UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Domestic cruelty rules cover live-in couples: SC

Q1. With reference to the mapping of cruelty and dowry-related offences from the Indian Penal Code, 1860 to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, consider the following: 1. Section 85 of the BNS carries the offence titled 'Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty'. 2. Section 86 of the BNS supplies the definition of 'cruelty' for the purposes of the preceding section. 3. Section 80 of the BNS is the provision corresponding to Section 304B of the IPC dealing with dowry death. 4. Sections 85 and 86 of the BNS apply exclusively to a legally wedded wife and can in no case be invoked by a woman in a relationship in the nature of marriage. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Section 85 of the BNS carries the offence titled 'Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty'.
  2. Section 86 of the BNS supplies the definition of 'cruelty' for the purposes of the preceding section.
  3. Section 80 of the BNS is the provision corresponding to Section 304B of the IPC dealing with dowry death.
  4. Sections 85 and 86 of the BNS apply exclusively to a legally wedded wife and can in no case be invoked by a woman in a relationship in the nature of marriage.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Q2. As per the Explanation appended to Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the expression 'cruelty' includes which one of the following?

  • A. Harassment of the woman to coerce her, or any person related to her, to meet an unlawful demand for property or valuable security
  • B. Death of the woman by burns or bodily injury within seven years of her marriage in connection with a demand for dowry
  • C. Depriving the woman of her right to reside in the shared household by an order removing her from that household
  • D. Sexual intercourse with the woman on a false promise of marriage or by concealing one's identity from her

Q3. The Supreme Court Bench that decided Lokesh v. State of Karnataka (2026), holding that the cruelty offence covers live-in partners, comprised how many judges?

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

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the Supreme Court's 2026 ruling in Lokesh v. State of Karnataka as compared with the position that obtained before it: 1. The judgment upheld a ruling of the Karnataka High Court and was authored by Justice Sanjay Karol. 2. Beyond a 'relationship in the nature of marriage', the Court required a demonstrated intent to marry, the initial burden of establishing which lies on the woman. 3. The Court directed that the accused live-in partner be arrested immediately on registration of the complaint, dispensing with any preliminary inquiry. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The judgment upheld a ruling of the Karnataka High Court and was authored by Justice Sanjay Karol.
  2. Beyond a 'relationship in the nature of marriage', the Court required a demonstrated intent to marry, the initial burden of establishing which lies on the woman.
  3. The Court directed that the accused live-in partner be arrested immediately on registration of the complaint, dispensing with any preliminary inquiry.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. Which one of the following Indian statutes was the first to expressly bring a woman in 'a relationship in the nature of marriage' within its protective definition?

  • A. The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005
  • B. The Indian Penal Code, 1860, by the amendment inserting Section 498A
  • C. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, by its chapter on offences against women
  • D. The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, by its maintenance provision

Q6. Under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, the expression 'domestic relationship' is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A relationship between persons who live, or have at any time lived, together in a shared household, being related by blood, marriage, a marriage-like relationship, adoption or as joint family members
  • B. A relationship arising exclusively from a valid and subsisting marriage solemnised and registered under the personal law applicable to both the parties to that marriage
  • C. A relationship between any persons residing under one roof, which necessarily requires that the woman hold an ownership or tenancy interest in the household concerned
  • D. A relationship confined to persons related to each other by blood who are permanently residing together in an ancestral joint family dwelling house

Q7. The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 was brought into force in which year, and is administered by which Ministry of the Union Government?

  • A. 2006; the Ministry of Women and Child Development
  • B. 2005; the Ministry of Women and Child Development
  • C. 2006; the Ministry of Law and Justice
  • D. 2005; the Ministry of Home Affairs

Q8. With reference to the reliefs that a Magistrate may grant under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, consider the following: 1. A protection order under Section 18. 2. A residence order under Section 19, which may direct the respondent to remove himself from the shared household. 3. Compensation and damages under Section 22 for injuries including mental torture and emotional distress. 4. A decree dissolving the marriage between the parties, which the Act requires to be passed in every case where cruelty is established. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. A protection order under Section 18.
  2. A residence order under Section 19, which may direct the respondent to remove himself from the shared household.
  3. Compensation and damages under Section 22 for injuries including mental torture and emotional distress.
  4. A decree dissolving the marriage between the parties, which the Act requires to be passed in every case where cruelty is established.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 4 only

Q9. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 stands enacted as which Act, and its provisions were brought into force with effect from which date?

  • A. Act 45 of 2023; with effect from 1 July 2024
  • B. Act 46 of 2023; with effect from 1 July 2024
  • C. Act 45 of 2023; with effect from 26 January 2024
  • D. Act 47 of 2023; with effect from 25 December 2023

Q10. With reference to the changes made by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 in relation to the Indian Penal Code, 1860, consider the following: 1. The Sanhita has 358 sections as against 511 sections in the Code it replaced. 2. Community service has been introduced as a form of punishment for certain offences. 3. Sedition has been retained as a distinct offence in the same form as Section 124A of the Code. 4. Offences against women and children remain dispersed across several chapters, no consolidated chapter for them having been created. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Sanhita has 358 sections as against 511 sections in the Code it replaced.
  2. Community service has been introduced as a form of punishment for certain offences.
  3. Sedition has been retained as a distinct offence in the same form as Section 124A of the Code.
  4. Offences against women and children remain dispersed across several chapters, no consolidated chapter for them having been created.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 and 4

Q11. With reference to Article 14 of the Constitution and its invocation in the 2026 ruling extending the cruelty offence to live-in partners, consider the following: 1. Article 14 guarantees equality before the law and the equal protection of the laws to any person within the territory of India. 2. Article 14 permits reasonable classification, provided the classification bears a nexus to the object sought to be achieved. 3. Article 14 imposes an absolute bar on the State making any classification whatsoever among persons. 4. In the 2026 ruling, the Court read the term 'husband' literally and declined to adopt a purposive interpretation of it. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Article 14 guarantees equality before the law and the equal protection of the laws to any person within the territory of India.
  2. Article 14 permits reasonable classification, provided the classification bears a nexus to the object sought to be achieved.
  3. Article 14 imposes an absolute bar on the State making any classification whatsoever among persons.
  4. In the 2026 ruling, the Court read the term 'husband' literally and declined to adopt a purposive interpretation of it.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q12. With reference to the origin and content of Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, consider the following: 1. It was inserted into the Code in 1983, in response to dowry-related harassment of married women. 2. It is titled 'Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty'. 3. Its Explanation covers wilful conduct of such a nature as is likely to drive the woman to commit suicide or to cause grave injury or danger to her life, limb or health, whether mental or physical. 4. Its insertion was effected by substituting it for the dowry death provision, Section 304B, which stood omitted from the Code from that date. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It was inserted into the Code in 1983, in response to dowry-related harassment of married women.
  2. It is titled 'Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty'.
  3. Its Explanation covers wilful conduct of such a nature as is likely to drive the woman to commit suicide or to cause grave injury or danger to her life, limb or health, whether mental or physical.
  4. Its insertion was effected by substituting it for the dowry death provision, Section 304B, which stood omitted from the Code from that date.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 4 only