UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — 14 judges appointed to four High Courts across country

Q1. Warrants of appointment of judges to the High Courts, after the Supreme Court Collegium's recommendation is accepted, are processed and the consequent notifications issued by which one of the following?

  • A. The Legislative Department in the Ministry of Law and Justice
  • B. The Department of Personnel and Training in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
  • C. The Department of Justice in the Ministry of Law and Justice
  • D. The Department of Legal Affairs in the Ministry of Law and Justice

Q2. With reference to the appointment of judges of High Courts under Article 217 and Article 224 of the Constitution of India, consider the following statements: 1. A judge appointed under Article 217 holds office until attaining the age of sixty-two years, whereas an additional judge appointed under Article 224 holds office for such period not exceeding two years as may be specified. 2. Article 224 permits the appointment of additional judges where there is a temporary increase in the business of a High Court or arrears of work therein, whereas Article 217 governs the appointment of permanent judges of that Court. 3. Unlike Article 217, Article 224 dispenses with the prescribed qualifications, so an additional judge need not satisfy the eligibility conditions laid down for a judge of a High Court. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A judge appointed under Article 217 holds office until attaining the age of sixty-two years, whereas an additional judge appointed under Article 224 holds office for such period not exceeding two years as may be specified.
  2. Article 224 permits the appointment of additional judges where there is a temporary increase in the business of a High Court or arrears of work therein, whereas Article 217 governs the appointment of permanent judges of that Court.
  3. Unlike Article 217, Article 224 dispenses with the prescribed qualifications, so an additional judge need not satisfy the eligibility conditions laid down for a judge of a High Court.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. As the system evolved through the Three Judges Cases, the body at the apex court that recommends appointments of judges to the Supreme Court comprises the Chief Justice of India together with how many other judges?

  • A. The two senior-most judges of that Court
  • B. The three senior-most judges of that Court
  • C. The four senior-most judges of that Court
  • D. The six senior-most judges of that Court

Q4. With reference to the collegium system and the Memorandum of Procedure governing appointments to the High Courts, consider the following statements: 1. The Memorandum of Procedure presently in force was prepared in 1998, pursuant to the Supreme Court judgment of 6 October 1993 read with the advisory opinion of 28 October 1998. 2. A proposal for appointment of a judge of a High Court is initiated by the Chief Justice of that High Court in consultation with the two senior-most puisne judges of that Court. 3. Once the Supreme Court Collegium forwards its recommendation, a fixed outer time limit is prescribed within which the Union Government must invariably notify the appointment. 4. Under the Memorandum of Procedure, the process of filling a vacancy in a High Court is to be initiated at least six months before the vacancy arises. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Memorandum of Procedure presently in force was prepared in 1998, pursuant to the Supreme Court judgment of 6 October 1993 read with the advisory opinion of 28 October 1998.
  2. A proposal for appointment of a judge of a High Court is initiated by the Chief Justice of that High Court in consultation with the two senior-most puisne judges of that Court.
  3. Once the Supreme Court Collegium forwards its recommendation, a fixed outer time limit is prescribed within which the Union Government must invariably notify the appointment.
  4. Under the Memorandum of Procedure, the process of filling a vacancy in a High Court is to be initiated at least six months before the vacancy arises.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q5. With reference to the National Judicial Appointments Commission as envisaged by the Constitution (Ninety-ninth Amendment) Act, 2014, consider the following as members of the Commission: 1. The Chief Justice of India, as its Chairperson 2. The two judges of the Supreme Court next in seniority to the Chief Justice of India 3. The Union Minister in charge of Law and Justice 4. The Attorney-General for India, ex officio Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The Chief Justice of India, as its Chairperson
  2. The two judges of the Supreme Court next in seniority to the Chief Justice of India
  3. The Union Minister in charge of Law and Justice
  4. The Attorney-General for India, ex officio
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. Consider the following statements comparing the National Judicial Appointments Commission scheme with the collegium system that continues in force: 1. Under the NJAC scheme two eminent persons were to be nominated by a committee consisting of the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of the Opposition in the House of the People, whereas the collegium system admits no non-judicial member into the recommending body. 2. The NJAC scheme required one of the two eminent persons to be nominated from among persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, the Other Backward Classes, minorities or women, whereas the collegium system functions without any such prescribed representation requirement. 3. The Supreme Court in 2015 struck down the Ninety-ninth Amendment on the ground that Parliament lacked legislative competence to amend Articles 124 and 217, and not on any ground relating to the basic structure of the Constitution. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Under the NJAC scheme two eminent persons were to be nominated by a committee consisting of the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of the Opposition in the House of the People, whereas the collegium system admits no non-judicial member into the recommending body.
  2. The NJAC scheme required one of the two eminent persons to be nominated from among persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, the Other Backward Classes, minorities or women, whereas the collegium system functions without any such prescribed representation requirement.
  3. The Supreme Court in 2015 struck down the Ninety-ninth Amendment on the ground that Parliament lacked legislative competence to amend Articles 124 and 217, and not on any ground relating to the basic structure of the Constitution.
  • 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 eligibility and tenure of judges of the High Courts in India, consider the following statements: 1. A person who has held judicial office in the territory of India for at least ten years is eligible for appointment as a judge of a High Court. 2. A person who has been an advocate of a High Court, or of two or more such courts in succession, for at least ten years is eligible for appointment as a judge of a High Court. 3. Every judge of a High Court holds office until attaining the age of sixty-two years, this age having been raised from sixty years by a constitutional amendment. 4. A distinguished jurist, being a person eminent in law, is eligible for appointment as a judge of a High Court in exactly the same manner as to the Supreme Court. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. A person who has held judicial office in the territory of India for at least ten years is eligible for appointment as a judge of a High Court.
  2. A person who has been an advocate of a High Court, or of two or more such courts in succession, for at least ten years is eligible for appointment as a judge of a High Court.
  3. Every judge of a High Court holds office until attaining the age of sixty-two years, this age having been raised from sixty years by a constitutional amendment.
  4. A distinguished jurist, being a person eminent in law, is eligible for appointment as a judge of a High Court in exactly the same manner as to the Supreme Court.
  • A. 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q8. The age of retirement of a judge of a High Court was raised from sixty years to sixty-two years by which one of the following?

