UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC frees Kerala Waqf Board from State govt. supervision

Q1. The Supreme Court order of 21 July 2026 that set aside the Kerala High Court's 'supervision' direction over the Kerala Waqf Board was passed by a Bench of how many judges?

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

Q2. Who headed the Supreme Court Bench that, on 21 July 2026, deleted the direction placing the Kerala Waqf Board under the supervision of a government Joint/Additional Secretary?

  • A. Justice Joymalya Bagchi
  • B. Justice Vipul Pancholi
  • C. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant
  • D. Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai

Q3. Consider the following statements distinguishing the Kerala High Court's interim order of 15 July 2026 from the Supreme Court's subsequent modification: 1. The Kerala High Court's interim order was passed by a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Soumen Sen. 2. The High Court restrained the Waqf Board from taking major policy or capital-expenditure decisions without the court's permission. 3. The High Court directed that the government's Joint/Additional Secretary function only as an ex-officio member, and not as a supervisor, of the Board. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Kerala High Court's interim order was passed by a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Soumen Sen.
  2. The High Court restrained the Waqf Board from taking major policy or capital-expenditure decisions without the court's permission.
  3. The High Court directed that the government's Joint/Additional Secretary function only as an ex-officio member, and not as a supervisor, of the Board.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. With reference to the Kerala High Court's interim order of 15 July 2026 concerning the Kerala Waqf Board, consider the following: 1. It placed the Board under the supervision of a State-government Joint/Additional Secretary. 2. It restrained the Board from taking major decisions without the court's permission. 3. It observed that the Board's composition prima facie contravened Section 14 of the 2025 Act. 4. It ordered the immediate dissolution of the Kerala Waqf Board. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It placed the Board under the supervision of a State-government Joint/Additional Secretary.
  2. It restrained the Board from taking major decisions without the court's permission.
  3. It observed that the Board's composition prima facie contravened Section 14 of the 2025 Act.
  4. It ordered the immediate dissolution of the Kerala Waqf Board.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q5. Under the composition prescribed by the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 (UMEED Act) for an 11-member State Waqf Board, what is the maximum number of non-Muslim members it may have?

  • A. One
  • B. Two
  • C. Three
  • D. Four

Q6. Consider the following statements about the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 as compared with the earlier Waqf Act, 1995: 1. The 2025 amendment renamed the Waqf Act, 1995 as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act. 2. The amended Act received Presidential assent on 5 April 2025 and came into force on 8 April 2025. 3. Unlike the 1995 Act, the amended Act bars the appointment of a non-Muslim as Chief Executive Officer of a State Waqf Board. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The 2025 amendment renamed the Waqf Act, 1995 as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act.
  2. The amended Act received Presidential assent on 5 April 2025 and came into force on 8 April 2025.
  3. Unlike the 1995 Act, the amended Act bars the appointment of a non-Muslim as Chief Executive Officer of a State Waqf Board.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. With reference to the challenge to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 in Asaduddin Owaisi v. Union of India and the Supreme Court's interim order of 15 September 2025, consider the following: 1. The petitioners challenged the requirement that a person must have practised Islam for at least five years to create a waqf. 2. The inclusion of non-Muslim members in the Council and Boards was challenged as violating Article 26. 3. On 15 September 2025 the Supreme Court stayed the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 in its entirety. 4. The provision empowering a Collector to decide whether a property is waqf or government land was among those stayed. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The petitioners challenged the requirement that a person must have practised Islam for at least five years to create a waqf.
  2. The inclusion of non-Muslim members in the Council and Boards was challenged as violating Article 26.
  3. On 15 September 2025 the Supreme Court stayed the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 in its entirety.
  4. The provision empowering a Collector to decide whether a property is waqf or government land was among those stayed.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 4 only

Q8. Consider the following statements about the Supreme Court's interim order of 15 September 2025 on the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025: 1. The interim relief was delivered by a Bench of Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice A.G. Masih. 2. The petitioners argued that mandating non-Muslim members violates Articles 26(b) and 26(d) of the Constitution. 3. The Court stayed the provision allowing a Collector to decide waqf-property disputes but upheld the five-year practising-Islam condition. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The interim relief was delivered by a Bench of Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice A.G. Masih.
  2. The petitioners argued that mandating non-Muslim members violates Articles 26(b) and 26(d) of the Constitution.
  3. The Court stayed the provision allowing a Collector to decide waqf-property disputes but upheld the five-year practising-Islam condition.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. Under the Waqf Act, 1995, which functionary is the principal executive officer responsible for the day-to-day administration of a State Waqf Board and serves as its ex-officio secretary?

  • A. The Mutawalli
  • B. The Chief Executive Officer
  • C. The Survey Commissioner of Waqf
  • D. The Chairperson of the Board

Q10. As reconstituted under the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, the Central Waqf Council consists of how many members in total?

  • A. 11 members
  • B. 20 members
  • C. 22 members
  • D. 24 members

Q11. Consider the following statements on the doctrine of judicial restraint over statutory bodies as applied in the Kerala Waqf Board case: 1. Courts ordinarily refrain from interfering in the internal, day-to-day management of a statutory body except in cases of 'egregious' interference. 2. Applying this restraint, the Supreme Court deleted the High Court's direction subjecting the Board to a government official's supervision. 3. Applying this doctrine, the Supreme Court also vacated the High Court's restraint on the Board taking major policy decisions. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Courts ordinarily refrain from interfering in the internal, day-to-day management of a statutory body except in cases of 'egregious' interference.
  2. Applying this restraint, the Supreme Court deleted the High Court's direction subjecting the Board to a government official's supervision.
  3. Applying this doctrine, the Supreme Court also vacated the High Court's restraint on the Board taking major policy decisions.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. Madhya Pradesh, the first State to reconstitute its Waqf Board under the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, constituted the new Board with how many members in all?

  • A. 9 members
  • B. 10 members
  • C. 11 members
  • D. 22 members