UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — MP moves SC alleging ‘illegal detention’, ‘torture’ of DYFI leaders

Q1. With reference to the safeguards under Article 22 of the Constitution of India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A person detained under a law providing for preventive detention has the right under Article 22 to consult, and to be defended by, a legal practitioner of his choice.
  2. A person arrested and detained in custody must be produced before the nearest magistrate within twenty-four hours of arrest, excluding the time needed for the journey to the magistrate's court.
  3. A preventive detention order must be accompanied, as soon as may be, by communication of its grounds and the earliest opportunity to make a representation, though facts the authority considers against the public interest need not be disclosed.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q2. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. A person held under a law providing for preventive detention can be kept in custody beyond twenty-four hours without being produced before a magistrate.
  2. A person held under a law providing for preventive detention must be informed, as soon as may be, of the grounds on which the detention order has been made.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q3. With reference to the writ jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Article 32 and of the High Courts under Article 226, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A High Court may issue writs for purposes other than the enforcement of fundamental rights, whereas the Supreme Court's power under Article 32 is tied to the enforcement of rights conferred by Part III.
  2. Since Article 32 is itself a fundamental right, the Constitution permits no circumstance in which the right to move the Supreme Court under it can be suspended.
  3. If Parliament by law empowers another court to exercise the Supreme Court's writ powers within its local limits, the Supreme Court ceases to have those powers in that area.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1 only

Q4. A State's officials have acted in breach of a right that a State statute alone confers on a person. No fundamental right is involved. The person wants a writ of mandamus directing the officials to comply with the statute. Which court(s) can issue such a writ in the exercise of original writ jurisdiction?

  • A. The Supreme Court alone, under Article 32
  • B. The High Court alone, under Article 226
  • C. Either the High Court or the Supreme Court
  • D. Neither court, as writs need a fundamental right

Q5. With reference to the legislative powers relating to the National Capital Territory of Delhi under Article 239AA, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Legislative Assembly of Delhi can make laws on matters in the Concurrent List in so far as they are applicable to Union territories.
  2. Parliament keeps its power to make laws for the National Capital Territory even on matters on which the Legislative Assembly of Delhi is competent to legislate.
  3. The matters taken out of the Delhi Assembly's legislative competence are specified entries of the State List, not the Concurrent List as a whole.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q6. With reference to the UN Convention against Torture and the giving of effect to treaties in India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. As of 2026, India has signed but not ratified the Convention, and so is not a State Party to it.
  2. Under the Indian Constitution, a convention ratified by India creates criminal offences that Indian courts can enforce without any implementing legislation by Parliament.
  3. Parliament can make a law to implement an international convention even if the law deals with a subject in the State List.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q7. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. India has signed the UN Convention against Torture but has not ratified it.
  2. The Constitution of India requires a treaty signed by India to be approved by a special majority in both Houses of Parliament before the Union executive can ratify it.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q8. Police detain a group of activists to stop a gathering at a public place in a city. With reference to the right to assemble under Article 19 of the Constitution of India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. An executive order of the police, without the backing of any law, is enough to restrict the right to assemble under Article 19(3).
  2. The right to assemble peaceably and without arms under Article 19(1)(b) is guaranteed only to citizens.
  3. The grounds on which the right to assemble may be restricted are the sovereignty and integrity of India and public order; 'decency or morality' is not among them.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only