UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC turns down Jan Suraaj’s plea challenging Bihar polls and chastises party founder

Q1. Under the scheme of Article 329(b) of the Constitution read with the Representation of the People Act, 1951, at the stage of original adjudication an election to a State Legislative Assembly can be called in question before how many judicial forums?

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

Q2. Consider the following statements comparing the clauses of Article 329 of the Constitution: 1. Article 329(a) bars courts from questioning the validity of any law relating to delimitation of constituencies or allotment of seats, whereas Article 329(b) bars the questioning of an election except by an election petition. 2. Article 329A, which barred judicial scrutiny of the election of the Prime Minister and the Speaker, was upheld by the Supreme Court as part of the basic structure of the Constitution. 3. An election petition under Article 329(b) is presented to the High Court, whereas an appeal from the decision on such a petition lies to the Supreme Court. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Article 329(a) bars courts from questioning the validity of any law relating to delimitation of constituencies or allotment of seats, whereas Article 329(b) bars the questioning of an election except by an election petition.
  2. Article 329A, which barred judicial scrutiny of the election of the Prime Minister and the Speaker, was upheld by the Supreme Court as part of the basic structure of the Constitution.
  3. An election petition under Article 329(b) is presented to the High Court, whereas an appeal from the decision on such a petition lies to the Supreme Court.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. With reference to the February 2026 Supreme Court order on the Jan Suraaj Party's plea challenging the 2025 Bihar Assembly election, consider the following: 1. The plea was declined by a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. 2. The Court characterised the writ petition as a 'composite election petition' seeking an omnibus order. 3. The Court granted the party liberty to approach the High Court. 4. The Court held that the question of irrational freebies would not be examined by the Supreme Court in any case. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The plea was declined by a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
  2. The Court characterised the writ petition as a 'composite election petition' seeking an omnibus order.
  3. The Court granted the party liberty to approach the High Court.
  4. The Court held that the question of irrational freebies would not be examined by the Supreme Court in any case.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q4. The Supreme Court Bench that declined to entertain the Jan Suraaj Party's plea challenging the 2025 Bihar Assembly election was headed by which Chief Justice of India?

  • A. Surya Kant
  • B. N. V. Ramana
  • C. D. Y. Chandrachud
  • D. Sanjiv Khanna

Q5. With reference to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), consider the following statements: 1. It is a non-statutory set of guidelines. 2. It is enforced by the Election Commission of India. 3. Its moral authority is anchored in the ECI's powers under Article 324 of the Constitution. 4. It has been enacted as a schedule to the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It is a non-statutory set of guidelines.
  2. It is enforced by the Election Commission of India.
  3. Its moral authority is anchored in the ECI's powers under Article 324 of the Constitution.
  4. It has been enacted as a schedule to the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 4 only

Q6. Consider the following statements contrasting the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) with statutory electoral law: 1. Unlike the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, a breach of the MCC by itself does not attract a direct statutory penalty. 2. Whereas the MCC is enforced by the Election Commission of India, corrupt practices under the RPA, 1951 are adjudicated by the High Court in an election petition. 3. The MCC first evolved during the 1960 general (Lok Sabha) elections in West Bengal. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Unlike the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, a breach of the MCC by itself does not attract a direct statutory penalty.
  2. Whereas the MCC is enforced by the Election Commission of India, corrupt practices under the RPA, 1951 are adjudicated by the High Court in an election petition.
  3. The MCC first evolved during the 1960 general (Lok Sabha) elections in West Bengal.
  • 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 Supreme Court's engagement with the 'freebies' question, consider the following statements: 1. In S. Subramaniam Balaji v. State of Tamil Nadu (2013), the Court held that election manifesto promises do not amount to a 'corrupt practice' under the RPA, 1951. 2. In 2022, a PIL against 'irrational freebies' filed by Ashwini Upadhyay was referred to a three-judge Bench. 3. The Court has held that every welfare scheme promised before an election is invariably a 'freebie' and is therefore unconstitutional. 4. The 2022 PIL argued that freebie promises amount to bribery and undue influence under the Indian Penal Code. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. In S. Subramaniam Balaji v. State of Tamil Nadu (2013), the Court held that election manifesto promises do not amount to a 'corrupt practice' under the RPA, 1951.
  2. In 2022, a PIL against 'irrational freebies' filed by Ashwini Upadhyay was referred to a three-judge Bench.
  3. The Court has held that every welfare scheme promised before an election is invariably a 'freebie' and is therefore unconstitutional.
  4. The 2022 PIL argued that freebie promises amount to bribery and undue influence under the Indian Penal Code.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 1 and 3

Q8. With reference to the trajectory of the 'freebies' litigation before the Supreme Court, consider the following: 1. The 2022 PIL against irrational freebies was filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay. 2. The PIL invoked provisions relating to bribery and undue influence under the Indian Penal Code. 3. In Subramaniam Balaji (2013), the promise to distribute goods was held not to constitute bribery under the RPA, 1951. 4. The 2022 freebies PIL was referred to a Constitution Bench of five judges. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The 2022 PIL against irrational freebies was filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay.
  2. The PIL invoked provisions relating to bribery and undue influence under the Indian Penal Code.
  3. In Subramaniam Balaji (2013), the promise to distribute goods was held not to constitute bribery under the RPA, 1951.
  4. The 2022 freebies PIL was referred to a Constitution Bench of five judges.
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q9. The Jan Suraaj Party, founded by Prashant Kishor, is a registered political party. Under Indian law, the registration of a political party is undertaken by which one of the following?

  • A. The Election Commission of India, under the Representation of the People Act, 1951
  • B. The Ministry of Home Affairs
  • C. The Registrar of Societies of the concerned State
  • D. The Ministry of Law and Justice

Q10. In the context of the 2025 Bihar Assembly election, the term 'Mahagathbandhan' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The opposition Grand Alliance led by the RJD, which included the Congress
  • B. The ruling NDA coalition led by the JD(U) and the BJP
  • C. A bloc of regional parties that contested outside both major alliances
  • D. The electoral front floated by the Jan Suraaj Party with smaller outfits

Q11. Consider the following statements about the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana (2025) of Bihar: 1. A first installment of ₹10,000 is transferred to one woman per family, whereas a further amount of up to ₹2 lakh may be released later based on the performance of her enterprise. 2. The scheme is routed through the state's JEEViKA self-help group network. 3. The scheme was launched in September 2025 by the Chief Minister of Bihar without any involvement of the Union government. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A first installment of ₹10,000 is transferred to one woman per family, whereas a further amount of up to ₹2 lakh may be released later based on the performance of her enterprise.
  2. The scheme is routed through the state's JEEViKA self-help group network.
  3. The scheme was launched in September 2025 by the Chief Minister of Bihar without any involvement of the Union government.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. With reference to the Election Commission of India's mechanisms against cash and inducement during elections, consider the following statements: 1. Flying Squads and Static Surveillance Teams function from the date of announcement of the election until the completion of poll. 2. Distribution of cash to induce voters is a corrupt practice under Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. 3. Bribery of voters is an offence under Section 171B of the Indian Penal Code. 4. The Election Commission is empowered, under its own summary powers, to directly imprison a candidate found guilty of bribery. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Flying Squads and Static Surveillance Teams function from the date of announcement of the election until the completion of poll.
  2. Distribution of cash to induce voters is a corrupt practice under Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
  3. Bribery of voters is an offence under Section 171B of the Indian Penal Code.
  4. The Election Commission is empowered, under its own summary powers, to directly imprison a candidate found guilty of bribery.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3
  • D. 3 and 4