UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Supreme Court asks panel to review cartoons in textbooks

Q1. The nationwide withdrawal and subsequent revision of the school Social Science textbook whose content the Supreme Court directed to be re-examined is operationally carried out by which one of the following bodies?

  • A. National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)
  • B. Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
  • C. National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE)
  • D. National Judicial Academy, Bhopal

Q2. With reference to the Supreme Court's proceedings over the NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook, consider the following statements: 1. The revised edition of the textbook dropped the disputed section referencing judicial corruption and added content on Public Interest Litigation, tribunals and alternative dispute resolution. 2. The original textbook was withdrawn following a 'blanket and complete' ban ordered by the Supreme Court. 3. The suo motu contempt proceedings arising from the textbook were initiated against officials of the Central Board of Secondary Education. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The revised edition of the textbook dropped the disputed section referencing judicial corruption and added content on Public Interest Litigation, tribunals and alternative dispute resolution.
  2. The original textbook was withdrawn following a 'blanket and complete' ban ordered by the Supreme Court.
  3. The suo motu contempt proceedings arising from the textbook were initiated against officials of the Central Board of Secondary Education.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. Which one of the following most precisely describes the institutional character of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)?

  • A. An autonomous organisation (society) set up to assist and advise the Central and State Governments on policies for qualitative improvement of school education
  • B. A constitutional body established under Article 45 to secure universal school education
  • C. A statutory regulator empowered to affiliate schools and conduct board examinations
  • D. A department within the Ministry of Education that frames the National Education Policy

Q4. With reference to the founding and mandate of the NCERT, which one of the following statements is correct?

  • A. It was established in 1961 and functions as an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Education
  • B. It was established in 1961 solely to publish textbooks and has no research or teacher-training role
  • C. It was established under a special Act of Parliament as a statutory corporation
  • D. It alone approves the syllabus of every school board across India

Q5. With reference to the committee directed by the Supreme Court to review cartoons in NCERT textbooks, consider the following persons: 1. Justice Indu Malhotra 2. Senior advocate K.K. Venugopal 3. Prof. Prakash Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University 4. Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as a member of that committee?

  1. Justice Indu Malhotra
  2. Senior advocate K.K. Venugopal
  3. Prof. Prakash Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University
  4. Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 4 only

Q6. With reference to the mandate of the committee set up on the Supreme Court's direction in this matter, consider the following statements: 1. It is headed by a former judge of the Supreme Court. 2. Its remit includes reviewing and shaping the Legal Studies curriculum for Class 8 and other levels. 3. It is to work in coordination with the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal. 4. It was directed to redraft the National Education Policy, 2020. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. It is headed by a former judge of the Supreme Court.
  2. Its remit includes reviewing and shaping the Legal Studies curriculum for Class 8 and other levels.
  3. It is to work in coordination with the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal.
  4. It was directed to redraft the National Education Policy, 2020.
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. The Supreme Court's February 2026 'blanket and complete' ban was directed specifically against which one of the following NCERT publications?

  • A. Part 2 of the Class 8 Social Science textbook
  • B. Part 1 of the Class 8 Social Science textbook
  • C. The Class 8 Science textbook
  • D. The Class 11 Political Science textbook

Q8. The Supreme Court's power to initiate contempt proceedings against NCERT officials in this case flows from its status as a court of record, which is conferred by which one of the following Articles of the Constitution?

  • A. Article 129
  • B. Article 215
  • C. Article 142
  • D. Article 32

Q9. With reference to the personalities associated with this case, consider the following statements: 1. Surya Kant, who heads the Bench hearing the matter, is the 53rd Chief Justice of India. 2. Tushar Mehta, who objected to the cartoons, holds the office of Attorney General for India. 3. Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi appeared as advocates who drew the Bench's attention to the disputed textbook chapter. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Surya Kant, who heads the Bench hearing the matter, is the 53rd Chief Justice of India.
  2. Tushar Mehta, who objected to the cartoons, holds the office of Attorney General for India.
  3. Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi appeared as advocates who drew the Bench's attention to the disputed textbook chapter.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. Consider the following pairings of persons associated with the case and their offices: 1. Surya Kant — Chief Justice of India 2. Tushar Mehta — Solicitor-General of India 3. Indu Malhotra — sitting judge of the Supreme Court 4. K.K. Venugopal — former Attorney General for India Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

  1. Surya Kant — Chief Justice of India
  2. Tushar Mehta — Solicitor-General of India
  3. Indu Malhotra — sitting judge of the Supreme Court
  4. K.K. Venugopal — former Attorney General for India
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q11. The National Judicial Academy, Bhopal, which is to coordinate with the committee on the Legal Studies curriculum, is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. An autonomous body registered as a society, tasked with training judicial officers and improving court administration, located at Bhopal
  • B. A constitutional body that recommends the appointment of judges to the higher judiciary
  • C. A statutory tribunal that hears appeals against High Court judgments
  • D. A wing of the Supreme Court Registry that maintains judicial records