UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC bans textbook, orders seizure of all copies
Q1. The NCERT Class 8 Social Science chapter banned by the Supreme Court in 2026 was drafted by a textbook development team working under the chairmanship of which one of the following?
- A. Professor Michel Danino
- B. Dr K. Kasturirangan
- C. Professor Dinesh Prasad Saklani
- D. Suparna Diwakar
Q2. In the context of the Supreme Court's 2026 action against the NCERT textbook, the expression 'suo motu cognisance' precisely means that the Court:
- A. Took up the matter on its own motion, without any petition or complaint being filed before it
- B. Transferred the matter to itself from a High Court that was already hearing it
- C. Acted only after a formal reference was made by the Attorney General of India
- D. Reviewed its own earlier judgment on the same subject under its review jurisdiction
Q3. With reference to the contempt jurisdiction invoked in the 2026 NCERT textbook case, consider the following statements:
1. Article 129 declares the Supreme Court a court of record with the power to punish for contempt of itself.
2. Article 215 confers a corresponding court-of-record status and contempt power on the High Courts.
3. Initiation of suo motu criminal contempt by the Supreme Court requires the prior sanction of the Attorney General.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Article 129 declares the Supreme Court a court of record with the power to punish for contempt of itself.
- Article 215 confers a corresponding court-of-record status and contempt power on the High Courts.
- Initiation of suo motu criminal contempt by the Supreme Court requires the prior sanction of the Attorney General.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q4. How many judges constituted the Supreme Court Bench that took suo motu cognisance and ordered the ban and seizure of the NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook in 2026?
- A. Two
- B. Three
- C. Five
- D. Seven