UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC weighs SOP for cases affecting life and liberty

Q1. The Supreme Court Bench that issued notice to all High Courts on the limited point of a possible Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for urgent after-hours access in life-and-liberty matters comprised how many judges?

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

Q2. The fundamental right that the proposed SOP seeks to make accessible round-the-clock — protection of life and personal liberty — is guaranteed under which Article of the Constitution?

  • A. Article 14
  • B. Article 19
  • C. Article 21
  • D. Article 22

Q3. Article 21 permits deprivation of life or personal liberty only according to 'procedure established by law.' In the Indian constitutional context, this expression means that:

  • A. Deprivation must follow a fair, just and reasonable procedure laid down by a validly enacted law
  • B. Liberty can never be curtailed under any circumstances whatsoever
  • C. Any executive order is sufficient to deprive a person of liberty without legislative backing
  • D. Only the American 'due process' clause applies, ignoring enacted Indian law

Q4. As per the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, which provide for vacation benches, the summer vacation of the Supreme Court shall not exceed how many weeks?

  • A. Five weeks
  • B. Six weeks
  • C. Seven weeks
  • D. Eight weeks

Q5. The constitution of vacation benches to hear urgent matters during the Supreme Court's recess is regulated primarily by which of the following instruments?

  • A. The Supreme Court Rules, 2013, framed by the Supreme Court itself
  • B. A notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice
  • C. The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
  • D. Rules framed by the Department of Justice

Q6. Under the Constitution, administrative control over the district courts and the subordinate judiciary in a State is vested in which of the following?

  • A. The Supreme Court of India
  • B. The High Court of the State
  • C. The State Government
  • D. The Ministry of Law and Justice

Q7. Under the e-Courts project, as reported for the position on 31 December 2025, video conferencing facilities connected court complexes with approximately how many jails across the country?

  • A. 636 jails
  • B. 1,272 jails
  • C. 2,400 jails
  • D. 3,240 jails

Q8. The e-Courts Mission Mode Project, which provides the virtual-hearing and e-filing infrastructure enabling remote access to courts, is implemented by the Department of Justice in collaboration with which of the following?

  • A. The e-Committee of the Supreme Court of India
  • B. The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)
  • C. The Law Commission of India
  • D. The National Informatics Centre alone

Q9. A writ of habeas corpus for the enforcement of a fundamental right against illegal detention, of the kind cited in the SOP plea, can be issued by which of the following?

  • A. The National Human Rights Commission
  • B. The Supreme Court under Article 32
  • C. A District Magistrate
  • D. A State Human Rights Commission