UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Plea in SC seeks fire safety protocol for high-risk buildings

Q1. In the context of the recent Supreme Court plea on building fire safety, which one of the following best describes the scope of Part 4 of the National Building Code of India, 2016?

  • A. Fire and Life Safety, covering fire zones, occupancy classification, fire-resistance of construction and means of egress
  • B. Development Control Rules and General Building Requirements
  • C. Building and Plumbing Services such as water supply, drainage and sanitation
  • D. Approach to Sustainability, covering green building and energy-efficiency norms

Q2. The PIL seeking a national fire and life safety framework principally invokes the violation of which one of the following fundamental rights as its substantive constitutional basis?

  • A. Right to Life under Article 21
  • B. Right to Equality under Article 14
  • C. Right to Freedom under Article 19
  • D. Right to Constitutional Remedies under Article 32

Q3. As reported, the PIL asks the Supreme Court to direct submission of an interim consolidated note on fire safety compliance within how many weeks?

  • A. 2 weeks
  • B. 4 weeks
  • C. 6 weeks
  • D. 8 weeks

Q4. Which one of the following is the primary technical standard currently governing fire and life safety requirements for buildings in India, around which the plea seeks a uniform national framework?

  • A. National Building Code of India, 2016 (Part 4)
  • B. Model Fire Service Bill of the Ministry of Home Affairs
  • C. Disaster Management Act, 2005
  • D. Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016

Q5. With reference to the regulatory regime against which the recent Supreme Court plea seeks a uniform national fire safety framework, consider the following statements: 1. Fire services in India are constitutionally a State subject, with each State enacting its own fire services legislation. 2. The plea seeks a national minimum framework applicable irrespective of the differing fire safety regulatory frameworks across States. 3. The National Building Code of India is a self-executing statute enacted by Parliament and is therefore directly binding nationwide. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Fire services in India are constitutionally a State subject, with each State enacting its own fire services legislation.
  2. The plea seeks a national minimum framework applicable irrespective of the differing fire safety regulatory frameworks across States.
  3. The National Building Code of India is a self-executing statute enacted by Parliament and is therefore directly binding nationwide.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3
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