UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — States must set up prison oversight boards: SC
Q1. In its 2026 order in the suo motu proceedings on caste-based practices in prisons, the Supreme Court directed that such practices be monitored jointly by the board of visitors along with which one of the following bodies?
- A. The District Legal Services Authority constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987
- B. The State Human Rights Commission constituted under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993
- C. The District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
- D. The Prison Development Board envisaged under the Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023
Q2. Consider the following statements comparing the Supreme Court's 2026 direction on boards of visitors with its earlier judgment in Sukanya Shantha v. Union of India:
1. The 2026 direction requires a board of visitors to be constituted for prisons in every district, whereas the earlier judgment had principally directed States to revise prison manuals to remove caste-based provisions.
2. The obligation to constitute a board of visitors flows from an existing model instrument of the Union government and was not created for the first time by the 2026 direction.
3. Every State and Union Territory had already constituted district-wise boards of visitors before the 2026 direction, which merely revived their inspection functions.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The 2026 direction requires a board of visitors to be constituted for prisons in every district, whereas the earlier judgment had principally directed States to revise prison manuals to remove caste-based provisions.
- The obligation to constitute a board of visitors flows from an existing model instrument of the Union government and was not created for the first time by the 2026 direction.
- Every State and Union Territory had already constituted district-wise boards of visitors before the 2026 direction, which merely revived their inspection functions.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. Acting on the Supreme Court's 2024 ruling against caste-based discrimination in prisons, which authority amended the Model Prison Manual, 2016 and the Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023 to insert an express prohibition on caste-based discrimination?
- A. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
- B. The National Human Rights Commission, constituted under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993
- C. The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
- D. The National Legal Services Authority, functioning under the Ministry of Law and Justice
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the Supreme Court's judgment in Sukanya Shantha v. Union of India:
1. The proceeding originated in a 2020 published exposé of caste-based practices in Indian jails and was brought before the Court as a petition under Article 32.
2. The Court held that allotting sweeping and cleaning work to marginalised castes while reserving cooking for higher castes amounts to direct discrimination under Article 15(1).
3. The Court struck down every reference to 'habitual offenders' in State prison manuals, holding the very concept of habitual offender legislation to be unconstitutional.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The proceeding originated in a 2020 published exposé of caste-based practices in Indian jails and was brought before the Court as a petition under Article 32.
- The Court held that allotting sweeping and cleaning work to marginalised castes while reserving cooking for higher castes amounts to direct discrimination under Article 15(1).
- The Court struck down every reference to 'habitual offenders' in State prison manuals, holding the very concept of habitual offender legislation to be unconstitutional.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q5. How many chapters does the Model Prison Manual, 2016 comprise?
Q6. With reference to the Model Prison Manual, 2016, consider the following statements:
1. It was prepared under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs by a committee whose members included representatives of the Bureau of Police Research and Development, the National Human Rights Commission and the National Legal Services Authority.
2. It superseded an earlier model manual issued in 2003.
3. Having been approved by the Union Home Minister, it carries the force of a Central statute and overrides State prison manuals to the extent of any inconsistency.
4. It contains a dedicated chapter providing for a Board of Visitors for central and district prisons.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It was prepared under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs by a committee whose members included representatives of the Bureau of Police Research and Development, the National Human Rights Commission and the National Legal Services Authority.
- It superseded an earlier model manual issued in 2003.
- Having been approved by the Union Home Minister, it carries the force of a Central statute and overrides State prison manuals to the extent of any inconsistency.
- It contains a dedicated chapter providing for a Board of Visitors for central and district prisons.
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 2, 3 and 4 only
- C. 1, 2 and 4 only
- D. 1 and 4 only
Q7. In Indian prison administration, the expression 'non-official visitor' denotes which one of the following?
- A. A public representative or member of a statutory commission nominated to inspect prisons and report on inmate welfare
- B. A relative or friend of an inmate permitted to meet the inmate during scheduled interview hours in the prison
- C. A researcher or media person granted one-time permission by the State government to study conditions inside a prison
- D. A retired prison officer engaged on contract to assist inspections without exercising the powers of a serving officer
Q8. Under the Model Prison Manual, 2016, the Board of Visitors constituted for a central or district prison is chaired by which one of the following?
- A. The District Magistrate of the district in which the prison is situated
- B. The Sessions Judge exercising jurisdiction over the district concerned
- C. The District Superintendent of Police of the district concerned
- D. The Superintendent of the prison for which the Board is constituted
Q9. Consider the following statements regarding the constitutional and legal framework of prison administration in India:
1. 'Prisons' and persons detained therein fall under Entry 4 of the State List of the Seventh Schedule.
2. The Prisons Act, 1894 was repealed by Parliament in 2023 and replaced nationwide by the Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023.
3. The Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023 was forwarded to all States and Union Territories in May 2023 for adoption in their respective jurisdictions.
4. Since prisons are a State subject, the Union government is constitutionally barred from extending financial assistance to States for prison modernisation.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- 'Prisons' and persons detained therein fall under Entry 4 of the State List of the Seventh Schedule.
- The Prisons Act, 1894 was repealed by Parliament in 2023 and replaced nationwide by the Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023.
- The Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023 was forwarded to all States and Union Territories in May 2023 for adoption in their respective jurisdictions.
- Since prisons are a State subject, the Union government is constitutionally barred from extending financial assistance to States for prison modernisation.
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 4 only
Q10. With reference to prisons in India, consider the following functions:
1. Preparing and circulating a model prison manual to bring uniformity in the principles governing prison administration.
2. Entrusting the revision of the Prisons Act, 1894 to the Bureau of Police Research and Development.
3. Carrying out the day-to-day management and administration of prisons and prisoners.
4. Extending financial assistance for modernisation of prison security infrastructure and computerisation projects such as e-Prisons.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as functions discharged by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs?
- Preparing and circulating a model prison manual to bring uniformity in the principles governing prison administration.
- Entrusting the revision of the Prisons Act, 1894 to the Bureau of Police Research and Development.
- Carrying out the day-to-day management and administration of prisons and prisoners.
- Extending financial assistance for modernisation of prison security infrastructure and computerisation projects such as e-Prisons.
- A. 1, 2 and 4
- B. 1 and 3
- C. 2 and 3
- D. 3 and 4
Q11. Which one of the following statements about the Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023 is correct?
- A. It was drawn up by the Bureau of Police Research and Development at the instance of the Ministry of Home Affairs, to guide States in framing their own prison legislation.
- B. It was passed by Parliament and became applicable uniformly to all prisons in the country from the date of its notification in the Gazette.
- C. It is administered by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, which monitors its adoption by every State and Union Territory.
- D. It automatically repealed the Prisons Act, 1894, the Prisoners Act, 1900 and the Transfer of Prisoners Act, 1950 in each and every State.
Q12. The annual publication that reports the caste-wise composition of India's prison population, widely relied upon in litigation on caste discrimination in jails, is brought out by which one of the following?
- A. The National Crime Records Bureau, under the Ministry of Home Affairs
- B. The Bureau of Police Research and Development, under the Ministry of Home Affairs
- C. The National Statistical Office, under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
- D. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes, under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment