UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — U.S. court allows suits on NSA Doval, RAW ex-chief

Q1. With reference to the service of a summons issued by a foreign court in a civil suit on a defendant residing in India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A private process server engaged by the foreign plaintiff can validly effect service by personally handing the papers to the defendant in India.
  2. Delivery of a notice by the foreign government at the defendant State's embassy abroad is the route India recognises for serving its individual officials.
  3. When the request is routed through the authority India has designated, it is that authority, and not the foreign plaintiff, that arranges service on the defendant.
  • A. 3 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q2. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. The route for serving Pannun's lawsuit on Indian officials falls under the framework of the Hague Service Convention, not under treaties on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
  2. The Hague Service Convention deals with service of judicial documents in civil or commercial matters, and Pannun's lawsuit against the officials is a civil plea.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q3. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Pannun's civil plea against Indian officials can proceed in a U.S. court separately from the criminal case built on the FBI's findings about the 2023 plot.
  2. Because Pannun is the alleged target of the plot, his lawsuit is the proceeding through which the alleged plotters would face criminal punishment in the United States.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q4. With reference to the immunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction, as set out in the International Law Commission's draft articles, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Immunity ratione personae covers acts performed in a private capacity as well as acts performed in an official capacity.
  2. Immunity ratione personae extends even to acts that its holder performed before taking office.
  3. Immunity ratione materiae for official acts comes to an end once the individual ceases to be a State official.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q5. With reference to the 2019 amendment to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The amendment for the first time allowed the central government to designate organisations as terrorist organisations under the Act.
  2. After the amendment, an individual can be designated as a terrorist on grounds such as preparing for or promoting terrorism.
  3. The amendment applies a narrower set of grounds for designating individuals than the grounds that apply to organisations.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 2 only
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q6. Consider the following statements about the legal basis of the National Investigation Agency (NIA): Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The NIA owes its existence to an Act of Parliament, under which the Central Government constitutes it.
  2. Being a police organisation, the NIA remains subject to the Police Act, 1861 in its constitution, and that Act prevails over the NIA Act wherever the two conflict.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. Both 1 and 2
  • D. Neither 1 nor 2

Q7. Which one of the following correctly distinguishes the designation of an individual as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, as amended in 2019, from the conviction of an individual for a terrorist act?

  • A. Designation is made by a court after a trial; conviction is notified by the central government
  • B. Designation is an executive act of the central government; conviction follows a judicial trial
  • C. Designation needs a prior UN Security Council listing; conviction rests on domestic law alone
  • D. Designation requires a prior court conviction; conviction in turn requires a prior designation