UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — A promising hate speech Bill, with gaps

Q1. The Telangana Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2026 was formally introduced in the Legislative Assembly on behalf of the Chief Minister by the Minister holding which portfolio?

  • A. Information Technology and Industries
  • B. Home
  • C. Law and Justice
  • D. Backward Classes Welfare and Transport

Q2. The Telangana Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2026 is substantially modelled on an earlier State statute. Which State's legislature was the first to pass a dedicated Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill?

  • A. Karnataka
  • B. Telangana
  • C. Maharashtra
  • D. Kerala

Q3. Under the Telangana Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2026, what is the maximum term of imprisonment (in years) prescribed for a first offence?

  • A. 5
  • B. 7
  • C. 10
  • D. 14

Q4. Counting from the day the Bill was introduced in the Telangana Assembly, within how many days was it referred to the Select Committee?

  • A. Within 1 day (the very next day)
  • B. Within 3 days
  • C. Within 7 days
  • D. Within 15 days

Q5. The offence of 'promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc.' is now codified under which section of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023?

  • A. Section 196
  • B. Section 152
  • C. Section 299
  • D. Section 302

Q6. Which digital rights organisation wrote to the Select Committee seeking reconsideration of the Bill, specifically flagging the Designated Officer's content-blocking power?

  • A. Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF)
  • B. Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC.in)
  • C. Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF)
  • D. Access Now

Q7. Which of the following are correctly identified as Supreme Court judgments bearing on hate speech or online content regulation in India?

  1. Pravasi Bhalai Sangathan v. Union of India (2014) — prompted the Law Commission's 267th Report on hate speech.
  2. Amish Devgan v. Union of India (2020) — held that hate speech has no legitimate purpose other than hatred towards a group.
  3. Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015) — laid down the procedure governing content blocking under Section 69A.
  4. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973) — laid down guidelines specifically regulating hate speech.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4