UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Comply with Bhojshala order, SC tells Centre, M.P.
Q1. The Supreme Court bench that passed the July 2026 interim order in the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque matter, directing identification of a separate open space for Friday namaz, was headed by which one of the following?
- A. Justice Joymalya Bagchi
- B. Chief Justice Surya Kant
- C. Justice V. Mohana
- D. Justice B.R. Gavai
Q2. As per the Supreme Court's July 2026 interim arrangement in the Bhojshala matter, for how long each Friday were Muslims permitted to offer namaz at the separate open space identified near the complex?
- A. One hour
- B. Two hours
- C. Three hours
- D. Four hours
Q3. In the name 'Kamal Maula Mosque', by which the Muslim side identifies the disputed Bhojshala structure, 'Kamal Maula' refers to which one of the following?
- A. A Sufi saint
- B. A Paramara-era king
- C. An Archaeological Survey of India Director-General
- D. A Mughal governor of Malwa
Q4. Consider the following statements about the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex:
1. It is located in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh.
2. It is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India as a monument of national importance.
3. The Muslim side regards the structure as the Kamal Maula Mosque.
4. The Vagdevi statue at the site is credited to Raja Bhoj of the Chandela dynasty.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- It is located in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh.
- It is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India as a monument of national importance.
- The Muslim side regards the structure as the Kamal Maula Mosque.
- The Vagdevi statue at the site is credited to Raja Bhoj of the Chandela dynasty.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 3 only
- C. 2 and 4 only
- D. 4 only
Q5. With reference to the 7 April 2003 ASI arrangement and the site's protection status, consider the following statements:
1. Under the 2003 order, Hindus were permitted to worship at the complex on Tuesdays.
2. Under the same order, Muslims were permitted to offer namaz on Fridays.
3. The Bhojshala has been under ASI control as a monument of national importance since 1951.
4. The 2003 order allowed both communities to worship at the complex on all days of the week.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Under the 2003 order, Hindus were permitted to worship at the complex on Tuesdays.
- Under the same order, Muslims were permitted to offer namaz on Fridays.
- The Bhojshala has been under ASI control as a monument of national importance since 1951.
- The 2003 order allowed both communities to worship at the complex on all days of the week.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 2 and 3 only
- C. 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q6. The administrative order that fixed the long-standing Tuesday-worship and Friday-namaz arrangement at the Bhojshala complex was issued in which year?
- A. 1951
- B. 1958
- C. 2003
- D. 2024
Q7. The ASI's court-ordered scientific survey of the Bhojshala complex, which commenced on 22 March 2024, continued for how many days before its report was compiled?
- A. 42 days
- B. 68 days
- C. 98 days
- D. 120 days
Q8. Consider the following statements contrasting the 2024 ASI scientific survey with earlier interventions at the Bhojshala complex:
1. The 2024 scientific survey was directed by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, whereas the 2003 worship arrangement was an ASI administrative order.
2. The 2024 survey report was submitted to the Supreme Court, unlike the ASI's earlier documentation of 1902-05.
3. The report indicated that the existing structure incorporated parts of pre-existing temples linked to Raja Bhoj of the Paramara dynasty.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The 2024 scientific survey was directed by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, whereas the 2003 worship arrangement was an ASI administrative order.
- The 2024 survey report was submitted to the Supreme Court, unlike the ASI's earlier documentation of 1902-05.
- The report indicated that the existing structure incorporated parts of pre-existing temples linked to Raja Bhoj of the Paramara dynasty.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q9. The Archaeological Survey of India, the custodial body for the Bhojshala complex, functions as an attached office under which one of the following Union ministries?
- A. Ministry of Home Affairs
- B. Ministry of Culture
- C. Ministry of Tourism
- D. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
Q10. With reference to the ASI's regulatory authority over centrally protected monuments such as Bhojshala, which one of the following statements is correct?
- A. Its protective powers flow from the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
- B. Under this law, all forms of religious worship are permanently barred at every centrally protected monument.
- C. The law vests in the ASI ownership of the entire land lying within 200 metres of a protected monument.
- D. The ASI alone is empowered to alter the religious character of any protected monument.
Q11. Consider the following disputed religious-site and location pairings:
1. Gyanvapi Mosque — Varanasi
2. Shahi Idgah (Krishna Janmabhoomi) — Mathura
3. Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site — Ayodhya
4. Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex — Ujjain
Which of the above pairs is/are NOT correctly matched?
- Gyanvapi Mosque — Varanasi
- Shahi Idgah (Krishna Janmabhoomi) — Mathura
- Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site — Ayodhya
- Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex — Ujjain
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 2 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 3 and 4 only
Q12. The obligation of Union and State governments to abide by the Supreme Court's declared law is anchored in Article 141 of the Constitution, which provides that:
- A. the law declared by the Supreme Court shall be binding on all courts within the territory of India.
- B. the Supreme Court may pass any decree necessary for doing complete justice in a matter before it.
- C. the President may refer a question of law to the Supreme Court for its advisory opinion.
- D. the Supreme Court shall have power to punish for contempt of itself.