UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC asks CBI to furnish ‘classified’ documents to former RAW official

Q1. Under the Official Secrets Act, 1923, the expression "prohibited place" is best understood as referring to which one of the following?

  • A. Defence installations, arsenals, dockyards and other places declared or notified by the Government as places of strategic importance
  • B. Any private property situated within a fixed distance of the international border
  • C. Courtrooms in which trials are conducted in camera on grounds of secrecy
  • D. Premises of foreign diplomatic missions located within Indian territory

Q2. How many sections does the Official Secrets Act, 1923 contain?

  • A. 5 sections
  • B. 15 sections
  • C. 23 sections
  • D. 30 sections

Q3. The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) functions under the administrative control of which one of the following?

  • A. Cabinet Secretariat
  • B. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • C. Ministry of Defence
  • D. Ministry of External Affairs

Q4. With reference to the institutional status of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), consider the following statements: 1. It was established in the year 1968. 2. It was created by a dedicated Act of Parliament governing external intelligence. 3. Its chief is designated as Secretary (Research). 4. It is primarily responsible for internal (domestic) intelligence. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. It was established in the year 1968.
  2. It was created by a dedicated Act of Parliament governing external intelligence.
  3. Its chief is designated as Secretary (Research).
  4. It is primarily responsible for internal (domestic) intelligence.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 3 and 4

Q5. With reference to the Supreme Court's 2026 order in V.K. Singh v. CBI, consider the following statements: 1. The accused was being prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act, 1923. 2. The Court directed the CBI to supply typed copies of the classified documents within two months. 3. The accused was required to give an undertaking not to make the documents public. 4. The Court directed that the classified documents be released into the public domain in the interest of transparency. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The accused was being prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act, 1923.
  2. The Court directed the CBI to supply typed copies of the classified documents within two months.
  3. The accused was required to give an undertaking not to make the documents public.
  4. The Court directed that the classified documents be released into the public domain in the interest of transparency.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 1 and 4

Q6. With reference to the case decided by the Supreme Court in V.K. Singh v. CBI (2026), consider the following statements: 1. The accused had served as a Joint Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat (RAW). 2. The prosecution arose from a book titled 'India's External Intelligence: Secrets of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)'. 3. The accused was prosecuted under the National Security Act, 1980. 4. The Court treated the accused's right to a fair trial as a facet of Article 21. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The accused had served as a Joint Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat (RAW).
  2. The prosecution arose from a book titled 'India's External Intelligence: Secrets of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)'.
  3. The accused was prosecuted under the National Security Act, 1980.
  4. The Court treated the accused's right to a fair trial as a facet of Article 21.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 1, 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 3

Q7. In the Supreme Court's reasoning balancing secrecy against the accused's rights, the "right to a fair trial" is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A facet of the fundamental right to life and personal liberty that entitles the accused to access the documents relied upon against him
  • B. An absolute right that automatically overrides every claim of national security
  • C. A purely statutory entitlement available only where the Official Secrets Act has been invoked
  • D. A Directive Principle of State Policy that is not enforceable in a court of law

Q8. In V.K. Singh v. CBI (2026), the Supreme Court held the accused's right to a fair trial to be a facet of a fundamental right guaranteed under which Article of the Constitution?

  • A. Article 21
  • B. Article 19
  • C. Article 20
  • D. Article 22

Q9. With reference to the legal status of the CBI as compared with related agencies, consider the following statements: 1. Unlike the NIA, which owes its existence to a dedicated statute of 2008, the CBI derives its investigative powers from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946. 2. Superintendence of the CBI in Prevention of Corruption Act cases vests with the Central Vigilance Commission, while in all other matters it vests with the Central Government. 3. Both the CBI and the NIA were established directly by resolutions of the United Nations. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Unlike the NIA, which owes its existence to a dedicated statute of 2008, the CBI derives its investigative powers from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.
  2. Superintendence of the CBI in Prevention of Corruption Act cases vests with the Central Vigilance Commission, while in all other matters it vests with the Central Government.
  3. Both the CBI and the NIA were established directly by resolutions of the United Nations.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A body that is not a statutory body per se and derives its investigative powers from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946
  • B. A statutory body established by a dedicated 'CBI Act' enacted in 1963
  • C. A constitutional body created under Article 324 of the Constitution
  • D. An investigative wing of the Central Vigilance Commission

Q11. With reference to India's intelligence and investigation agencies, consider the following statements: 1. The Research and Analysis Wing is India's external intelligence agency. 2. The Intelligence Bureau operates without a dedicated parent statute. 3. The National Investigation Agency was constituted under a statute enacted in 2008. 4. The Intelligence Bureau, like the NIA, possesses statutory powers to arrest and prosecute. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The Research and Analysis Wing is India's external intelligence agency.
  2. The Intelligence Bureau operates without a dedicated parent statute.
  3. The National Investigation Agency was constituted under a statute enacted in 2008.
  4. The Intelligence Bureau, like the NIA, possesses statutory powers to arrest and prosecute.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q12. Which one of the following is the nodal ministry for the Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2014?

  • A. Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
  • B. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • C. Ministry of Law and Justice
  • D. Ministry of Corporate Affairs