UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Supreme Court Gets Five New Judges as President Approves Appointments

Q1. Which one of the following Union Ministries / Departments notifies the appointment of Judges of the Supreme Court of India by the President under Article 124(2)?

• A. Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice
• B. Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice
• C. Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
• D. Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice

Q2. With reference to the qualifications prescribed under Article 124(3) of the Constitution of India for appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court, consider the following statements: 1. The person must be a citizen of India. 2. The person must have been, for at least five years, a Judge of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession. 3. The person must have been, for at least ten years, an advocate of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession. 4. The person must, in all cases, possess a minimum prescribed academic qualification in law specified by Parliament by law. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified as qualifications under Article 124(3)?

1. The person must be a citizen of India.
2. The person must have been, for at least five years, a Judge of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession.
3. The person must have been, for at least ten years, an advocate of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession.
4. The person must, in all cases, possess a minimum prescribed academic qualification in law specified by Parliament by law.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1, 2 and 3 only
• C. 2, 3 and 4 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. With reference to the Collegium system for appointment of Judges of the Supreme Court of India, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given below is/are NOT correct?

1. The Supreme Court Collegium consists of the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most Judges of the Supreme Court.
2. The Memorandum of Procedure currently in force was framed pursuant to the Second Judges Case (1993) and the Third Judges Case (1998).
3. Under the Memorandum of Procedure, the initiation of a proposal for appointment of a Judge of the Supreme Court vests with the Union Minister of Law and Justice.
4. The constitutional basis for appointment of Supreme Court Judges by the President is Article 124(2) of the Constitution.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 3 only
• C. 3 and 4 only
• D. 2, 3 and 4

Q4. In the context of judicial appointments in India, the term 'Memorandum of Procedure' (MoP) refers to which one of the following?

• A. A statutory instrument enacted by Parliament under Article 124A laying down qualifications for appointment of Supreme Court Judges
• B. A document framed by the executive in consultation with the judiciary, pursuant to the Second and Third Judges Cases, that governs the process of appointment of Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts
• C. An internal protocol of the Supreme Court Collegium that determines the order of seniority among Judges for elevation to the office of the Chief Justice of India
• D. A resolution of the Inter-State Council that lays down procedure for consultation with State Governments before appointment of High Court Judges

Q5. Under the Constitution (Ninety-Ninth Amendment) Act, 2014 and the NJAC Act, 2014, how many members were to constitute the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC)?

• A. Five
• B. Six
• C. Seven
• D. Nine

Q6. The National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC), since struck down by the Supreme Court in 2015, was provided for under which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India, as inserted by the Constitution (Ninety-Ninth Amendment) Act, 2014?

• A. Article 124
• B. Article 124A
• C. Article 124B
• D. Article 217

Q7. With reference to the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 2019 as compared with the parent Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, consider the following statements: 1. The 1956 Act, as originally enacted, fixed the maximum number of judges of the Supreme Court, excluding the Chief Justice of India, at ten. 2. The 2019 Amendment Act raised the maximum number of judges, excluding the Chief Justice of India, from thirty to thirty-three. 3. Unlike the 1956 Act, the 2019 Amendment Act for the first time included the office of the Chief Justice of India within the sanctioned strength specified under Section 2. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The 1956 Act, as originally enacted, fixed the maximum number of judges of the Supreme Court, excluding the Chief Justice of India, at ten.
2. The 2019 Amendment Act raised the maximum number of judges, excluding the Chief Justice of India, from thirty to thirty-three.
3. Unlike the 1956 Act, the 2019 Amendment Act for the first time included the office of the Chief Justice of India within the sanctioned strength specified under Section 2.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 2 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. Among the five new Supreme Court judges whose appointments were notified by the President on 1 June 2026, who was the only appointee directly elevated from the Bar?

• A. Justice Sheel Nagu
• B. Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva
• C. Smt. V. S. Mohana
• D. Justice Arun Palli

Q9. The five new judges of the Supreme Court appointed on 1 June 2026 were appointed by the President under which one of the following provisions of the Constitution of India?

• A. Clause (2) of Article 124
• B. Clause (4) of Article 124
• C. Article 217
• D. Article 222

Q10. Under the procedure prescribed by the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 for the removal of a Judge of the Supreme Court of India, what is the minimum number of members of the Lok Sabha required to sign a notice of motion for initiating removal proceedings?

• A. 50
• B. 75
• C. 100
• D. 125

Q11. With reference to the removal and post-retirement conditions of service of Judges of the Supreme Court vis-à-vis Judges of a High Court, consider the following statements: 1. The removal procedure laid down in Article 124(4) of the Constitution applies, by reference, to the removal of a Judge of a High Court as well. 2. The three-member inquiry committee constituted under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 consists of a Judge of the Supreme Court, a Chief Justice of a High Court, and a distinguished jurist. 3. While a retired Judge of the Supreme Court is barred from pleading or acting in any court or before any authority within the territory of India, a retired permanent Judge of a High Court is permitted to practise in the Supreme Court and in High Courts other than the one in which he held office. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The removal procedure laid down in Article 124(4) of the Constitution applies, by reference, to the removal of a Judge of a High Court as well.
2. The three-member inquiry committee constituted under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 consists of a Judge of the Supreme Court, a Chief Justice of a High Court, and a distinguished jurist.
3. While a retired Judge of the Supreme Court is barred from pleading or acting in any court or before any authority within the territory of India, a retired permanent Judge of a High Court is permitted to practise in the Supreme Court and in High Courts other than the one in which he held office.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. Appointments of Judges of the Supreme Court of India by warrant under the hand and seal of the President are notified in the Gazette by which one of the following authorities?

• A. Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice
• B. Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice
• C. Secretariat of the Vice-President of India
• D. Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

Q13. With reference to the constitutional position of Judges of the Supreme Court vis-à-vis Judges of the High Courts in India, consider the following statements: 1. The minimum qualifying period of practice as an advocate of a High Court is the same for appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court as it is for appointment as a Judge of a High Court. 2. A 'distinguished jurist' can be appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court as well as of a High Court in the opinion of the President. 3. The President is empowered by the Constitution to transfer a Judge from one High Court to another, but no equivalent power exists to transfer a Judge of the Supreme Court. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The minimum qualifying period of practice as an advocate of a High Court is the same for appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court as it is for appointment as a Judge of a High Court.
2. A 'distinguished jurist' can be appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court as well as of a High Court in the opinion of the President.
3. The President is empowered by the Constitution to transfer a Judge from one High Court to another, but no equivalent power exists to transfer a Judge of the Supreme Court.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q14. With reference to the constitutional provisions governing the appointment of ad hoc Judges (Article 127) and the attendance of retired Judges (Article 128) at sittings of the Supreme Court, consider the following statements:

1. The previous consent of the President of India is mandatory under both Article 127 and Article 128 before the Chief Justice of India can make a request thereunder.
2. Under Article 128, in addition to the President's consent, the personal consent of the person requested to sit and act is also necessary.
3. Under Article 127, the Chief Justice of India must invariably obtain the prior approval of Parliament before designating an ad hoc Judge.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3