Week 2 review: Courts and the law

After the 2026 increase, what is the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court including the Chief Justice of India?

Answer: C. 38

The number of judges other than the CJI rose from 33 to 37, so the full strength is 38.

Which 2023 Constitution Bench decision held that the Election Commission must be insulated from exclusive executive control over appointments?

Answer: A. Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India

Anoop Baranwal (2023) put the CJI on the selection panel until Parliament legislated. Seshan (1995) concerned a multi-member Commission; Kihoto Hollohan (1992) the anti-defection law; the SCAORA case (2015) the NJAC.

'Su Sahay', launched by the Supreme Court in May 2026, is:

Answer: D. An AI chatbot that guides litigants to the Court's services

Su Sahay is a chatbot built by NIC. SUVAS translates judgments; the National Judicial Data Grid publishes pendency data.

According to the Supreme Court in September 2026, which court can impose a sentence of life imprisonment that excludes remission?

Answer: C. Only a constitutional court (a High Court or the Supreme Court)

Following V. Sriharan (2015), only constitutional courts can impose this 'special category' sentence. A Sessions Court cannot curtail the government's statutory remission power.

The presumption under Section 20 of the Prevention of Corruption Act arises:

Answer: C. Only after demand and acceptance of a bribe are proved

As the Constitution Bench held in Neeraj Dutta (2022), the prosecution must first prove the foundational facts of demand and acceptance.

The 'five golden principles' governing conviction on circumstantial evidence were laid down in:

Answer: C. Sharad Birdhichand Sarda v. State of Maharashtra (1984)

Sharad Birdhichand Sarda (1984) set them out, building on Hanumant (1952). Nandini Satpathy concerned the right against self-incrimination.

In arbitration law, the 'seat' of arbitration determines:

Answer: B. Which courts have supervisory jurisdiction over the arbitration

The seat fixes the supervising courts; the venue is just the place of hearings. In September 2026 the Court held hearings at Cuttack did not make it the seat.

Section 53A of the Transfer of Property Act (part performance) is best described as:

Answer: D. A shield protecting a buyer in possession, not a basis to claim possession

Section 53A protects a transferee already in possession; it does not transfer title or create a cause of action to recover possession.

In September 2026 the Supreme Court held that in child custody disputes the paramount consideration is:

Answer: C. The welfare and best interest of the child

The tender years doctrine cannot be determinative; welfare on the facts of each case decides custody.

The creamy-layer exclusion for Other Backward Classes originates in which case?

Answer: A. Indra Sawhney v. Union of India (1992)

Indra Sawhney (1992) upheld OBC reservation but excluded the creamy layer and set the 50% ceiling. Champakam Dorairajan led to the First Amendment.

Under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, a person can be a member of a Scheduled Caste only if he or she professes:

Answer: A. Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism

Paragraph 3 of the Order, as amended in 1956 and 1990, covers Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists.

Which is NOT one of the four prongs of the proportionality test applied by Indian courts?

Answer: B. Popularity of the measure

The four prongs are legitimate aim, suitability (rational connection), necessity and balancing. Popularity is irrelevant.

Under which provision did the government temporarily block Telegram before the NEET-UG re-examination in June 2026?

Answer: A. Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000

Section 69A allows blocking of online information on specified grounds. Section 66A was struck down in Shreya Singhal (2015).

In October 2026 the Supreme Court held that a platform that fails to report child sexual abuse material to the police under the POCSO Act:

Answer: C. Loses its 'safe harbour' protection under Section 79 of the IT Act

Compliance with Section 79 does not excuse the separate duty to report under Section 20 of the POCSO Act, and failing that due diligence removes the safe harbour.

Crypto exchanges serving Indian users must register with FIU-IND because virtual digital asset providers were brought under which law in 2023?

Answer: A. Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002

A March 2023 notification made VDA service providers reporting entities under the PMLA.

The BBNJ Agreement, which entered into force on 17 January 2026, was adopted under which convention?

Answer: B. UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982

The BBNJ Agreement is an implementing agreement under UNCLOS, covering biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction.

Rodrigo Duterte faces trial at the ICC on charges of:

Answer: D. Crimes against humanity

In April 2026 the Pre-Trial Chamber confirmed three counts of crimes against humanity (murder and attempted murder) linked to his anti-drug campaign.

Under the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960, India was given unrestricted use of which rivers?

Answer: D. Ravi, Beas and Sutlej

The eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) went to India; the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) largely to Pakistan.