Judiciary and judicial review — UPSC Prelims PYQs
30 questions in this bank come from Judiciary and judicial review, spanning UPSC Prelims papers from 2012 to 2026. Every question here carries all four options, the correct answer and a full explanation.
It has appeared in 13 of the last 16 papers, most heavily in 2019 with 4 questions. That makes it one of the most dependable areas in the paper.
The themes examined most often within it are Judicial review in Indian Constitution (7), Separation of Judiciary and Executive (5), Judicial appointments and functions in India (4), Pardoning power of the President of India (3) and Supreme Court jurisdiction in India (3). Those counts are of questions in which the theme is examined, not merely mentioned.
Questions here are spread across Polity & Governance (28), General Studies (Uncategorized) (1) and History (1). Between them they draw on 40 distinct themes, so this is a broader area than a single revision note can cover. That is 2.1% of the 1433 questions in the bank — useful for deciding how much revision time it deserves.
Its weight has held steady, at roughly 2.2 questions a year across the last five papers.
It was not examined in 3 of those papers. Each question below links to its full explanation and to related questions on the same theme from other years, so a weak area can be worked through in one pass rather than hunted for paper by paper.
UPSC Prelims 20261 question
UPSC Prelims 20253 questions
- Polity & Governance
Consider the following statements with regard to pardoning power of the President of India: I. The exercise of this power by the President can be subjected to limited judicial review. II. The President can exercise this power without the advice of the Central Government. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Polity & Governance
Who amongst the following are members of the Jury to select the recipient of 'Gandhi Peace Prize'? I. The President of India II. The Prime Minister of India III. The Chief Justice of India IV. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- Polity & Governance
Consider the following pairs: Provision in the Constitution of India — Stated under I. Separation of Judiciary from the Executive in the public services of the State — The Directive Principles of the State Policy II. Valuing and preserving of the rich heritage of our composite culture and its important to preserve it — The Fundamental Duties III. Prohibition of employment of children below 14 years of age in factories — The Fundamental Rights How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
UPSC Prelims 20241 question
UPSC Prelims 20233 questions
- Polity & Governance
Consider the following statements: 1. If the election of the President of India is declared void by the Supreme Court of India, all acts done by him/ her in the performance of duties of his/her office of President before the date of decision become invalid. 2. Elections for the post of the President of India can be postponed on the ground that some Legislative Assemblies have been dissolved and elections are yet to take place. 3. When a Bill is presented to the President of India, the Constitution prescribes time limits within which he/ she has to declare his/her assent. How many of the above statements are correct?
- Polity & Governance
Consider the following statements: 1. According to the Constitution of India, the Central Government has a duty to protect States from internal disturbances. 2. The Constitution of India exempts the States from providing legal counsel to a person being held for preventive detention. 3. According to the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2002, the confession of the accused before the police cannot be used as evidence. How many of the above statements are correct?
- Polity & Governance
With reference to India, consider the following pairs: Action The Act under which it is covered 1. Unauthorised of the official police or Military uniforms The Official Secrets Act,1923 2. Knowingly misleading or otherwise Interfering with a police officer or military officer when engaged in their duties The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 3. Celebratory gunfire which can endanger the personal safety of others The Arms (Amendment) Act, 2019 How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
UPSC Prelims 20223 questions
- Polity & Governance
Consider the following statements: 1. Pursuant to the report of H.N. Sanyal Committee, the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 was passed. 2. The Constitution of India empowers the Supreme Court and the High Court to punish for contempt of themselves. 3. The Constitution of India defines Civil Contempt and Criminal Contempt. 4. In India, the Parliament is vested with the powers to make laws on Contempt of Court. Which of the above statements given above is/are correct?
