Judiciary and Judicial Review MCQs for UPSC Prelims with Answers

This Indian Judiciary and Judicial Review MCQ practice paper for UPSC Prelims has 15 carefully selected questions on the Supreme Court, the High Courts, writs, judicial review, the basic structure doctrine and alternative justice systems. Each answer comes with a simple explanation, so you can strengthen your concepts while you practise.

Why Judiciary and Judicial Review Matters

The judiciary is a favourite of UPSC because it connects the Constitution with current affairs through landmark judgments and judicial reforms. Questions come from the structure of courts, the writs, the powers of the Supreme Court and the important cases. The topic also provides strong examples for the Essay and for GS II answers.

Instructions

• Total questions: 15. Suggested time: 15 minutes.
• Each correct answer gives 2 marks and each wrong answer deducts 0.66 marks, as in the real Prelims.
• Attempt the questions first and check the answer key only after you finish.

Practice Questions

Q1. The Supreme Court of India consists of the Chief Justice and how many other judges at present (as fixed by law)?
(a) 24
(b) 30
(c) 33
(d) 37

Q2. The retirement age of a Supreme Court judge is:
(a) 60 years
(b) 62 years
(c) 65 years
(d) 70 years

Q3. Which Article gives the Supreme Court the power to issue writs for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights?
(a) Article 32
(b) Article 226
(c) Article 136
(d) Article 142

Q4. The High Courts can issue writs under:
(a) Article 32
(b) Article 226
(c) Article 227
(d) Article 131

Q5. Which writ is issued to a public official to perform a public duty?
(a) Habeas Corpus
(b) Mandamus
(c) Prohibition
(d) Quo Warranto

Q6. The doctrine of the 'basic structure' of the Constitution was laid down in:
(a) Golaknath case
(b) Kesavananda Bharati case
(c) Minerva Mills case
(d) Maneka Gandhi case

Q7. Article 142 of the Constitution gives the Supreme Court the power to:
(a) Issue writs
(b) Pass any order necessary for 'complete justice'
(c) Give advisory opinions
(d) Try disputes between states

Q8. The advisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is provided under:
(a) Article 131
(b) Article 136
(c) Article 143
(d) Article 145

Q9. The original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court covers disputes between:
(a) Citizen and the state
(b) The Union and the states, or between states
(c) Two individuals
(d) Two High Courts

Q10. A Supreme Court judge can be removed by:
(a) President on the advice of the Prime Minister
(b) Parliament through an address by both Houses with a special majority, on grounds of proved misbehaviour or incapacity
(c) Chief Justice of India
(d) Collegium

Q11. The National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act was struck down by the Supreme Court in:
(a) 1993
(b) 2009
(c) 2015
(d) 2020

Q12. Lok Adalats are organised under which Act?
(a) Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987
(b) Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
(c) Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008
(d) Arbitration Act, 1996

Q13. Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in India was developed mainly by:
(a) The Parliament by law
(b) Judicial innovation of the Supreme Court
(c) The Law Commission
(d) The President

Q14. The Gram Nyayalayas were established to:
(a) Try only criminal cases of high courts
(b) Provide speedy and affordable justice at the village level
(c) Review the High Court orders
(d) Decide constitutional questions

Q15. The contempt of court power of the Supreme Court is given under:
(a) Article 129
(b) Article 124
(c) Article 131
(d) Article 144

Answer Key with Explanations

1. Q1: (c) The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, as amended in 2019, fixes the strength at 34, including the Chief Justice of India (that is, 33 other judges).
2. Q2: (c) A Supreme Court judge retires at 65, and a High Court judge retires at 62.
3. Q3: (a) Article 32 is the 'Right to Constitutional Remedies', and Dr. Ambedkar called it the 'heart and soul' of the Constitution.
4. Q4: (b) Article 226 gives the High Courts the power to issue writs for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights and for 'any other purpose'.
5. Q5: (b) Mandamus means 'we command', and is issued to direct a public authority to do its duty.
6. Q6: (b) In Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973), the Supreme Court held that Parliament can amend the Constitution but cannot change its basic structure.
7. Q7: (b) Article 142 enables the Supreme Court to pass such decrees or orders as are necessary for doing complete justice in a matter before it.
8. Q8: (c) Under Article 143, the President can seek the opinion of the Supreme Court on a question of law or fact of public importance.
9. Q9: (b) Under Article 131, the Supreme Court has exclusive original jurisdiction in disputes between the Centre and states, and between states.
10. Q10: (b) The judge is removed by the President after an address by both Houses of Parliament, with a special majority, on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
11. Q11: (c) In 2015 (the Fourth Judges Case), the Supreme Court struck down the 99th Constitutional Amendment and the NJAC Act, and retained the collegium system.
12. Q12: (a) Lok Adalats were given statutory status by the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Their awards are final and cannot be appealed.
13. Q13: (b) PIL is a creation of judicial activism and was developed in the 1980s by judges like P.N. Bhagwati and V.R. Krishna Iyer, by relaxing the rule of locus standi.
14. Q14: (b) The Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 created village courts for speedy and low-cost justice.
15. Q15: (a) Article 129 makes the Supreme Court a court of record with the power to punish for its contempt. Article 215 gives the same power to the High Courts.

Key Concepts to Revise After This Test

Quick Fact Sheet

• The Supreme Court was inaugurated on 28 January 1950, and it sits at New Delhi.
• The Chief Justice of India is appointed by the President, and by convention the senior-most judge is appointed.
• The collegium system for appointments evolved from the Three Judges Cases (1981, 1993 and 1998).
• Article 21 (Right to Life) has been expanded by the Supreme Court after the Maneka Gandhi case (1978).
• The first three High Courts, at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras, were set up in 1862 under the Indian High Courts Act, 1861.
• Judicial activism means the court actively protects rights, and judicial overreach means going beyond its limits.
• The Supreme Court Collegium has the CJI and four senior-most judges for appointment decisions.

How to Prepare Judiciary and Judicial Review for the Prelims

For the judiciary, learn the articles in a table: the number, the subject and the court. Prepare a one-page list of the landmark judgments with the year and the principle that each laid down. Learn each writ with its meaning and an example. Read the news about the Supreme Court weekly. Solve 10 to 15 questions every week. You can also read our free Indian Polity and Governance notes for simple revision, and use our other practice papers on the site for mixed practice.

Tricks for Solving Judiciary and Judicial Review Questions

• Match the Article to the court. Article 32 is for the Supreme Court, and Article 226 for the High Court.
• Know the principle of each case. UPSC asks what a judgment decided and not only its name.
• Learn the Latin meanings. Habeas Corpus means "have the body", and Quo Warranto means "by what authority".

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Mixing up Article 32 and Article 226.
• Confusing the writs of Certiorari and Prohibition.
• Not knowing the number of judges and the retirement ages.
• Treating the Collegium as a constitutional body, though it is a judicial creation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many questions come from the Judiciary in the UPSC Prelims?

The judiciary usually gives 2 to 4 questions per year as a part of Polity.

What is judicial review?

It is the power of the courts to examine whether a law or an executive action is in line with the Constitution.

What is the basic structure doctrine?

It is the principle that some core features of the Constitution cannot be changed by Parliament, even by an amendment.

What is the collegium system?

It is the method by which the Chief Justice and senior judges recommend the appointment and transfer of judges.

What are the five writs?

Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Certiorari and Quo Warranto.

What is a PIL?

A Public Interest Litigation allows any person to approach the court for the public good, even if he is not personally affected.

Is the judiciary useful for the Mains?

Yes. It appears in GS II, and the landmark judgments give strong examples for the Essay.