UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — HC seeks Centre’s response on plea to broadcast FIFA WC
Q1. Under the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007, a private broadcaster holding rights to an event of national importance must share an advertisement-free live signal with which single designated body?
- A. Prasar Bharati
- B. Doordarshan Sports (DD Sports)
- C. All India Radio
- D. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Q2. The mandatory sharing of the live signal of sporting events of national importance with the public broadcaster is required under which law?
- A. Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007
- B. Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990
- C. Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995
- D. Cinematograph Act, 1952
Q3. Which one of the following best describes the legal character of Prasar Bharati?
- A. An autonomous statutory body established under an Act of Parliament, functioning as the public service broadcaster
- B. A subordinate department of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
- C. A company registered under the Companies Act, owned by the Government
- D. A constitutional body created directly by the Constitution
Q4. Prasar Bharati, the umbrella body over Doordarshan and All India Radio, was constituted under which Act?
- A. Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990
- B. Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1997
- C. All India Radio and Doordarshan Act, 1985
- D. Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing) Act, 2007
Q5. With reference to the Supreme Court's ruling in Secretary, Ministry of I&B v. Cricket Association of Bengal (1995), consider the following statements:
1. Airwaves or the electromagnetic spectrum are public property.
2. Broadcasting is a medium of speech and expression protected under Article 19(1)(a).
3. Restrictions on broadcasting may be imposed only on the grounds enumerated in Article 19(2).
4. Article 19(1)(a) confers an absolute right that is not subject to any restriction.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- Airwaves or the electromagnetic spectrum are public property.
- Broadcasting is a medium of speech and expression protected under Article 19(1)(a).
- Restrictions on broadcasting may be imposed only on the grounds enumerated in Article 19(2).
- Article 19(1)(a) confers an absolute right that is not subject to any restriction.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 3 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 4
Q6. Which Union ministry is the nodal ministry for public service broadcasting and would be the authority to acquire broadcast rights for the public broadcaster?
- A. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
- B. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
- C. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
- D. Department of Telecommunications
Q7. The plea before the Delhi High Court seeks free-to-air public telecast of the FIFA World Cup held in which year?
- A. 2026
- B. 2022
- C. 2027
- D. 2030
Q8. Regarding the Delhi High Court petition on broadcasting the FIFA World Cup 2026, consider the following statements:
1. The petition was filed by advocate Avdhesh Bairwa.
2. The Court issued notice to the Centre and Prasar Bharati.
3. The interim relief sought acquisition of rights for the opening match, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final.
4. The Court directed Prasar Bharati to immediately purchase the rights for all 104 matches.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- The petition was filed by advocate Avdhesh Bairwa.
- The Court issued notice to the Centre and Prasar Bharati.
- The interim relief sought acquisition of rights for the opening match, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final.
- The Court directed Prasar Bharati to immediately purchase the rights for all 104 matches.
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 4 only
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 3 only
Q9. Whose reported bid of about USD 20 million was rejected by FIFA, leaving the India media rights unsold at the time of the petition?
- A. JioStar (the Disney Star–Viacom18 merged entity)
- B. Sony Pictures Networks India
- C. Sun TV Network
- D. DD Freedish
Q10. What was FIFA's initial (highest) asking price for the combined India media rights of the 2026 and 2030 World Cups before it was reduced?
- A. USD 100 million
- B. USD 35 million
- C. USD 20 million
- D. USD 55 million
Q11. Which one of the following correctly describes the hosting of the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
- A. Co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico — the first World Cup hosted by three countries
- B. Hosted solely by the United States
- C. Co-hosted by the United States and Mexico only
- D. Co-hosted by Canada and Mexico only
Q12. A High Court's power to issue writs, including in a public interest litigation such as the FIFA telecast plea, is derived from which Article of the Constitution?
- A. Article 226
- B. Article 32 only
- C. Article 136
- D. Article 227