 1991 Act's bar via the AMASR exemption, whereas Gyanvapi and Mathura are contested squarely under that Act.
3. The Ayodhya dispute was ultimately resolved by applying the Places of Worship Act, 1991.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 11

With reference to the parties opposing the Bhojshala verdict and pursuing appeal, consider the following:
1. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) backs the challenge to the verdict.
2. The Kamal Maula Mosque committee is the principal Muslim-side party in the dispute.
3. The Nirmohi Akhara is the lead appellant on the mosque side.
4. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is among the organisations aligned with the appeal.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 4

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Answer

2, 3 and 4

Answer

1 and 3 only

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Mosque committee to move SC against Bhojshala verdict

Q1. Under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, the religious character of a place of worship must be maintained as it existed on which reference date?

Q2. Which one of the following disputes is the ONLY express exception carved out from the bar imposed by the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991?

Q3. Per the Madhya Pradesh High Court's 15 May 2026 verdict, the entire management of the Bhojshala complex is to remain with which body under the 1958 Act?

Q5. The Archaeological Survey of India submitted its scientific survey report on the Bhojshala complex to which forum?

Q6. Under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, how many metres from the boundary of a centrally protected monument constitute the 'prohibited area' where construction is barred?

Q7. Under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, an 'ancient monument' is a structure of historical or archaeological interest that must have been in existence for a period of: