UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — HC dismisses PIL on RSS chief’s Z Plus security

Q1. The comprehensive guidelines directing constitutional courts to encourage genuine public interest litigation while weeding out petitions filed for oblique or personal motives — the doctrine relied upon while dismissing motivated challenges such as the one against the RSS chief's security cover — were authoritatively laid down by the Supreme Court in which one of the following cases?

  • A. State of Uttaranchal v. Balwant Singh Chaufal (2010)
  • B. S.P. Gupta v. Union of India (1981)
  • C. Hussainara Khatoon v. State of Bihar (1979)
  • D. Bandhua Mukti Morcha v. Union of India (1984)

Q2. With reference to the grounds on which a constitutional court may reject a public interest litigation at the admission stage as an abuse of process, consider the following: 1. Suppression of material facts, such as non-disclosure of an earlier adverse order on the same issue. 2. The petition being founded merely on unverified newspaper reports without independent research. 3. The petitioner acting from a personal or oblique motive rather than a genuine public cause. 4. The subject matter of the petition lying within the executive domain of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Which of the above is/are correctly identified as grounds for rejecting a PIL as an abuse of process?

  1. Suppression of material facts, such as non-disclosure of an earlier adverse order on the same issue.
  2. The petition being founded merely on unverified newspaper reports without independent research.
  3. The petitioner acting from a personal or oblique motive rather than a genuine public cause.
  4. The subject matter of the petition lying within the executive domain of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. Consider the following statements comparing the Z+ and Z categories of security cover in India: 1. A Z+ cover deploys a substantially larger contingent (around 55 personnel) than a Z cover (around 22 personnel). 2. Unlike a Z cover, a Z+ cover may include National Security Guard (NSG) commandos in addition to central armed police personnel. 3. Both the Z+ and Z categories are statutory covers constituted directly under the SPG Act, 1988. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A Z+ cover deploys a substantially larger contingent (around 55 personnel) than a Z cover (around 22 personnel).
  2. Unlike a Z cover, a Z+ cover may include National Security Guard (NSG) commandos in addition to central armed police personnel.
  3. Both the Z+ and Z categories are statutory covers constituted directly under the SPG Act, 1988.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Among the executive (non-statutory) security categories administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs — that is, excluding the statutory Special Protection Group cover — which one of the following is the highest tier of protection?

  • A. Z+ category
  • B. Z category
  • C. Y+ category
  • D. X category

Q5. With reference to the Special Protection Group under the SPG Act, 1988 (as amended), consider the following: 1. It is an armed force of the Union constituted by statute to provide proximate security to specified protectees. 2. After the 2019 amendment, a former Prime Minister and immediate family residing with him are entitled to SPG cover for five years from the date he demits office. 3. The Prime Minister of India is a protectee entitled to SPG cover. 4. Any private citizen assessed by the Intelligence Bureau as facing a grave threat may be granted SPG cover. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. It is an armed force of the Union constituted by statute to provide proximate security to specified protectees.
  2. After the 2019 amendment, a former Prime Minister and immediate family residing with him are entitled to SPG cover for five years from the date he demits office.
  3. The Prime Minister of India is a protectee entitled to SPG cover.
  4. Any private citizen assessed by the Intelligence Bureau as facing a grave threat may be granted SPG cover.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. Under the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Act, 2019, for how many years from the date of demitting office is a former Prime Minister (and immediate family residing with him or her) entitled to SPG protection?

  • A. One year
  • B. Three years
  • C. Five years
  • D. Ten years

Q7. With reference to the jurisdiction of the Bombay High Court, consider the following: 1. Its territorial jurisdiction extends to the State of Goa. 2. The Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu falls within its jurisdiction. 3. Its principal seat is located at Mumbai. 4. It also exercises jurisdiction over the State of Gujarat. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Its territorial jurisdiction extends to the State of Goa.
  2. The Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu falls within its jurisdiction.
  3. Its principal seat is located at Mumbai.
  4. It also exercises jurisdiction over the State of Gujarat.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q8. Consider the following statements regarding the bans imposed on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS): 1. The RSS was first banned in 1948 following the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, and this ban was lifted in 1949. 2. It was banned again during the Emergency (1975-77), and a third time in 1992 following the demolition of the Babri Masjid. 3. The 1948 ban was revoked only after the RSS agreed to register itself under the Societies Registration Act as a formal political party. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The RSS was first banned in 1948 following the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, and this ban was lifted in 1949.
  2. It was banned again during the Emergency (1975-77), and a third time in 1992 following the demolition of the Babri Masjid.
  3. The 1948 ban was revoked only after the RSS agreed to register itself under the Societies Registration Act as a formal political party.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. With reference to Lalan Kishor Singh v. Union of India (2026), consider the following statements: 1. The petitioner sought recovery of taxpayer money spent on Mohan Bhagwat's Z+ security, citing a reported monthly cost of Rs 40-45 lakh. 2. The Bombay High Court's Nagpur Bench dismissed the petition at the admission stage, terming it 'motivated'. 3. The court found that the petitioner had duly disclosed an earlier favourable order of the State Information Commissioner supporting his claim. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The petitioner sought recovery of taxpayer money spent on Mohan Bhagwat's Z+ security, citing a reported monthly cost of Rs 40-45 lakh.
  2. The Bombay High Court's Nagpur Bench dismissed the petition at the admission stage, terming it 'motivated'.
  3. The court found that the petitioner had duly disclosed an earlier favourable order of the State Information Commissioner supporting his claim.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. With reference to the evolution of India's VIP security apparatus, consider the following: 1. The assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984 was a trigger for creating a dedicated close-protection force, which led to the Special Protection Group. 2. The assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 prompted the extension of SPG protection to former Prime Ministers, reflected in later amendments to the SPG Act. 3. The National Security Guard, which contributes commandos to Z+ covers, was raised in the mid-1980s. 4. The Special Protection Group was originally constituted to protect the President of India and State Governors. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984 was a trigger for creating a dedicated close-protection force, which led to the Special Protection Group.
  2. The assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 prompted the extension of SPG protection to former Prime Ministers, reflected in later amendments to the SPG Act.
  3. The National Security Guard, which contributes commandos to Z+ covers, was raised in the mid-1980s.
  4. The Special Protection Group was originally constituted to protect the President of India and State Governors.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4