UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC takes up suo motu case to strengthen Bar bodies

Q1. In its July 2026 proceeding directing the Bar Council of India to audit the advocate disciplinary mechanism under the Advocates Act, 1961, the Supreme Court acted through a bench comprising how many judges?

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

Q2. In the Supreme Court's July 2026 proceeding on accountability in the legal profession, which body was directed to constitute a committee and audit the advocate disciplinary mechanism?

  • A. Bar Council of India
  • B. Law Commission of India
  • C. National Legal Services Authority
  • D. Ministry of Law and Justice

Q3. With reference to the structure created by the Advocates Act, 1961, consider the following statements: 1. State Bar Councils are constituted under Section 3 of the Act. 2. The Bar Council of India is constituted under Section 4 of the Act. 3. The functions of the Bar Council of India are enumerated in Section 7 of the Act. 4. The Bar Council of India is a non-statutory advisory body possessing no regulatory powers. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. State Bar Councils are constituted under Section 3 of the Act.
  2. The Bar Council of India is constituted under Section 4 of the Act.
  3. The functions of the Bar Council of India are enumerated in Section 7 of the Act.
  4. The Bar Council of India is a non-statutory advisory body possessing no regulatory powers.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 4 only

Q4. With reference to the Bar Council of India, State Bar Councils and Bar Associations, consider the following statements: 1. Each State Bar Council elects one member to the Bar Council of India. 2. The roll of advocates is maintained by the Bar Council of India rather than by the State Bar Councils. 3. Unlike a statutory Bar Council, a Bar Association is a voluntary professional body of lawyers. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Each State Bar Council elects one member to the Bar Council of India.
  2. The roll of advocates is maintained by the Bar Council of India rather than by the State Bar Councils.
  3. Unlike a statutory Bar Council, a Bar Association is a voluntary professional body of lawyers.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. In the formula moved by the Bar Council of India before the Supreme Court in 2026 to achieve the 30% women's mandate in bar bodies, what percentage of seats was proposed to be filled through direct election (to be complemented by a co-option quota)?

  • A. 10%
  • B. 15%
  • C. 20%
  • D. 25%

Q6. With reference to developments concerning bar bodies in 2026, consider the following statements: 1. In May 2026, the Supreme Court sought responses from the Centre and States on a PIL seeking 30% reservation for women lawyers in bar bodies. 2. A High-Powered Election Supervisory Committee headed by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia was to work out the women co-option mechanism. 3. Under the formula moved by the Bar Council of India, a 10% co-option quota would be filled by the highest-polling non-elected women candidates. 4. In 2026, the Bar Council of India was abolished and replaced by a National Bar Authority. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. In May 2026, the Supreme Court sought responses from the Centre and States on a PIL seeking 30% reservation for women lawyers in bar bodies.
  2. A High-Powered Election Supervisory Committee headed by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia was to work out the women co-option mechanism.
  3. Under the formula moved by the Bar Council of India, a 10% co-option quota would be filled by the highest-polling non-elected women candidates.
  4. In 2026, the Bar Council of India was abolished and replaced by a National Bar Authority.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 4 only

Q7. With reference to Article 142 of the Constitution and its use concerning bar bodies, consider the following statements: 1. Article 142(1) empowers the Supreme Court to pass any decree or order necessary for doing 'complete justice', enforceable throughout India. 2. Exercising Article 142, the Supreme Court in January 2025 reserved the treasurer's post for women in the Advocates' Association, Bengaluru. 3. The provision on 'complete justice' was adopted by the Constituent Assembly in 1935. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Article 142(1) empowers the Supreme Court to pass any decree or order necessary for doing 'complete justice', enforceable throughout India.
  2. Exercising Article 142, the Supreme Court in January 2025 reserved the treasurer's post for women in the Advocates' Association, Bengaluru.
  3. The provision on 'complete justice' was adopted by the Constituent Assembly in 1935.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. The power of the Supreme Court to pass any order necessary for doing 'complete justice' in a cause or matter pending before it is derived from which provision of the Constitution of India?

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

Q9. With reference to the draft Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2025, consider the following statements: 1. It proposed to allow the Central Government to nominate up to three members to the Bar Council of India. 2. It categorised lawyers' strikes and boycotts of courts as misconduct. 3. It was welcomed by the Bar Council of India as strengthening the Council's autonomy. 4. Following opposition, the government said it would revise the draft and ended the public consultations. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. It proposed to allow the Central Government to nominate up to three members to the Bar Council of India.
  2. It categorised lawyers' strikes and boycotts of courts as misconduct.
  3. It was welcomed by the Bar Council of India as strengthening the Council's autonomy.
  4. Following opposition, the government said it would revise the draft and ended the public consultations.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q10. In the draft Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the proposal empowering the Central Government to 'nominate' members to the Bar Council of India refers to members who are —

  • A. appointed by the Government rather than elected by the legal fraternity
  • B. co-opted by the BCI from among senior advocates
  • C. chosen by the Chief Justice of India from sitting judges
  • D. elected by the State Bar Councils from their own members

Q11. Under the Advocates Act, 1961, how many ex-officio members does the Bar Council of India have?

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

Q12. With reference to recent developments in the self-regulation of the legal profession, consider the following statements: 1. In July 2026, the Supreme Court held that blacklisting lawyers by a banks' body encroaches upon the statutory disciplinary jurisdiction of the Bar Councils. 2. In March 2025, Manan Kumar Mishra was re-elected as Chairman of the Bar Council of India for a seventh consecutive term. 3. In May 2025, the Bar Council of India barred foreign lawyers from any form of practice in India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. In July 2026, the Supreme Court held that blacklisting lawyers by a banks' body encroaches upon the statutory disciplinary jurisdiction of the Bar Councils.
  2. In March 2025, Manan Kumar Mishra was re-elected as Chairman of the Bar Council of India for a seventh consecutive term.
  3. In May 2025, the Bar Council of India barred foreign lawyers from any form of practice in India.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3