UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Criminal justice system must adopt a more victim-centric approach: SC

Q1. Under the victim compensation framework retained by the BNSS, 2023, which authority is statutorily responsible for verifying claims and awarding compensation to victims?

  • A. The State or District Legal Services Authority
  • B. The National Human Rights Commission
  • C. The National Commission for Women
  • D. The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission

Q2. In the context of the territorial jurisdiction of criminal courts under the BNSS, a 'continuing offence' is best described as:

  • A. An offence that persists over time and extends into more than one local jurisdiction, so that a court in any such jurisdiction may try it
  • B. An offence that can only ever be tried by the court in whose jurisdiction it first began
  • C. An offence that must invariably be consolidated and tried by a single court designated by the Supreme Court
  • D. An offence whose place of trial is fixed exclusively by the residence of the accused

Q3. In the May 2026 FIR-clubbing case, the Supreme Court declined consolidation partly because the offences were already being investigated separately by which of the following?

  • A. The respective State Police forces of the seven States where the FIRs were registered
  • B. The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs
  • C. The Enforcement Directorate under the Ministry of Finance
  • D. A single Special Investigation Team constituted by the Supreme Court

Q4. The Victim Compensation Scheme was first introduced into the Code of Criminal Procedure through the insertion of Section 357A by which of the following?

  • A. The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2008
  • B. The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2005
  • C. The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987
  • D. The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Q5. Justice Surya Kant, who headed the three-judge Bench in the May 2026 FIR-clubbing ruling, is which numbered Chief Justice of India?

  • A. 51st
  • B. 52nd
  • C. 53rd
  • D. 54th

Q6. The Chief Justice of India is appointed by the President of India under which provision of the Constitution?

  • A. Article 124(2)
  • B. Article 217(1)
  • C. Article 148
  • D. Article 76