UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Judiciary chapter in NCERT textbook was reviewed ‘at highest level’, SC told

Q1. The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, which prescribes the procedure for contempt proceedings, falls within the administrative purview of which one of the following Union Ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Law and Justice
  • C. Ministry of Education
  • D. Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs

Q2. With reference to the contempt jurisdiction of Indian courts, consider the following: 1. The Supreme Court's power to punish for contempt of itself flows from Article 129 of the Constitution. 2. High Courts derive their status as courts of record and the power to punish for contempt from Article 215. 3. The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 classifies contempt into civil contempt and criminal contempt. 4. The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 can curtail the contempt powers that the Supreme Court derives from the Constitution. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The Supreme Court's power to punish for contempt of itself flows from Article 129 of the Constitution.
  2. High Courts derive their status as courts of record and the power to punish for contempt from Article 215.
  3. The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 classifies contempt into civil contempt and criminal contempt.
  4. The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 can curtail the contempt powers that the Supreme Court derives from the Constitution.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q3. Within NCERT's National Institute of Education, the development of syllabi and textbooks in subjects such as History, Geography, Political Science and Economics is the responsibility of which one of the following departments?

  • A. Department of Education in Science and Mathematics (DESM)
  • B. Department of Curriculum Studies and Development (DCS&D)
  • C. Department of Education in Social Sciences (DESS)
  • D. Department of Education in Languages (DEL)

Q4. How many Regional Institutes of Education (RIEs) does NCERT operate as its constituent units?

  • A. Four
  • B. Five
  • C. Six
  • D. Seven

Q5. Under the 5+3+3+4 curricular design adopted by the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023, consider the following: 1. Foundational Stage 2. Preparatory Stage 3. Middle Stage 4. Higher Education (Tertiary) Stage Which of the above is/are correctly identified as stages of school education under NCF-SE 2023?

  1. Foundational Stage
  2. Preparatory Stage
  3. Middle Stage
  4. Higher Education (Tertiary) Stage
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. Consider the following statements comparing the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023 with earlier arrangements: 1. NCF-SE 2023 aligns schooling to a 5+3+3+4 design, replacing the earlier 10+2 structure. 2. NCF-SE 2023 was developed to give effect to the National Education Policy 2020. 3. Unlike the earlier framework, NCF-SE 2023 covers only the Secondary Stage of school education. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. NCF-SE 2023 aligns schooling to a 5+3+3+4 design, replacing the earlier 10+2 structure.
  2. NCF-SE 2023 was developed to give effect to the National Education Policy 2020.
  3. Unlike the earlier framework, NCF-SE 2023 covers only the Secondary Stage of school education.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. With reference to the Supreme Court's successive orders in the NCERT judiciary-chapter matter (2026), consider the following statements: 1. The February 2026 order imposed a blanket ban on the publication, reprint and digital dissemination of the Class 8 Social Science textbook. 2. The March 2026 order directed the Union, States/UTs and publicly funded institutions to disassociate from the three named experts. 3. The May 2026 order tightened the earlier directions by permanently barring the three experts from all curriculum-related work. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The February 2026 order imposed a blanket ban on the publication, reprint and digital dissemination of the Class 8 Social Science textbook.
  2. The March 2026 order directed the Union, States/UTs and publicly funded institutions to disassociate from the three named experts.
  3. The May 2026 order tightened the earlier directions by permanently barring the three experts from all curriculum-related work.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. In the context of the Supreme Court initiating action against the NCERT chapter in February 2026, the expression 'suo motu cognizance' most precisely means that the Court:

  • A. took up the matter on its own motion, without a petition by an aggrieved party
  • B. acted only after a formal reference was made to it by the Union Government
  • C. acted upon a written complaint filed by the affected students
  • D. took up the matter on the recommendation of the Attorney General for India

Q9. Under which Article of the Constitution is the conduct of a judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court barred from being discussed in Parliament, except upon a motion for the judge's removal?

  • A. Article 121
  • B. Article 124
  • C. Article 129
  • D. Article 211

Q10. Consider the following statements on the constitutional safeguards for judicial independence in India: 1. Article 121 bars Parliament from discussing the conduct of a judge except upon a motion for removal. 2. Article 211 extends a comparable bar to the Legislature of a State. 3. The salaries of Supreme Court judges are charged on the Contingency Fund of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Article 121 bars Parliament from discussing the conduct of a judge except upon a motion for removal.
  2. Article 211 extends a comparable bar to the Legislature of a State.
  3. The salaries of Supreme Court judges are charged on the Contingency Fund of India.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. The National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG), which provides near real-time data on pending and disposed cases, was created as an online platform under which one of the following?

  • A. The eCourts Mission Mode Project
  • B. The National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms Fund
  • C. The Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme
  • D. The National e-Governance Plan's Common Service Centres scheme

Q12. Regarding the sequence of events in the NCERT judiciary-chapter controversy (2026), consider the following statements: 1. The Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of the chapter in February 2026, before issuing its disassociation order in March 2026. 2. NCERT recalled the entire Class 8 Social Science textbook and issued an apology following the Court's objection. 3. The Supreme Court never modified or diluted any of its orders concerning the three experts. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of the chapter in February 2026, before issuing its disassociation order in March 2026.
  2. NCERT recalled the entire Class 8 Social Science textbook and issued an apology following the Court's objection.
  3. The Supreme Court never modified or diluted any of its orders concerning the three experts.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3