UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC notice to Jharkhand on plea on exam irregularities

Q1. With reference to the writ petition on alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Combined Civil Services Preliminary Examination on which the Supreme Court issued notice in August 2026, consider the following statements: 1. The petition was heard by a Bench headed by the Chief Justice of India. 2. Besides a CBI investigation, the petition prayed in the alternative for an inquiry by a former judge of the Supreme Court. 3. While issuing notice, the Court simultaneously stayed all further proceedings of the ongoing State CID investigation. 4. The relief prayed for was confined exclusively to a transfer of the probe to the CBI, no other investigative arrangement being sought. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The petition was heard by a Bench headed by the Chief Justice of India.
  2. Besides a CBI investigation, the petition prayed in the alternative for an inquiry by a former judge of the Supreme Court.
  3. While issuing notice, the Court simultaneously stayed all further proceedings of the ongoing State CID investigation.
  4. The relief prayed for was confined exclusively to a transfer of the probe to the CBI, no other investigative arrangement being sought.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q2. The Supreme Court order of 24 August 2026 issuing notice on the plea for a CBI probe into the Jharkhand Combined Civil Services Preliminary Examination was passed by a Bench of how many judges?

  • A. Two judges, being a Division Bench of the Supreme Court
  • B. Three judges, headed by the Chief Justice of India
  • C. Five judges, sitting as a Constitution Bench
  • D. Seven judges, sitting as a larger reference Bench

Q3. In the context of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, the expression 'general consent' accorded by a State denotes which one of the following?

  • A. A permission by the Central Government letting the agency work in Union territories and railway areas without approval of any State
  • B. An approval by the Central Vigilance Commission enabling the agency to proceed against public servants in corruption cases in a State
  • C. A standing permission by a State letting the agency register and investigate notified offences there without case-by-case approval
  • D. A concurrence recorded by a constitutional court permitting the agency to take over a probe already begun by a State police force

Q4. The bar on members of the Delhi Special Police Establishment exercising powers and jurisdiction in an area within a State without that State Government's consent is laid down in which one of the following provisions of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946?

  • A. Section 3, which provides for notification of the offences to be investigated by the establishment
  • B. Section 4, which provides for superintendence and administration of the establishment
  • C. Section 5, which provides for extension of the establishment's powers to areas outside Union territories
  • D. Section 6, which qualifies the operation of the preceding extension provision

Q5. Under the Constitution, when the office of the Chairman of a State Public Service Commission falls vacant, the duties of that office are performed, until the vacancy is filled, by whom?

  • A. The Chief Secretary of the State, in an ex officio capacity, until a regular incumbent takes charge
  • B. One of the other members of that Commission, appointed for the purpose by the Governor of the State
  • C. The senior-most serving member of that Commission, who succeeds automatically without any fresh appointment
  • D. A member of the Union Public Service Commission, nominated for the purpose by the President of India

Q6. Under the Constitution, a State Public Service Commission presents its annual report on the work done by it to which one of the following?

  • A. The President of India, who forwards it to the State Government concerned
  • B. The Union Public Service Commission, which consolidates the reports of all States
  • C. The Governor of the State, who has it laid before the State Legislature
  • D. The Legislative Assembly of the State, which refers it to a departmental committee

Q7. Consider the following statements regarding the 2026 Jharkhand recruitment examination controversy: 1. The private agency implicated in the alleged leak, whose examinations were cancelled by the State, is TSR Data Processing Private Limited. 2. The cancellations notified by the State Government in August 2026 covered 44 recruitment examinations conducted since 2014. 3. The preliminary examination that is the subject of the plea before the Supreme Court was conducted by the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission. 4. The alleged mastermind arrested by the State CID had earlier served as Examination Controller of the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The private agency implicated in the alleged leak, whose examinations were cancelled by the State, is TSR Data Processing Private Limited.
  2. The cancellations notified by the State Government in August 2026 covered 44 recruitment examinations conducted since 2014.
  3. The preliminary examination that is the subject of the plea before the Supreme Court was conducted by the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission.
  4. The alleged mastermind arrested by the State CID had earlier served as Examination Controller of the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. Consider the following posts: 1. Civil Judge 2. Forest Range Officer 3. District Judge 4. Deputy Collector Which of the above are correctly identified as posts whose recruitment examinations were among those cancelled by the Jharkhand Government in August 2026 in the wake of the alleged examination irregularities?

  1. Civil Judge
  2. Forest Range Officer
  3. District Judge
  4. Deputy Collector
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q9. Consider the following statements comparing recent State Public Service Commission examination controversies: 1. In the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission paper-leak case the investigation reached the CBI on a reference by the State Government itself, whereas in the Jharkhand case a transfer to the CBI is being sought through the Supreme Court. 2. In the Bihar Public Service Commission 70th Combined Competitive Examination controversy, the Supreme Court declined to entertain the plea at the first instance and directed the petitioner to approach the High Court. 3. Unlike Jharkhand, where cancellation of examinations was ordered by the State Government, the Bihar Public Service Commission cancelled its entire 70th preliminary examination and held a fresh test for all its candidates across the State. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. In the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission paper-leak case the investigation reached the CBI on a reference by the State Government itself, whereas in the Jharkhand case a transfer to the CBI is being sought through the Supreme Court.
  2. In the Bihar Public Service Commission 70th Combined Competitive Examination controversy, the Supreme Court declined to entertain the plea at the first instance and directed the petitioner to approach the High Court.
  3. Unlike Jharkhand, where cancellation of examinations was ordered by the State Government, the Bihar Public Service Commission cancelled its entire 70th preliminary examination and held a fresh test for all its candidates across the State.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. The central law enacted in 2024 to curb unfair means in public examinations, amended by a Bill passed by Parliament in July 2026, is administered by which one of the following?

  • A. The Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education
  • B. The Department of Internal Security under the Ministry of Home Affairs
  • C. The Department of Legal Affairs under the Ministry of Law and Justice
  • D. The Department of Personnel and Training under the Ministry of Personnel

Q11. Consider the following circumstances relating to a member of a State Public Service Commission: 1. He is adjudged an insolvent. 2. He engages, during his term of office, in any paid employment outside the duties of his office. 3. He is, in the President's opinion, unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of mind or body. 4. He has, in the opinion of the State Legislative Assembly expressed by a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority, forfeited its confidence. Which of the above are correctly identified as grounds on which the President may, by order, remove such a member from office?

  1. He is adjudged an insolvent.
  2. He engages, during his term of office, in any paid employment outside the duties of his office.
  3. He is, in the President's opinion, unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of mind or body.
  4. He has, in the opinion of the State Legislative Assembly expressed by a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority, forfeited its confidence.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q12. A member of a State Public Service Commission may be removed from office on the ground of misbehaviour only after the matter has been referred for inquiry to, and reported upon by, which one of the following?

  • A. The High Court of the State in which the Commission functions
  • B. The Supreme Court, on a reference made to it by the President
  • C. The Union Public Service Commission, on a reference by the Governor
  • D. A commission of inquiry appointed for the purpose by the Governor