UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Walking on footpath is a fundamental right, says SC

Q1. Who authored the June 2026 Supreme Court judgment that declared the right to walk on a demarcated footpath to be a fundamental right?

  • A. Chief Justice of India
  • B. Justice P.S. Narasimha
  • C. Justice A.S. Chandurkar
  • D. Justice Sanjiv Khanna

Q2. The June 2026 Supreme Court ruling located the fundamental right to walk on demarcated footpaths primarily in which provision of the Constitution, read with Article 21?

  • A. Article 19(1)(a)
  • B. Article 19(1)(b)
  • C. Article 19(1)(d)
  • D. Article 19(1)(g)

Q3. Which is the nodal Union ministry responsible for framing national road-safety and pedestrian-infrastructure policy in India, the domain to which the Supreme Court's June 2026 directions on footpaths apply?

  • A. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
  • C. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Law and Justice

Q4. With reference to the June 2026 Supreme Court judgment declaring the right to walk on demarcated footpaths a fundamental right, consider the following constitutional provisions: 1. Article 19(1)(d) — Right to move freely throughout the territory of India 2. Article 19(1)(a) — Right to freedom of speech and expression 3. Article 19(1)(g) — Right to practise any profession 4. Article 21 — Right to life and personal liberty Which of the above is/are correctly identified as constitutional bases relied upon by the Court?

  1. Article 19(1)(d) — Right to move freely throughout the territory of India
  2. Article 19(1)(a) — Right to freedom of speech and expression
  3. Article 19(1)(g) — Right to practise any profession
  4. Article 21 — Right to life and personal liberty
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q5. With reference to how the Supreme Court's June 2026 ruling on pedestrian footpaths differs from its earlier interventions on the subject, consider the following statements: 1. Unlike earlier directions which were administrative in nature, the June 2026 judgment for the first time constitutionalises the right to walk on demarcated footpaths as a fundamental right. 2. The June 2026 judgment holds that the right to walk on a demarcated footpath shall always have priority over the privilege of motorised vehicles on that path. 3. The June 2026 ruling, unlike the earlier administrative directions, was delivered by a Constitution Bench of five judges. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Unlike earlier directions which were administrative in nature, the June 2026 judgment for the first time constitutionalises the right to walk on demarcated footpaths as a fundamental right.
  2. The June 2026 judgment holds that the right to walk on a demarcated footpath shall always have priority over the privilege of motorised vehicles on that path.
  3. The June 2026 ruling, unlike the earlier administrative directions, was delivered by a Constitution Bench of five judges.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3
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