UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — IMPLEMENTATION OF LEGAL AID AND NALSA SCHEMES

Q1. Which one of the following is the apex statutory body constituted specifically to operationalise Article 39A of the Constitution by providing free and competent legal services?

  • A. National Legal Services Authority
  • B. National Human Rights Commission
  • C. Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice
  • D. Bar Council of India

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the constitutional and statutory basis of free legal aid in India: 1. Article 39A was inserted into the Constitution by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976. 2. The Legal Services Authorities Act was enacted in 1987 but was brought into force only in 1995. 3. The free legal aid guaranteed by Article 39A is a Fundamental Right, whereas the same under the 1987 Act is a statutory entitlement. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Article 39A was inserted into the Constitution by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976.
  2. The Legal Services Authorities Act was enacted in 1987 but was brought into force only in 1995.
  3. The free legal aid guaranteed by Article 39A is a Fundamental Right, whereas the same under the 1987 Act is a statutory entitlement.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. Under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority is appointed in which of the following ways?

  • A. Nominated by the President in consultation with the Chief Justice of India
  • B. Appointed directly by the Chief Justice of India as Patron-in-Chief
  • C. Elected by the full court of the Supreme Court of India
  • D. Nominated by the Union Minister of Law and Justice

Q4. The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 creates a multi-tier network. Consider the following identifications of the presiding authority of each tier: 1. National Legal Services Authority — the Chief Justice of India is the Patron-in-Chief. 2. State Legal Services Authority — the Chief Justice of the High Court is the Patron-in-Chief. 3. District Legal Services Authority — the District Judge is the ex-officio Chairman. 4. Taluk Legal Services Committee — the District Collector is the ex-officio Chairman. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified?

  1. National Legal Services Authority — the Chief Justice of India is the Patron-in-Chief.
  2. State Legal Services Authority — the Chief Justice of the High Court is the Patron-in-Chief.
  3. District Legal Services Authority — the District Judge is the ex-officio Chairman.
  4. Taluk Legal Services Committee — the District Collector is the ex-officio Chairman.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q5. In the context of the Department of Justice's legal-aid programmes, the scheme 'DISHA' stands for which one of the following?

  • A. Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice
  • B. Digital Integration of Services for Holistic Access to Justice
  • C. Delivery of Impartial Services under Holistic Access to Justice
  • D. Direct Interface System for Handling Access to Justice

Q6. As per the implementation status of the Tele-Law programme, how many pre-litigation legal advices had been provided across the country as on 31 January 2026?

  • A. More than 1.12 crore
  • B. About 2.5 lakh
  • C. About 1.12 lakh
  • D. About 500

Q7. Consider the following statements about the target beneficiaries of NALSA schemes launched in 2025: 1. SPRUHA, 2025 is directed at prisoners, undertrial inmates and their dependents. 2. Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana, 2025 is directed at defence personnel, ex-servicemen and their dependents. 3. SAMVAD, 2025 is directed at victims of human-wildlife conflict. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. SPRUHA, 2025 is directed at prisoners, undertrial inmates and their dependents.
  2. Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana, 2025 is directed at defence personnel, ex-servicemen and their dependents.
  3. SAMVAD, 2025 is directed at victims of human-wildlife conflict.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. Under the Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana, 2025, how many beneficiaries were assisted between July and September 2025?

  • A. 5,219
  • B. 690
  • C. 2,129
  • D. 35,000

Q9. Which one of the following best describes a Permanent Lok Adalat established under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987?

  • A. A permanent body for pre-litigation conciliation and, on failure of settlement, adjudication of disputes relating to public utility services, up to a pecuniary limit
  • B. An appellate forum that hears appeals against awards passed by ordinary Lok Adalats
  • C. A body constituted only to try compoundable criminal offences by consent of parties
  • D. A tribunal that reviews the administrative decisions of State Legal Services Authorities

Q10. National Legal Services Day is observed on 9 November every year to commemorate which one of the following?

  • A. The coming into force of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 on 9 November 1995
  • B. The enactment (passing) of the Legal Services Authorities Act by Parliament in 1987
  • C. The insertion of Article 39A into the Constitution in 1976
  • D. The organisation of the first Lok Adalat in India

Q11. As highlighted in the implementation status of the DISHA scheme, the component 'Nyaya Bandhu' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A programme enabling advocates to render pro bono (voluntary, free) legal services to eligible beneficiaries
  • B. The toll-free tele-law helpline number for pre-litigation advice
  • C. The cadre of para-legal volunteers deployed at village level
  • D. A legal literacy curriculum introduced in schools and colleges