UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Bankers Books Evidence Act, 2026

Q1. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Under the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 2026, a certified copy of an entry in a banker's book can be received as evidence of that entry without the original book being produced in court.
  2. Under the general law of evidence in India, primary evidence of a document means the document itself produced for the inspection of the court.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q2. In a civil suit between two private individuals over a property sale, one party asks the court to summon the manager of a bank, which is not a party to the suit, to appear and produce the bank's ledger. Under the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 2026, when can the court compel the manager to do so?

  • A. Routinely on a party's request, because bank officers are treated like any ordinary witness
  • B. Only through a written order recording a special cause, such as doubt over an entry's genuineness
  • C. Only after the RBI certifies to the court that the bank's record-keeping has become unreliable
  • D. Never, because a bank that is not a party enjoys absolute immunity from compelled production

Q3. With reference to the Cheque Truncation System (CTS) in India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The physical cheque is stopped at the presenting bank, and its electronic image and data are sent through the clearing house to the drawee bank.
  2. A legal change was needed to introduce cheque truncation because the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 had required instruments to be physically presented for payment.
  3. A certificate from the drawee bank on a printout of the image of a truncated cheque can serve as proof of payment.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. The Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 2026 makes the absence of any detected unauthorised change of data a condition for admitting an electronic copy of a bank record as evidence.
  2. Unlike an entry in a paper ledger, data in an electronic record can be altered without leaving visible physical traces, so its reliability depends on the integrity of the system that holds and transmits it.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q5. Consider the following features of the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 2026: a certified copy of an entry is received as evidence of the entry without production of the original book; the Act applies to court proceedings, arbitration and investigations under the BNSS, 2023; and a bank officer in a case where the bank is not a party can be compelled only by a written court order recording special cause, one ground being doubtful accuracy of an entry. Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above?

  1. Once a certified copy is produced, its correctness can no longer be questioned by the opposing party.
  2. Original bank ledgers and records will less often need to leave the bank's custody for the purpose of litigation.
  3. Bank records are now shielded from being produced in criminal investigations.
  4. An arbitral tribunal may act on a certified copy of a bank entry without requiring the bank's original records.
  • A. 2 and 4 only
  • B. 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 1 and 2 only