- Polity & Governance
With reference to the writs issued by the Courts in India, consider the following statements: 1. Mandamus will not lie against a private organisation unless it is entrusted with a public duty. 2. Mandamus will not lie against a Company even though it may be a Government Company. 3. Any public minded person can be a petitioner to move the Court to obtain the writ of Quo Warranto. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- Polity & Governance
Consider the following statements: 1. Attorney General of India and Solicitor General of India are the only officers of the Government who are allowed to participate in the meetings of the Parliament of India. 2. According to the Constitution of India, the Attorney General of India submits his resignation when the Government which appointed him resigns. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC Prelims 20213 questions
- Polity & Governance
A legislation which confers on the executive or administrative authority an unguided and uncontrolled discretionary power in the matter of application of law violates one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India?
- Polity & Governance
We adopted parliamentary democracy based on the British model, but how does our model differ from that model? 1. As regards legislation, the British Parliament is supreme or sovereign but in India, the power of the Parliament to legislate is limited. 2. In India, matters related to the constitutionality of the Amendment of an Act of the Parliament are referred to the Constitution Bench by the Supreme Court. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- Polity & Governance
With reference to Indian judiciary, consider the following statements: 1. Any retired judge of the Supreme Court of India can be called back to sit and act as a Supreme Court judge by the Chief Justice of India with prior permission of the President of India. 2. A High Court in India has the power to review its own judgement as the Supreme Court does. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC Prelims 20202 questions
- Polity & Governance
In India, separation of judiciary from the executive is enjoined by
- Polity & Governance
Consider the following statements: 1. The Constitution of India defines its structure in terms of federalism, secularism, fundamental rights and democracy. 2. The Constitution of India provides for ‘Judicial review’ to safeguard the citizens’ liberties and to preserve the ideals on which the Constitution is based. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC Prelims 20194 questions
- Polity & Governance
Consider the following statements: 1. The 44th Amendment to the Constitution of India introduced an article placing the election of the Prime Minister beyond judicial review. 2. The Supreme Court of India struck down the 99th Amendment to the Constitution of India as being violative of the independence of judiciary. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Polity & Governance
With reference to the Constitution of India, prohibition or limitations or provisions contained in ordinary laws cannot act as prohibitions or limitations on the constitutional powers under Article 142. It could mean which one of the following.
- Polity & Governance
Consider the following statements: 1. The motion to impeach a Judge of the Supreme Court of Indian cannot be rejected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as per the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. 2. The Constitution of India defines and gives details of what constitutes ‘incapacity and proved misbehaviour’ of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India. 3. The details of the process of impeachment of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India are given in the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. 4. If the motion for the impeachment of a Judge is taken up for voting, the law requires the motion to be backed by each House of the Parliament and supported by a majority of total membership of that House and by not less than two-thirds of total members of that House present and voting. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Polity & Governance
With reference to the Constitution of India, consider the following statements: 1. No High Court shall have the jurisdiction to declare any central law to be constitutionally invalid. 2. An amendment to the Constitution of India cannot be called into question by the Supreme Court of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC Prelims 20181 question
UPSC Prelims 20173 questions
UPSC Prelims 20142 questions
UPSC Prelims 20132 questions
- History
The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) who visited India recorded the general conditions and culture of India at that time. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The roads and river routes were completely immune from robbery. 2. As regards punishment for offences, ordeals by fire, water and poison were the instruments for determining the innocence or guilt of a person. 3. The tradesmen had to pay duties at ferries and barrier stations. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
- Polity & Governance
Which one of the following statements is correct?
UPSC Prelims 20122 questions
- Polity & Governance
Which of the following are included in the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court? 1. A dispute between the Government of India and one or more States. 2. A dispute regarding elections to either House of the Parliament or that of Legislature of a State. 3. A dispute between the Government of India and a Union Territory. 4. A dispute between two or more States. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
- Polity & Governance
What is the provision to safeguard the autonomy of the Supreme Court of India? 1. While appointing the Supreme Court Judges, the President of India has to consult the Chief Justice of India. 2. The Supreme Court Judges can be removed by the Chief Justice of India only. 3. The salaries of the Judges are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India to which the legislature does not have to vote. 4. All appointments of officers and staff of the Supreme Court of India are made by the Government only after consulting the Chief Justice of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
