UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Supreme Court Collegium recommends four HC judges, woman advocate to top court

Q1. With reference to the evolution of the Collegium system through the 'Three Judges Cases', consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. In the First Judges Case (1981), the Supreme Court held that the word 'consultation' in Article 124 does not amount to concurrence, thereby giving the executive primacy in judicial appointments.
  2. In the Second Judges Case (1993), the Court held that the individual opinion of the Chief Justice of India alone, formed without consulting any other judge, is binding on the President.
  3. In the Third Judges Case (1998), the Court laid down that the Collegium for Supreme Court appointments consists of the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. After the Supreme Court Collegium finalises its recommendation, which authority within the Union government processes and forwards the recommendation for appointment of Supreme Court judges?

  • A. Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice
  • B. Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice
  • C. Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice
  • D. Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel

Q3. Acting on the Supreme Court Collegium's May 2026 recommendation, the formal warrants of appointment for the four High Court Chief Justices and Senior Advocate V. Mohana as Supreme Court judges were issued in June 2026 by the:

  • A. President of India
  • B. Chief Justice of India
  • C. Union Minister of Law and Justice
  • D. Supreme Court Collegium

Q4. In its meetings of May 2026, how many names in total did the Supreme Court Collegium recommend for elevation as judges of the Supreme Court?

  • A. Four
  • B. Five
  • C. Six
  • D. Seven

Q5. Justice B.V. Nagarathna is frequently described as being 'in line to be the first woman Chief Justice of India'. In this context, this distinction would make her the first woman to:

  • A. Head the Supreme Court of India as the Chief Justice of India
  • B. Be appointed Chief Justice of a High Court in India
  • C. Preside over a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court
  • D. Be appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of India

Q6. Consider the following statements pairing women Supreme Court judges with a fact about their elevation: Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Fathima Beevi was appointed the first woman judge of the Supreme Court in 1989.
  2. Indu Malhotra was directly elevated from the Bar to the Supreme Court in 2018.
  3. V. Mohana took oath as a judge of the Supreme Court in 2026.
  4. B.V. Nagarathna, the last woman judge appointed before V. Mohana, was elevated to the Supreme Court in 2018.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 3 only

Q7. Who was the first woman advocate to be directly elevated from the Bar to the bench of the Supreme Court of India?

  • A. Indu Malhotra
  • B. Fathima Beevi
  • C. V. Mohana
  • D. Ruma Pal

Q8. In the context of Supreme Court appointments, the expression 'direct elevation from the Bar' most precisely refers to the appointment of:

  • A. A practising advocate as a Supreme Court judge without first having served as a judge of a High Court
  • B. A sitting High Court judge to the Supreme Court on the basis of seniority
  • C. A High Court Chief Justice to the Supreme Court bench
  • D. A district and sessions judge directly to the Supreme Court

Q9. In the process of higher judicial appointments in India, the 'Memorandum of Procedure' (MoP) is best described as:

  • A. A document framed jointly by the government and the judiciary laying down the procedure for appointing judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts
  • B. A provision of the Constitution under Article 124 specifying the qualifications of Supreme Court judges
  • C. A statute enacted by Parliament to regulate the transfer of High Court judges
  • D. A judgment of the Supreme Court that created the Collegium system

Q10. Consider the following statements about the process of appointing a judge of the Supreme Court of India: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A judge of the Supreme Court is appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.
  2. In appointing a Supreme Court judge other than the Chief Justice of India, the Chief Justice of India must always be consulted.
  3. Collegium recommendations are routed through the Department of Justice in the Ministry of Law and Justice before the appointment is made.
  4. The Union Cabinet has the power to finally reject a Collegium recommendation that the Collegium has reiterated.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q11. Following the 2026 measure raising the number of Supreme Court judges, what is the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court of India, including the Chief Justice of India?

  • A. 31
  • B. 34
  • C. 37
  • D. 38

Q12. In 2015, the Supreme Court struck down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) and the 99th Constitutional Amendment primarily on the ground that they violated which of the following?

  • A. The basic structure of the Constitution, specifically the independence of the judiciary
  • B. The principle of federalism between the Centre and the States
  • C. The doctrine of pleasure governing constitutional offices
  • D. The principle of collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers