UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SUPREME COURT GUIDELINES IN CASES OF SEXUAL OFFENCE

Q1. The single-window centralised digital platform launched in 2024 for filing complaints of sexual harassment at the workplace is operationalised by which one of the following?

  • A. The National Commission for Women, the sole statutory body empowered to receive every workplace harassment complaint
  • B. The Ministry of Women and Child Development, the nodal ministry for the 2013 workplace harassment legislation
  • C. The Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, which handles all gender-justice grievances of citizens
  • D. The National Legal Services Authority, which exclusively administers workplace harassment redressal in India

Q2. Consider the following statements comparing the Vishaka guidelines with the statutory framework that succeeded them: 1. The Vishaka guidelines were laid down by the Supreme Court in 1997, while the statute that superseded them was enacted in 2013. 2. Unlike the judicially framed guidelines, the 2013 statute expressly extends protection to women in both the organised and the unorganised sectors, irrespective of age or employment status. 3. The 2013 statute makes an Internal Committee compulsory in every workplace regardless of the number of employees, and therefore dispenses entirely with any district-level committee. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Vishaka guidelines were laid down by the Supreme Court in 1997, while the statute that superseded them was enacted in 2013.
  2. Unlike the judicially framed guidelines, the 2013 statute expressly extends protection to women in both the organised and the unorganised sectors, irrespective of age or employment status.
  3. The 2013 statute makes an Internal Committee compulsory in every workplace regardless of the number of employees, and therefore dispenses entirely with any district-level committee.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. In Indian constitutional practice, a 'suo motu' writ petition is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A proceeding registered on the Court's own initiative, without any aggrieved person or third party having moved it
  • B. A proceeding that any citizen may institute directly, and which the Court is in all circumstances bound to admit as a public interest matter
  • C. A proceeding transferred to the Supreme Court by the Union Government whenever a criminal matter is said to have nationwide implications
  • D. A proceeding instituted by a public-spirited third party on behalf of a victim who is unable to approach the Court personally

Q4. The report that the Supreme Court accepted and issued as guidelines on judicial handling of sexual offence cases in July 2026 was prepared by which one of the following?

  • A. The Bureau of Police Research and Development, the central agency for police modernisation studies
  • B. A Committee of Experts constituted through the National Judicial Academy, the apex judicial training institution
  • C. The National Legal Services Authority, the apex body for legal aid and victim compensation schemes
  • D. The Central Academy for Police Training, Bhopal, the central institution for police officer training

Q5. Consider the following statements about the 2026 Supreme Court guidelines on sexual offence cases as compared with earlier judicial interventions in this field: 1. Whereas the 1997 workplace harassment guidelines were framed to fill a legislative vacuum, the 2026 guidelines emerged from the Court's acceptance of an expert committee's report. 2. The 2026 guidelines were issued in a matter the Court had taken up on its own motion, registered as a criminal writ petition of 2025 and decided in 2026. 3. Unlike the earlier interventions, the 2026 guidelines were framed and notified by the Ministry of Law and Justice and thereafter approved by the Supreme Court. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Whereas the 1997 workplace harassment guidelines were framed to fill a legislative vacuum, the 2026 guidelines emerged from the Court's acceptance of an expert committee's report.
  2. The 2026 guidelines were issued in a matter the Court had taken up on its own motion, registered as a criminal writ petition of 2025 and decided in 2026.
  3. Unlike the earlier interventions, the 2026 guidelines were framed and notified by the Ministry of Law and Justice and thereafter approved by the Supreme Court.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. The National Judicial Academy, Bhopal, owes its existence to which one of the following?

  • A. Registration in 1993 as an independent society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, fully funded by the Government of India
  • B. Establishment as a statutory body under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, funded by the Ministry of Law and Justice
  • C. Creation by a constitutional amendment as an autonomous institution, financed entirely out of the Supreme Court's own budget
  • D. Registration as a society of the Supreme Court of India, wholly financed by contributions made by all the State Governments

Q7. Consider the following statements regarding the National Judicial Academy and its relationship with other training institutions: 1. Besides its own programmes, it coordinates with 25 State Judicial Academies and with the Central Academy for Police Training located in the same city. 2. Its recurring expenditure is shared between the Centre and the States on a 60:40 basis, unlike the State Judicial Academies which are financed wholly by the States. 3. It has supplied inputs, training material and resource persons for the capacity building of police personnel at the request of the Bureau of Police Research and Development. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Besides its own programmes, it coordinates with 25 State Judicial Academies and with the Central Academy for Police Training located in the same city.
  2. Its recurring expenditure is shared between the Centre and the States on a 60:40 basis, unlike the State Judicial Academies which are financed wholly by the States.
  3. It has supplied inputs, training material and resource persons for the capacity building of police personnel at the request of the Bureau of Police Research and Development.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. Within the Ministry of Law and Justice, matters relating to the judiciary, judicial infrastructure and judicial training institutions fall within the charge of which one of the following?

  • A. The Legislative Department, which drafts principal Central legislation and houses its Official Languages Wing
  • B. The Department of Legal Affairs, which tenders legal advice to the various Ministries of the Government
  • C. The Department of Justice, which also handles e-Courts, legal aid and judicial appointments-related work
  • D. The Department of Personnel and Training, which handles the service conditions of judicial officers

Q9. As of August 2026, the Ministry of Law and Justice functioned under the charge of the holder of which one of the following offices?

  • A. A Minister of State holding Independent Charge of the Ministry of Law and Justice
  • B. A Cabinet Minister holding the portfolios of both Home Affairs and Law and Justice
  • C. A Minister of State attached to a Cabinet Minister in charge of Law and Justice
  • D. The Attorney General for India, functioning as the ex officio head of the Ministry

Q10. With reference to the centrally sponsored scheme for Fast Track Special Courts, consider the following: 1. It was launched in October 2019 pursuant to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018. 2. Its exclusive POCSO courts form a sub-set of the courts set up under the scheme. 3. The central share of its outlay for the extension period is met from the Nirbhaya Fund. 4. It is administered by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, which also runs the Vulnerable Witness Deposition Centres. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It was launched in October 2019 pursuant to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018.
  2. Its exclusive POCSO courts form a sub-set of the courts set up under the scheme.
  3. The central share of its outlay for the extension period is met from the Nirbhaya Fund.
  4. It is administered by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, which also runs the Vulnerable Witness Deposition Centres.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. Consider the following propositions about instances in which reports or directions have been converted into operative guidance in the field of sexual offence jurisprudence: 1. The guidelines the Supreme Court laid down in 1997 governed workplace sexual harassment until a statute occupied the field in 2013. 2. The Compensation Scheme for Women Victims/Survivors of Sexual Assault was formulated by the National Legal Services Authority pursuant to directions of the Supreme Court. 3. The 172nd Report of the Law Commission of India, dealing with review of rape laws, was the report on the basis of which the 1997 guidelines were framed. 4. The report of a Committee of Experts constituted through the National Judicial Academy was accepted by the Supreme Court and issued as guidelines in 2026. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The guidelines the Supreme Court laid down in 1997 governed workplace sexual harassment until a statute occupied the field in 2013.
  2. The Compensation Scheme for Women Victims/Survivors of Sexual Assault was formulated by the National Legal Services Authority pursuant to directions of the Supreme Court.
  3. The 172nd Report of the Law Commission of India, dealing with review of rape laws, was the report on the basis of which the 1997 guidelines were framed.
  4. The report of a Committee of Experts constituted through the National Judicial Academy was accepted by the Supreme Court and issued as guidelines in 2026.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4 only