UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — The judiciary’s role in complete justice

Q1. With reference to the powers of the Supreme Court under Article 142 of the Constitution of India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The power to pass an order for doing 'complete justice' is available to the Supreme Court alone and not to any High Court.
  2. Unlike Article 141, which makes the law declared by the Supreme Court binding on all courts, Article 142 confers a discretionary remedial power exercisable in a cause or matter pending before the Court.
  3. An order passed under Article 142 is enforceable only within the State where the cause of action arose and never throughout the territory of India.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. Under the Constitution of India, the residuary and discretionary power to pass a decree or order 'as is necessary for doing complete justice' in a pending cause or matter is vested exclusively in which one of the following?

  • A. Any High Court while exercising writ jurisdiction under Article 226
  • B. The Supreme Court of India
  • C. Every constitutional court, including both the Supreme Court and the High Courts
  • D. The National Green Tribunal in matters of environmental justice

Q3. With reference to landmark cases in which the Supreme Court exercised its complete-justice power, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. In the Union Carbide (Bhopal gas tragedy) matter, the Supreme Court directed a compensation settlement of USD 470 million.
  2. In the 2019 Ayodhya title dispute, the Supreme Court directed that five acres of alternative land be allotted to the Muslim party.
  3. In the Ayodhya verdict, the disputed inner site was awarded to the Muslim party, while the Hindu party received the five acres of alternative land.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. The Supreme Court's 2019 direction allotting five acres of alternative land to the Muslim party in the Ayodhya title dispute was passed in exercise of its power under which one of the following Articles of the Constitution?

  • A. Article 141
  • B. Article 142
  • C. Article 143
  • D. Article 144

Q5. With reference to the Supreme Court's suo motu proceedings arising from the Phalodi road accidents, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Court took suo motu cognisance of road accidents that occurred at Phalodi in Rajasthan in November 2025.
  2. The proceedings arose after a total of 34 lives were lost in the accidents that triggered the Court's intervention.
  3. In its April 2026 judgment the Court held that highway safety fell solely within the executive domain and therefore declined to issue any directions to the NHAI or MoRTH.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. In the context of the Phalodi accident proceedings, the Supreme Court was said to have taken 'suo motu cognisance'. Which one of the following best describes this expression?

  • A. The Court initiating proceedings on its own motion, without any formal petition being filed by an aggrieved party
  • B. The Court withdrawing a pending case from a High Court to decide it itself
  • C. The Court referring a substantial question of law to a larger Constitution Bench
  • D. The Court rendering an opinion on a matter referred to it by the President

Q7. In its 2026 road-safety judgment, the Supreme Court read the 'Right to Life' under Article 21 as including which one of the following?

  • A. A positive obligation on the State to ensure a safe environment for commuters on national highways
  • B. A right to travel free of toll on all national highways
  • C. An absolute immunity for highway contractors from liability for road accidents
  • D. A merely directive principle of policy that is not enforceable in a court of law

Q8. According to figures cited in 2025, approximately how many people died in road accidents on India's National Highways in the first six months (January–June) of 2025?

  • A. About 6,700
  • B. About 16,700
  • C. About 26,770
  • D. About 52,600

Q9. Consider the following, said to be instruments or doctrines through which the Indian judiciary exercises its powers: Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Public Interest Litigation, which relaxes the traditional rule of locus standi.
  2. Judicial review of constitutional amendments under the basic structure doctrine.
  3. The power to do complete justice under Article 142.
  4. The exclusive power to amend the basic structure of the Constitution.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q10. The proposition that the 'separation of powers' between the legislature, executive and judiciary forms part of the basic structure of the Constitution was laid down by the Supreme Court in which one of the following cases?

  • A. Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978)
  • B. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973)
  • C. Minerva Mills v. Union of India (1980)
  • D. A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras (1950)

Q11. Under the Constitution of India, the provision requiring that all authorities, civil and judicial, in the territory of India shall act in aid of the Supreme Court is contained in which one of the following Articles?

  • A. Article 141
  • B. Article 142
  • C. Article 143
  • D. Article 144

Q12. Alongside the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, which one of the following was the principal nodal authority directed by the Supreme Court to implement its 2026 pan-India highway-safety directions?

  • A. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
  • B. The National Road Safety Board alone
  • C. The Bureau of Indian Standards
  • D. The Central Road Research Institute