UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Why is the Supreme Court examining polygamy again?

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937 and related enactments: 1. Under Section 2 of the 1937 Act, the rule of decision in questions of intestate succession and dissolution of marriage between Muslim parties is the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat), but questions relating to agricultural land are expressly saved from its operation. 2. Unlike the 1937 Act, the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019 attaches criminal consequences to a practice of Muslim personal law, making the declaration of talaq a cognizable offence. 3. The 1937 Act itself prescribes the punishment for a Muslim man who contracts a bigamous marriage in contravention of the conditions of Muslim personal law. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Under Section 2 of the 1937 Act, the rule of decision in questions of intestate succession and dissolution of marriage between Muslim parties is the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat), but questions relating to agricultural land are expressly saved from its operation.
  2. Unlike the 1937 Act, the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019 attaches criminal consequences to a practice of Muslim personal law, making the declaration of talaq a cognizable offence.
  3. The 1937 Act itself prescribes the punishment for a Muslim man who contracts a bigamous marriage in contravention of the conditions of Muslim personal law.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which carries the general offence of marrying again during the lifetime of a spouse, was piloted in Parliament and notified for commencement by which one of the following?

  • A. The Ministry of Home Affairs
  • B. The Legislative Department of the Ministry of Law and Justice
  • C. The Department of Legal Affairs of the Ministry of Law and Justice
  • D. The Department of Justice, which administers the subordinate criminal courts

Q3. Under Section 82 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the highest term of imprisonment prescribed by that section attaches to which one of the following acts?

  • A. Marrying again while concealing the former marriage from the second spouse
  • B. Marrying again during the lifetime of a spouse, the earlier marriage being disclosed
  • C. Marrying again after the earlier marriage is declared void by a competent court
  • D. Marrying again after the spouse has been absent and unheard of for seven years

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the petition on polygamy among Muslims on which the Supreme Court issued notice to the Centre in July 2026: 1. It is a writ petition under Article 32 that assails Section 2 of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937 insofar as that provision recognises and validates polygamy. 2. While issuing notice, the Court also asked the Centre to consider legislative steps to abolish polygamy for all citizens, irrespective of religion. 3. Unlike the triple talaq litigation, the present matter was placed before a five-judge Constitution Bench at the notice stage itself. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It is a writ petition under Article 32 that assails Section 2 of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937 insofar as that provision recognises and validates polygamy.
  2. While issuing notice, the Court also asked the Centre to consider legislative steps to abolish polygamy for all citizens, irrespective of religion.
  3. Unlike the triple talaq litigation, the present matter was placed before a five-judge Constitution Bench at the notice stage itself.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. The Supreme Court Bench that issued notice to the Centre in July 2026 on the challenge to polygamy among Muslims comprised how many judges?

  • A. Two judges
  • B. Three judges
  • C. Five judges
  • D. Seven judges

Q6. Consider the following statements about the triple talaq judgment and the legislation that followed it: 1. In Shayara Bano v. Union of India (2017), the Supreme Court set aside the practice of talaq-e-biddat by a majority of 3:2. 2. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019 declares the pronouncement of such talaq void and illegal, and additionally makes it punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three years and fine. 3. Under the 2019 Act, cognizance of the offence may be taken on information given by any person, including a neighbour or a social welfare organisation, unlike the judgment which created no offence at all. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. In Shayara Bano v. Union of India (2017), the Supreme Court set aside the practice of talaq-e-biddat by a majority of 3:2.
  2. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019 declares the pronouncement of such talaq void and illegal, and additionally makes it punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three years and fine.
  3. Under the 2019 Act, cognizance of the offence may be taken on information given by any person, including a neighbour or a social welfare organisation, unlike the judgment which created no offence at all.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. Under the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, bail to a person accused of the offence may be granted in which one of the following ways?

  • A. By the Magistrate, after hearing the married woman on whom talaq was pronounced
  • B. By the Court of Session alone, after hearing the investigating officer of the case
  • C. By the High Court alone, the offence being both non-bailable and non-compoundable
  • D. By the Magistrate, only upon the woman's written consent recorded before the police

Q8. Article 15(1) of the Constitution, invoked in challenges to discriminatory personal-law provisions, expressly enumerates how many grounds on which the State shall not discriminate against any citizen?

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

Q9. In the debate surrounding the regulation of personal laws, Article 44 of the Constitution stands for which one of the following?

  • A. A Directive Principle asking the State to endeavour to secure a uniform civil code for citizens throughout India
  • B. A Directive Principle asking the State to promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections
  • C. A Fundamental Right to profess, practise and propagate religion, subject to public order, morality and health
  • D. A legislative entry empowering Parliament to make laws on marriage and divorce notwithstanding any personal law

Q10. The activists who moved the Supreme Court against polygamy in 2026 are co-founders of a body whose seven-State field study on the practice was relied upon in the pleadings. Which one of the following is that body?

  • A. Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan
  • B. All India Muslim Personal Law Board
  • C. All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board
  • D. Bebaak Collective, a network of women's rights groups

Q11. Which one of the following statements about the legal treatment of a second marriage contracted during the subsistence of the first is correct in India?

  • A. A marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 by a person with a living spouse is void, and the penal bigamy provision applies whatever the parties' religion
  • B. Under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 such a marriage is merely voidable at the option of the first wife and attracts no criminal liability whatsoever
  • C. The general penal law on bigamy applies uniformly to every citizen, personal law being entirely irrelevant to prosecution
  • D. A Muslim man's second marriage necessarily attracts the penal provision in all cases where the first wife has not given her consent