  • A. The Constitution (Fifteenth Amendment) Act, 1963
  • B. The Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956
  • C. The Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976
  • D. The High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Conditions of Service) Act, 1958

Q9. Consider the following statements regarding the appointment of fourteen judicial officers as judges and additional judges of four High Courts in September 2026: 1. The names were approved by the Supreme Court Collegium at its meeting of 10 September 2026, while the formal notification of the appointments was issued by the Union Government on 19 September 2026. 2. Of the four High Courts covered, the largest number of these appointees went to the Delhi High Court, while the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court received a single appointee. 3. The appointments were notified by the Chief Justice of India, a warrant of the President being necessary only in the case of permanent judges and not additional judges. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The names were approved by the Supreme Court Collegium at its meeting of 10 September 2026, while the formal notification of the appointments was issued by the Union Government on 19 September 2026.
  2. Of the four High Courts covered, the largest number of these appointees went to the Delhi High Court, while the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court received a single appointee.
  3. The appointments were notified by the Chief Justice of India, a warrant of the President being necessary only in the case of permanent judges and not additional judges.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. Under the Memorandum of Procedure, after the Union Minister of Law and Justice has processed a Collegium recommendation for appointment of a Chief Justice of a High Court, such as those made for the Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Courts in August 2026, the advice is tendered to the President by which one of the following?

  • A. The Cabinet Secretary, on behalf of the Union Cabinet
  • B. The Chief Justice of India, in his capacity as head of the Collegium
  • C. The Attorney-General for India, as the highest law officer
  • D. The Prime Minister, who advises the President on the appointment

Q11. With reference to the seats and territorial jurisdiction of certain High Courts in India, consider the following statements: 1. The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh is a common High Court serving two Union Territories. 2. The Delhi High Court is among the small group of High Courts that exercise ordinary original civil jurisdiction. 3. The Jharkhand High Court, with its seat at Ranchi, exercises jurisdiction over the States of Jharkhand and Bihar. 4. The Karnataka High Court has its principal seat at Bengaluru, with benches at Dharwad and Kalaburagi. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh is a common High Court serving two Union Territories.
  2. The Delhi High Court is among the small group of High Courts that exercise ordinary original civil jurisdiction.
  3. The Jharkhand High Court, with its seat at Ranchi, exercises jurisdiction over the States of Jharkhand and Bihar.
  4. The Karnataka High Court has its principal seat at Bengaluru, with benches at Dharwad and Kalaburagi.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q12. The Government's position that there is no provision for reservation for any caste or class of persons in the higher judiciary rests on the constitutional provisions under which judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts are appointed. These are contained in which one of the following sets of Articles?

  • A. Articles 125, 218 and 224
  • B. Articles 124, 217 and 224
  • C. Articles 124, 214 and 231
  • D. Articles 124A, 217 and 222