UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC mulls shift of T.N. case against ED officer to CBI

Question 1

According to the Union Government's reply placed in Parliament in March 2021, how many State Governments had by then withdrawn the general consent earlier accorded to the Delhi Special Police Establishment under Section 6 of the DSPE Act, 1946?

Accepted Answer

Eight

Answer

Five

Answer

Six

Answer

Eleven

Question 2

In a State that has withdrawn its general consent under Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, which one of the following can nonetheless entrust an investigation to the CBI without that State's consent?

Accepted Answer

A constitutional court, that is, the Supreme Court or a High Court, entrusting the case to the CBI

Answer

The Central Vigilance Commission, whose superintendence over the CBI extends to all its investigations without exception

Answer

The Central Government, which may by a notification under Section 3 override every withdrawal of consent by a State

Answer

The Lokpal, whose approval under Section 17A entirely dispenses with the requirement of State consent

Question 3

Consider the following statements comparing the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI):
1. The ED functions under the Department of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance, while the CBI functions under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
2. Both the ED and the CBI derive their investigative powers from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.
3. Unlike the CBI, the ED need not obtain a State Government's consent in order to investigate an offence of money laundering committed within that State's territory.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 4

In the working of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, a 'prosecution complaint' of the Directorate of Enforcement is best described as which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

A complaint filed before the Special Court designated under the Act, corresponding to a chargesheet in an ordinary criminal case

Answer

A show cause notice issued for contravention of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, adjudicated by an authority within the Directorate

Answer

A reference made to the Adjudicating Authority seeking confirmation of a provisional attachment of property already effected

Answer

A request routed through the competent authority to a foreign jurisdiction for collection of evidence in an ongoing investigation

Question 5

With reference to the case arising out of the bribery allegation against an Enforcement Directorate officer in Tamil Nadu, consider the following:
1. The officer against whom the State agency registered the bribery case was posted in the Enforcement Directorate's Madurai sub-zonal division.
2. The Supreme Court stayed the State agency's criminal proceedings in January 2024 and issued notice to the Tamil Nadu Government.
3. The party that moved the Supreme Court seeking transfer of the investigation to the CBI is the Tamil Nadu Government.
4. The allegation is of acceptance of a bribe of Rs 20 lakh from a doctor in Dindigul district.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 4 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

2, 3 and 4 only

Answer

1, 2, 3 and 4

Question 6

With reference to the Supreme Court hearing of 6 August 2026 on the Enforcement Directorate's transfer plea, consider the following:
1. The Bench that heard the plea was headed by the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant.
2. At that hearing the Court lifted the stay it had earlier placed on the State agency's criminal proceedings.
3. The Court proposed to examine the larger question whether an offence committed by a Union Government employee in official capacity should be probed by the CBI or by the State in whose jurisdiction it occurred.
4. The State investigating agency in the case is the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

2 only

Answer

1 and 3

Answer

3 and 4

Answer

1 only

Question 7

Consider the following statements regarding the constitutional and statutory basis of policing and central investigation in India:
1. 'Police' is an entry in the State List of the Seventh Schedule, whereas 'Central Bureau of Intelligence and Investigation' finds place in the Union List.
2. The Central Bureau of Investigation was created by an Act of Parliament enacted in 1963, unlike the Directorate of Enforcement which was created by an executive order.
3. A State Government's withdrawal of general consent under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 operates prospectively and does not disturb cases already registered by the CBI.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 8

The police powers exercised today by the Central Bureau of Investigation are traceable, in the first instance, to which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

The Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946

Answer

The Government of India resolution of 1963 by which the Bureau was constituted

Answer

The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988

Answer

The Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003

Question 9

With reference to the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) and the law it administers, consider the following:
1. The DVAC is the anti-corruption agency of the Tamil Nadu Government and registers FIRs against public servants under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
2. Under Section 17A of that Act, previous approval is not necessary where a person is arrested on the spot on the charge of accepting an undue advantage.
3. Section 17A requires previous approval before an enquiry into an offence relatable to a recommendation made or decision taken by a public servant in the discharge of official functions.
4. The DVAC registered the FIR against Senthil Balaji over alleged irregularities in TASMAC shop and bar allotments, and the Supreme Court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea in July 2026.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

4 only

Answer

1 and 3

Answer

2 only

Answer

3 and 4

Question 10

Bribery cases registered by the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption against public servants are founded principally on which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018

Answer

The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, which alone governs every bribery offence probed by a State agency

Answer

The Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, which extends automatically to every State anti-corruption bureau

Answer

The Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003, under which each State vigilance directorate is necessarily constituted

Question 11

In May 2025 the Supreme Court stayed the Enforcement Directorate's proceedings against the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation, remarking that the agency was violating the federal structure. The petitions before the Supreme Court had been filed against an order of which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

The Madras High Court, which had dismissed the challenge to the searches conducted on the Corporation's premises

Answer

The Adjudicating Authority under the PMLA, which had confirmed the provisional attachment of the Corporation's assets

Answer

The Appellate Tribunal under the PMLA, which had upheld the summons issued to the Corporation's officials

Answer

The Special Court designated under the PMLA, which had taken cognisance of the prosecution complaint filed in the matter

Question 12

In Vineet Narain v. Union of India, decided on 18 December 1997, the foremost operative direction of the Supreme Court was to strike down which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

Directive No. 4.7(3) of the Single Directive

Answer

Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, requiring sanction for prosecution of a public servant

Answer

Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, requiring State consent for CBI jurisdiction

Answer

Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, protecting public servants from prosecution

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC mulls shift of T.N. case against ED officer to CBI

Q1. According to the Union Government's reply placed in Parliament in March 2021, how many State Governments had by then withdrawn the general consent earlier accorded to the Delhi Special Police Establishment under Section 6 of the DSPE Act, 1946?

Q2. In a State that has withdrawn its general consent under Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, which one of the following can nonetheless entrust an investigation to the CBI without that State's consent?

Q4. In the working of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, a 'prosecution complaint' of the Directorate of Enforcement is best described as which one of the following?

Q8. The police powers exercised today by the Central Bureau of Investigation are traceable, in the first instance, to which one of the following?

Q10. Bribery cases registered by the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption against public servants are founded principally on which one of the following?

Q11. In May 2025 the Supreme Court stayed the Enforcement Directorate's proceedings against the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation, remarking that the agency was violating the federal structure. The petitions before the Supreme Court had been filed against an order of which one of the following?

Q12. In Vineet Narain v. Union of India, decided on 18 December 1997, the foremost operative direction of the Supreme Court was to strike down which one of the following?