UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC judge advises wider use of mediation in family feuds
Q1. The Mediation Act, 2023 lists certain categories of 'disputes not fit for mediation'. Consider the following:
1. Disputes relating to claims against minors or persons of unsound mind
2. Disputes involving prosecution for criminal offences
3. Disputes relating to the levy or collection of taxes
4. Disputes relating to compoundable matrimonial offences
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as a category of disputes not fit for mediation?
- Disputes relating to claims against minors or persons of unsound mind
- Disputes involving prosecution for criminal offences
- Disputes relating to the levy or collection of taxes
- Disputes relating to compoundable matrimonial offences
- A. 3 only
- B. 4 only
- C. 3 and 4 only
- D. 1 and 4 only
Q2. Comparing the Mediation Bill, 2021 with the version passed in 2023, consider the following statements:
1. The 2021 Bill allowed 180 days for mediation, extendable by a further 180 days, whereas the 2023 version provides 120 days, extendable by a further 60 days.
2. The Parliamentary Standing Committee had recommended a timeline of 60 days, extendable by a further 90 days.
3. Under both the 2021 Bill and the 2023 version, a mediated settlement agreement can be challenged on grounds that include fraud, corruption and impersonation.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The 2021 Bill allowed 180 days for mediation, extendable by a further 180 days, whereas the 2023 version provides 120 days, extendable by a further 60 days.
- The Parliamentary Standing Committee had recommended a timeline of 60 days, extendable by a further 90 days.
- Under both the 2021 Bill and the 2023 version, a mediated settlement agreement can be challenged on grounds that include fraud, corruption and impersonation.
- A. 1 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. Consider the following statements comparing the roles of different bodies under the mediation framework:
1. The Mediation Council of India registers mediators, whereas mediation institutes train, educate and certify mediators.
2. A mediator is appointed exclusively by a mediation service provider, and parties have no say in the appointment.
3. Mediation service providers are recognised by the Mediation Council, and proceedings before them must necessarily be conducted in physical presence, since the framework does not provide for online mediation.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The Mediation Council of India registers mediators, whereas mediation institutes train, educate and certify mediators.
- A mediator is appointed exclusively by a mediation service provider, and parties have no say in the appointment.
- Mediation service providers are recognised by the Mediation Council, and proceedings before them must necessarily be conducted in physical presence, since the framework does not provide for online mediation.
- A. 1 only
- B. 2 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q4. The Mediation Bill, 2021 proposed the following composition for the Mediation Council of India:
1. A chairperson
2. Two full-time members with experience in alternative dispute resolution
3. Ex-officio members including the Law Secretary and the Expenditure Secretary
4. Two part-time members drawn from the Supreme Court's Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as part of the proposed composition of the Council?
- A chairperson
- Two full-time members with experience in alternative dispute resolution
- Ex-officio members including the Law Secretary and the Expenditure Secretary
- Two part-time members drawn from the Supreme Court's Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee
- A. 2 only
- B. 3 and 4 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 4 only
Q5. Consider the following matters:
1. Guardianship of the person or custody of a minor
2. A declaration as to the legitimacy of any person
3. An order for maintenance of wife, children and parents under Chapter IX of the Code of Criminal Procedure
4. Trial of a husband for the offence of cruelty against his wife
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as falling within the jurisdiction of a Family Court under Section 7 of the Family Courts Act, 1984?
- Guardianship of the person or custody of a minor
- A declaration as to the legitimacy of any person
- An order for maintenance of wife, children and parents under Chapter IX of the Code of Criminal Procedure
- Trial of a husband for the offence of cruelty against his wife
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2, 3 and 4 only
- C. 1, 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2 and 3 only
Q6. Under Section 13 of the Family Courts Act, 1984, an 'amicus curiae' in a Family Court proceeding means:
- A. A legal practitioner whom every party may engage as a matter of statutory right
- B. A mediator registered with the Mediation Council of India, chosen jointly by the parties
- C. A legal expert whose help the Court may seek when it finds this necessary
- D. A panel lawyer assigned by the State Legal Services Authority to the weaker spouse
Q7. Among the following, which is the only provision that obliges parties to first exhaust mediation before they may institute a suit (where no urgent interim relief is sought)?
- A. Section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
- B. The pre-litigation mediation provision of the Mediation Act, 2023
- C. Section 9 of the Family Courts Act, 1984
- D. Section 12A of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015
Q8. Consider the following modes of dispute settlement:
1. Arbitration
2. Negotiation
3. Conciliation
4. Judicial settlement, including settlement through Lok Adalat
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as modes to which a court may refer a dispute under Section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908?
- Arbitration
- Negotiation
- Conciliation
- Judicial settlement, including settlement through Lok Adalat
- A. 1, 3 and 4 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q9. Consider these ADR outcomes: an award of a Lok Adalat, an award of a Permanent Lok Adalat for public utility services, a mediated settlement agreement under the Mediation Act, 2023, and a settlement from community mediation as framed in the Mediation Bill, 2021. How many of these outcomes are described in their governing texts as final and binding on the parties?
- A. Only one
- B. Only two
- C. Only three
- D. All four
Q10. Consider the following statements regarding the constitutional and statutory basis of access to justice in India:
1. Article 39A, which provides for equal justice and free legal aid, was inserted by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment).
2. The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 was enacted under Article 39A to set up a nationwide uniform network of free legal services for weaker sections.
3. The Union Government has linked the speedy disposal of cases and reduction of pendency to the mandate of Article 21.
4. The Legal Services Authorities Act came into force in 1987, the same year it was enacted.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- Article 39A, which provides for equal justice and free legal aid, was inserted by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment).
- The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 was enacted under Article 39A to set up a nationwide uniform network of free legal services for weaker sections.
- The Union Government has linked the speedy disposal of cases and reduction of pendency to the mandate of Article 21.
- The Legal Services Authorities Act came into force in 1987, the same year it was enacted.
- A. 1 and 4 only
- B. 3 only
- C. 3 and 4 only
- D. 4 only
Q11. In September 2026, the chairperson of the Supreme Court's Committee for Family Court Matters gave the inaugural address at the Committee's Eastern Zone Regional Conference in Guwahati. Consider the following as proposals or positions attributed to that address:
1. A dedicated geriatric mediation panel of persons trained in ageing and dependency, to resolve disputes of senior citizens within families
2. ADR should replace adjudication as the primary forum for family disputes, since speed of resolution outweighs the outcome
3. Child-inclusive mediation, in which the child is made a party and is heard directly by the Family Court judge
4. Pre-litigation mediation in every dispute arising under the Family Courts Act
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified?
- A dedicated geriatric mediation panel of persons trained in ageing and dependency, to resolve disputes of senior citizens within families
- ADR should replace adjudication as the primary forum for family disputes, since speed of resolution outweighs the outcome
- Child-inclusive mediation, in which the child is made a party and is heard directly by the Family Court judge
- Pre-litigation mediation in every dispute arising under the Family Courts Act
- A. 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q12. Which body is the principal Supreme Court-level agency that trains lawyers to serve as mediators in court-referred disputes, including matrimonial ones?
- A. Committee for Family Court Matters
- B. Mediation Council of India
- C. National Legal Services Authority
- D. Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee