The Supreme Court MCQs with answers and explanations for preparation of UPSC, BPSC, UPPSC and other State PSC Examinations
1. Who was the first woman judge of the International Court of Justice?
A) Rosalyn Higgins
B) Gabrielle Kirk McDonald
C) Joan Donoghue
D) Julia Sebutinde
Answer: A) Rosalyn Higgins
Explanation: Rosalyn Higgins became the first female judge of the International Court of Justice in 1995, serving until 2009. She made significant contributions to international law.
2. Balaji Raghwan v. Union of India AIR 1996 SC 770 is related to which article of the Constitution?
A) Article 14
B) Article 16
C) Article 18
D) Article 19
Answer: C) Article 18
Explanation: The case dealt with the constitutional prohibition of titles, specifically relating to military and academic distinctions under Article 18 of the Indian Constitution.
3. Medha Kotwal Lele v. UOI 2012 SC case is related to which issue?
A) Environmental Protection
B) Sexual Harassment at Workplace
C) Right to Education
D) Reservation in Promotions
Answer: B) Sexual Harassment at Workplace
Explanation: This case emphasized the need for strict implementation of the guidelines against sexual harassment at the workplace, laid out in the Vishaka case.
4. Right to Privacy is part of which fundamental right?
A) Right to Equality
B) Right to Freedom
C) Right to Life and Personal Liberty
D) Right against Exploitation
Answer: C) Right to Life and Personal Liberty
Explanation: The Supreme Court of India recognized the Right to Privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21, which ensures the right to life and personal liberty.
5. Which judgment of the Supreme Court in 1992 upheld OBC reservations while separating the creamy layer?
A) Indra Sawhney v. Union of India
B) Minerva Mills v. Union of India
C) Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala
D) M.C. Mehta v. Union of India
Answer: A) Indra Sawhney v. Union of India
Explanation: The 1992 Indra Sawhney judgment upheld the reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) but introduced the concept of excluding the ‘creamy layer’ from these benefits.
6. Who was the first Attorney General of India?
A) C.K. Daphtary
B) M.C. Setalvad
C) Niren De
D) Soli Sorabjee
Answer: B) M.C. Setalvad
Explanation: M.C. Setalvad was the first Attorney General of India, serving from 1950 to 1963. He played a pivotal role in shaping the legal framework of the country post-independence.
7. Who is the current president of the National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission?
A) Justice R.K. Agrawal
B) Justice D.K. Jain
C) Justice Ajit Prakash Shah
D) Justice G.S. Singhvi
Answer: A) Justice R.K. Agrawal
Explanation: As of the latest update, Justice R.K. Agrawal is the president of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC).
8. How many Fundamental Duties are listed in Article 51-A of the Constitution of India?
A) 9
B) 10
C) 11
D) 12
Answer: C) 11
Explanation: Article 51-A lists 11 Fundamental Duties for the citizens of India, added by the 42nd and 86th Amendments to the Constitution.
9. Who was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?
A) H.J. Kania
B) M. Patanjali Sastri
C) Mehr Chand Mahajan
D) B.K. Mukherjea
Answer: A) H.J. Kania
Explanation: Harilal Jekisundas Kania was the first Chief Justice of India, serving from 1950 until his death in 1951.
10. In ADM Jabalpur v. Shivkant Shulka which judge gave the dissenting judgment that cost him the CJI position?
A) Justice P.N. Bhagwati
B) Justice Y.V. Chandrachud
C) Justice H.R. Khanna
D) Justice M.H. Beg
Answer: C) Justice H.R. Khanna
Explanation: Justice H.R. Khanna gave a famous dissenting opinion in the ADM Jabalpur case, defending the right to life and personal liberty even during the Emergency, which allegedly cost him the position of Chief Justice of India.
Supreme Court MCQ Questions
11. Who was the first female Judge of the Supreme Court of India?
A) Ruma Pal
B) Fathima Beevi
C) Sujata Manohar
D) Indu Malhotra
Answer: B) Fathima Beevi
Explanation: Fathima Beevi became the first female judge of the Supreme Court of India in 1989, paving the way for women in the higher judiciary.
12. Who is the first female Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan?
A) Ayesha Malik
B) Tahira Safdar
C) Asma Jahangir
D) Nasira Iqbal
Answer: A) Ayesha Malik
Explanation: Ayesha Malik became the first female judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2022, marking a significant milestone in the country’s judicial history.
13. Who is the first election commissioner of India?
A) Sukumar Sen
B) T.N. Seshan
C) K.V.K. Sundaram
D) M.S. Gill
Answer: A) Sukumar Sen
Explanation: Sukumar Sen was the first Chief Election Commissioner of India, overseeing the first general elections in 1951-52.
14. Who was the first Law Minister of Independent India?
A) B.R. Ambedkar
B) Rajendra Prasad
C) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
D) C. Rajagopalachari
Answer: A) B.R. Ambedkar
Explanation: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution, served as the first Law Minister of Independent India.
15. Which Chief Justice of India had the shortest tenure in office?
A) Kamal Narain Singh
B) S.R. Das
C) M. Hidayatullah
D) P.N. Bhagwati
Answer: A) Kamal Narain Singh
Explanation: Justice Kamal Narain Singh served as Chief Justice of India for only 17 days in 1991, the shortest tenure in the history of the Supreme Court.
16. Which Chief Justice of India had the longest tenure in office?
A) Y.V. Chandrachud
B) M. Hidayatullah
C) P.N. Bhagwati
D) A.M. Ahmadi
Answer: A) Y.V. Chandrachud
Explanation: Justice Y.V. Chandrachud served as the Chief Justice of India from 1978 to 1985, making his tenure the longest at over 7 years.
17. Which was the largest bench of the Supreme Court ever constituted?
A) 9 Judges
B) 11 Judges
C) 13 Judges
D) 15 Judges
Answer: C) 13 Judges
Explanation: The largest bench ever constituted in the Supreme Court of India was of 13 judges in the landmark Kesavananda Bharati case in 1973.
18. Number of minimum judges in a Constitutional Bench are ______.
A) 3
B) 5
C) 7
D) 9
Answer: B) 5
Explanation: According to the Supreme Court of India rules, a Constitutional Bench must consist of at least 5 judges to hear substantial questions of law relating to the interpretation of the Constitution.
19. Which Supreme Court Judge will take oath as 50th Chief Justice of India?
A) Justice D.Y. Chandrachud
B) Justice N.V. Ramana
C) Justice U.U. Lalit
D) Justice S.A. Bobde
Answer: A) Justice D.Y. Chandrachud
Explanation: Justice D.Y. Chandrachud is set to become the 50th Chief Justice of India, following the tenure of Justice U.U. Lalit.enure of Justice U.U. Lalit.
20. In the case of Swapnil Tripathi v Union of India Supreme Court allowed live streaming of what kind of matters?
A) Criminal Matters
B) Civil Matters
C) Constitutional Matters
D) All Matters
Answer: D) All Matters
Explanation: In the Swapnil Tripathi case, the Supreme Court allowed live streaming of all matters of public importance to promote transparency and accessibility in the judicial process.
21. The Supreme Court is open to the general public on which day?
A) Monday
B) Wednesday
C) Friday
D) Saturday
Answer: D) Saturday
The Supreme Court of India is open to the public for tours on Saturdays, excluding holidays.
22. 104th Amendment in the Constitution is related to which article?
A) Article 15
B) Article 19
C) Article 334
D) Article 368
Answer: C) Article 334
Explanation: The 104th Amendment extended the reservation of seats for SCs and STs in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, but ended the reservation of seats for Anglo-Indians in these legislative bodies.
23. Sachar Committee constituted in 2005 was for which purpose?
A) Economic Reforms
B) Education Reforms
C) Status of Minorities
D) Judicial Reforms
Answer: C) Status of Minorities
Explanation: The Sachar Committee was set up in 2005 to study the social, economic, and educational status of the Muslim community in India.
24. Who is the current chairman of NHRC (National Human Rights Commission)?
A) Justice H.L. Dattu
B) Justice Arun Mishra
C) Justice K.G. Balakrishnan
D) Justice A.K. Sikri
Answer: B) Justice Arun Mishra
Explanation: As of the latest information, Justice Arun Mishra is the chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
25. After Hon’ble Mr. Justice N.V Ramana, who will become CJI in 2022?
A) Justice U.U. Lalit
B) Justice D.Y. Chandrachud
C) Justice S.A. Bobde
D) Justice R.F. Nariman
Answer: A) Justice U.U. Lalit
Explanation: Following Justice N.V. Ramana, Justice U.U. Lalit is expected to become the Chief Justice of India in 2022.
26. Audi Alteram Partem means
A) No person shall be judge in his own case
B) Let the decision stand
C) To the man himself
D) Hear the other side
Answer: D) Hear the other side
Explanation: Audi Alteram Partem is a legal maxim meaning that both parties in a dispute must be given an opportunity to be heard before a decision is made.
27. Which case is related to protection against handcuffing?
A) Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India
B) Sunil Batra v. Delhi Administration
C) Prem Shankar Shukla v. Delhi Administration
D) Hussainara Khatoon v. Home Secretary, State of Bihar
Answer: C) Prem Shankar Shukla v. Delhi Administration
Explanation: The Supreme Court in Prem Shankar Shukla v. Delhi Administration held that handcuffing should be the exception rather than the rule and must be justified by circumstances.
