UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — HC notice to Centre, Meta for blocking Instagram account

Q1. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. In Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015), the Supreme Court upheld Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000 while striking down Section 66A of the same Act.
  2. Section 69A confines blocking to specified grounds that track Article 19(2) and requires reasons to be recorded in writing, whereas Section 66A penalised loosely defined categories such as 'offensive' messages.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q2. Consider the following assertion: 'Takedown notices routed through the Sahyog portal amount to a parallel route for blocking content that bypasses the safeguards attached to Section 69A of the IT Act.' Which of the statements given above support/supports the assertion?

  1. The Supreme Court upheld Section 69A in Shreya Singhal largely because of its procedural safeguards, such as reasoned orders that are open to judicial review.
  2. Notices on the Sahyog portal are issued under Section 79(3)(b), a provision framed as a loss of intermediary immunity rather than as a blocking power with its own committee procedure.
  3. The Karnataka High Court in September 2025 upheld the Centre's power to issue takedown notices through the Sahyog portal.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q3. An online campaign urges the replacement of electronic voting machines with paper ballots and sharply criticises the existing voting system. With reference to the constitutional position on restricting such content, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Advocacy for changing the method of voting is expression protected by Article 19(1)(a), even when it criticises the existing electoral system.
  2. A restriction on such speech is valid under Article 19(2) if the State shows that it serves the 'interests of the general public'.
  3. A restriction must not only be traceable to a ground listed in Article 19(2) but must also be 'reasonable', which is open to judicial review.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q4. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. The grounds listed in Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000 do not allow the Centre to block online content merely because it defames a private individual.
  2. Defamation is not among the grounds on which Article 19(2) permits reasonable restrictions on the freedom of speech and expression.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q5. With reference to the writ jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the High Courts, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. A High Court under Article 226 can issue writs for purposes other than the enforcement of fundamental rights.
  2. A High Court can exercise its Article 226 power even where the petitioner could also have approached the Supreme Court under Article 32.
  3. The power of a High Court under Article 226 operates in derogation of the Supreme Court's power under Article 32(2).
  4. Article 32 empowers the Supreme Court to issue writs for the enforcement of any legal right, whether statutory or constitutional.
  • A. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only