UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Delhi HC terms Rana Ayyub’s tweets derogatory, communal

Q1. The grounds 'public order' and 'friendly relations with foreign States' were introduced into Article 19(2) of the Constitution — and the word 'reasonable' prefixed to restrictions — solely by which one of the following?

  • A. The Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951
  • B. The Constitution (Sixteenth Amendment) Act, 1963
  • C. The Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976
  • D. The Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978

Q2. As it stands today, on how many distinct grounds may the State impose reasonable restrictions on the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(2)?

  • A. Six
  • B. Seven
  • C. Eight
  • D. Nine

Q3. Under which one of the following provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 is the Central Government empowered to issue directions for blocking public access to any information?

  • A. Section 66A
  • B. Section 67
  • C. Section 69A
  • D. Section 79

Q4. With reference to the Information Technology Act, 2000 and rules thereunder, consider the following statements: 1. Section 79 grants intermediaries conditional exemption from liability for third-party information, subject to observance of due diligence. 2. Section 69A confers on the Central Government the power to issue directions to block access to information. 3. The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules were notified in 2021. 4. The safe-harbour exemption under the Act is absolute and cannot be lost on account of the intermediary's inaction. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Section 79 grants intermediaries conditional exemption from liability for third-party information, subject to observance of due diligence.
  2. Section 69A confers on the Central Government the power to issue directions to block access to information.
  3. The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules were notified in 2021.
  4. The safe-harbour exemption under the Act is absolute and cannot be lost on account of the intermediary's inaction.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q5. Consider the following pairings of provisions of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 with their equivalents in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023: 1. IPC Section 153A (promoting enmity between groups) — BNS Section 196 2. IPC Section 295A (outraging religious feelings by insult) — BNS Section 299 3. IPC Section 298 (words uttered to wound religious feelings) — BNS Section 302 4. IPC Section 153A (promoting enmity between groups) — BNS Section 302 Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

  1. IPC Section 153A (promoting enmity between groups) — BNS Section 196
  2. IPC Section 295A (outraging religious feelings by insult) — BNS Section 299
  3. IPC Section 298 (words uttered to wound religious feelings) — BNS Section 302
  4. IPC Section 153A (promoting enmity between groups) — BNS Section 302
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q6. Promoting enmity between different groups under Section 196(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 is punishable with imprisonment which may extend to a maximum of how many years (or fine, or both)?

  • A. Two years
  • B. Three years
  • C. Five years
  • D. Seven years

Q7. In the Delhi High Court proceedings concerning the tweets, the Centre stated that platform X 'risks losing its safe harbour'. In this context, 'safe harbour' most precisely means:

  • A. A conditional immunity of an intermediary from liability for user-generated content, contingent on due diligence and acting on notice
  • B. A guaranteed constitutional right of a platform to host any content under Article 19(1)(a)
  • C. A government undertaking not to block a platform's content without a court order
  • D. An exemption granted to journalists from prosecution for their published views

Q8. The First Information Report registered over the tweets, pursuant to a court direction, is being handled by which one of the following?

  • A. Delhi Police
  • B. Central Bureau of Investigation
  • C. Enforcement Directorate
  • D. National Investigation Agency

Q9. Which one of the following writ jurisdictions is the widest in scope, extending to the enforcement not only of fundamental rights but also 'for any other purpose'?

  • A. The High Court's jurisdiction under Article 226
  • B. The Supreme Court's jurisdiction under Article 32
  • C. The Supreme Court's jurisdiction under Article 139
  • D. The Supreme Court's original jurisdiction under Article 131

Q10. At the level of the Union Government, matters relating to the administration of justice and the High Courts are principally handled by which one of the following?

  • A. The Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice
  • B. The Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice
  • C. The Ministry of Home Affairs
  • D. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs

Q11. The power to block online content under Section 69A of the IT Act — a provision upheld in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India — is exercised by the Central Government principally through which one of the following ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
  • B. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
  • C. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Communications (Department of Telecommunications)

Q12. With reference to the framework governing press freedom and media accountability in India, consider the following statements: 1. The Press Council of India is a statutory body constituted under law. 2. The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 were framed under the Information Technology Act, 2000. 3. The Press Council of India is empowered to impose monetary penalties on newspapers that violate its guidelines. 4. A parliamentary Standing Committee examined the mechanism to curb fake news and submitted its report in 2025. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Press Council of India is a statutory body constituted under law.
  2. The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 were framed under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
  3. The Press Council of India is empowered to impose monetary penalties on newspapers that violate its guidelines.
  4. A parliamentary Standing Committee examined the mechanism to curb fake news and submitted its report in 2025.
  • A. 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2 only