28. Within how many weeks a woman can get an abortion in India?
A) 12 weeks
B) 20 weeks
C) 24 weeks
D) 28 weeks
Answer: C) 24 weeks
Explanation: As per the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021, a woman in India can get an abortion up to 24 weeks of pregnancy under certain conditions.
29. In which case did the Supreme Court propounded the basic structure doctrine?
A) Keshavanda Bharti v. Union of India
B) People’s Union of Civil Liberities v. Union of India
C) Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India
D) Indira Gandhi v. Union of India
Answer: A) Keshavanda Bharti v. Union of India
Explanation: The Supreme Court of India propounded the basic structure doctrine in the landmark case of Keshavananda Bharti v. Union of India in 1973. This doctrine establishes that while the Parliament has wide powers to amend the Constitution, it cannot alter its basic structure.
Supreme Court MCQ Questions
30. The only judge of the Supreme Court to have been elevated directly to the post from being a lawyer?
A) Justice Santosh Hedge
B) Justice B.N. Kirpal
C) Justice Ruma Pal
D) Justice K. G. Balakrishnan
Answer: A) Justice Santosh Hedge
Explanation: Justice Santosh Hegde is known to have been elevated directly to the position of a Supreme Court judge from being a practicing lawyer, without serving as a judge in any lower court or High Court.
31. Which of these has been held by the Supreme Court to not being a government organization?
A) Securities and Exchange Board of India
B) Board of Cricket Control of India
C) Railways
D) Industrial Finance Corporate of India
Answer: B) Board of Cricket Control of India
Explanation: The Supreme Court of India has held that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not a government organization despite its significant public functions and importance in cricket administration.
32. Which Article of the Constitution of India states that the Law declared by Supreme Court to be binding on allcourts?
A) Article 141
B) Article 136
C) Article 21
D) Article 126
Answer: A) Article 141
Explanation: Article 141 of the Constitution of India states that the law declared by the Supreme Court shall be binding on all courts within the territory of India.
33. What is the term of the Judges of the Supreme Court of United States?
A) 9 Years
B) 5 years
C)7 years
D)Till their death or voluntary resignation
Answer: D)Till their death or voluntary resignation
Explanation: In the United States, Supreme Court judges hold their positions for life, unless they choose to resign, retire, or are impeached and removed from office.
34. The Constitution of India permits the Supreme Court to sit at?
A) Delhi only
B) Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Calcutta
C) Delhi and Chennai only
D) Anywhere in India
Answer: D) Anywhere in India
Explanation: While the Supreme Court of India primarily sits in New Delhi, the Constitution allows it to sit at any other place in the country as decided by the Chief Justice of India with the approval of the President.
35. Which of the following is/are Court of record?
A) Supreme Court of India only
B) No court is a Court of record
C) High Court of India only
D) Both Supreme Court and High Courts of India
Answer: D) Both Supreme Court and High Courts of India
Explanation: Both the Supreme Court and the High Courts of India are courts of record, meaning their judgments, proceedings, and acts are recorded for perpetual memory and testimony and have evidentiary value.
36. What is a legal tender in India, Nepal and Bhutan?
A) Indian Rupee
B) 100 Rupees
C) Nepalese Rupee
D) Bhutanese Ngultrum
Answer: A) Indian Rupee
Explanation: The Indian Rupee is accepted as legal tender not only in India but also in Nepal and Bhutan, facilitating trade and economic interactions between these countries.
37. What was the first law commission of India on?
A) Reforms in contract law
B) Reform in Information and Technology Act
C) Liability of State in Tort
D) Reforms in Judiciary
Answer: C) Liability of State in Tort
Explanation: The first Law Commission of India, established in 1955, focused on various issues, including the liability of the state in tort, which refers to the legal responsibilities and remedies concerning civil wrongs.
38. Which Act was passed by the Parliament of Britian to give Independence to India?
A) Government of India Act
B) Cesseion of India Act
C) Bharat Independence Act
D) Indian Independence Act
Answer: D) Indian Independence Act
Explanation: The Indian Independence Act, 1947, passed by the British Parliament, granted independence to India and led to the partition into two dominions, India and Pakistan.
39. Who swears the oath to the Chief Justice of India?
A) Prime Minister
B) Outgoing Chief Justice of India
C) President of India
D) Five Supreme Court judges
Answer: C) President of India
Explanation: The Chief Justice of India is sworn in by the President of India as per the provisions of the Constitution.
40. In which famous case did the Supreme Court issued guidelines to be taken as law based on Indiabeing a signatory of certain international treatise
A) Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India
B) Vishaka v. Union of India
C) Keshavanda Bharti v. Union of India
D) The Supreme Court has never passed a judgment like this.
Answer: B) Vishaka v. Union of India
Explanation: In the Vishaka v. Union of India case (1997), the Supreme Court issued guidelines to prevent sexual harassment at the workplace, drawing from international conventions and treaties to which India is a signatory.
