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Supreme Court: 52 previous year questions

UPSC has asked 52 questions on Supreme Court between 1985 and 2026: CSE 22 · CDS 20 · CAPF 5 · CISF (LDCE) 3 · EPFO (AO/EO) 1 · NDA 1. 25 of them came after 2015, so this is a live topic examiners keep returning to. 22 were set in Civil Services Prelims; the rest come from UPSC's other papers, which draw on the same question bank.

Practise these 52, one at a timeRead the questions

Tap an option to check yourself. Answers follow the official UPSC key; where the key was dropped or disputed the question is not shown.

CDS2026 · 1Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·1

Consider the following statements regarding the qualifications of a person for appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India : 1. The person has to be, for at least five years, a Judge of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession. 2. The person has to be, for at least ten years, an advocate of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession. 3. The person is, in the opinion of the Chief Justice of India, a distinguished jurist. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Answer C (official UPSC key)SC judge qualifications → 5 years as a High Court judge | 10 years as a High Court advocate | NOT: a distinguished jurist in the CJI's opinion
EPFO (AO/EO)2023Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·1

Which of the following statements regarding the attendance of retired judges at sittings of the Supreme Court of India is/are correct ? 1. Article 128 permits the attendance of retired judges at the sittings of the Supreme Court. 2. The Chief Justice of India may at any time request anyone who has held office as a Judge of the Supreme Court or of a High Court to sit and act as a Judge of the Supreme Court. 3. The Chief Justice of India may at any time, with the previous consent of the President of India, request any person who has held the office of Chief Justice of a High Court to sit and act as a Judge of the Supreme Court. 4. The Chief Justice of India may at any time, with the previous consent of the President of India, request any person who has held the office of a Judge of the Supreme Court to sit and act as a Judge of the Supreme Court. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Retired judges at SC sittings → Art 128 permits it | CJI, with the President's prior consent, may request a former SC judge to sit and act | NOT: without the President's consent | NOT: a former HC Chief Justice
CAPF2021Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·1

Who can be appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court?

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Can be appointed an SC judge → a distinguished jurist in the opinion of the President
CSE2021Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·2

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 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?

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Answer C (official UPSC key)CJI may, with the President's prior permission, call back a retired SC judge to sit | a High Court can review its own judgment, as the SC does
CISF (LDCE)2020Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·1

Which of the following is an incorrect procedure to impeach a Judge of the Supreme Court ?

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Answer C (official UPSC key)SC judge impeachment → NOT: motion put to vote irrespective of the inquiry committee's report
CDS2019 · 2Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·1

Which of the following statements as per the Constitution of India are not correct ? 1. The President tenders his resignation to the Chief Justice of India. 2. The Vice-President tenders his resignation to the President of India. 3. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India is removed from his office in the like manner as the President of India 4. A Judge of the Supreme Court can resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Chief Justice of India. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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Answer D (official UPSC key)NOT correct → President resigns to the CJI | CAG removed like the President | SC judge resigns to the CJI (Vice-President resigning to the President is correct)
CSE2019Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·1

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. Supreme Court of India struck down the 99th amendment to the Constitution of India as being violative of the independence of the judiciary Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Answer B (official UPSC key)SC struck down the 99th Amendment as violating judicial independence | NOT: the 44th Amendment placed the PM's election beyond judicial review
CSE2019Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·1

Consider the following statements: 1. The motion to impeach a Judge of the Supreme Court of India 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?

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Impeachment process detailed in the Judges (Inquiry) Act 1968 | motion must be backed in each House by a majority of total membership and two-thirds present and voting | NOT: the Speaker cannot reject the motion | NOT: Constitution defines 'incapacity and proved misbehaviour'
CSE2019Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·2

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?

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Answer D (official UPSC key)NOT: no High Court may declare a central law invalid | NOT: a constitutional amendment cannot be questioned by the SC
CAPF2018Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·1

Which one of the following judgements is associated with the primacy of the Chief Justice of India and the Collegium of Judges in the appointment and transfer of the higher judiciary?

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Answer B (official UPSC key)Judgment associated with the CJI's/collegium's role in appointing and transferring higher judges → S. P. Gupta v. President of India (of: Kesavananda, S.P. Gupta, Maneka Gandhi, S.R. Bommai)
CDS2017 · 1Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·2

Which of the following are the powers of the Supreme Court of India? 1. Original jurisdiction in a dispute between the Government of India and one or more States 2. The power to hear appeals from the High Courts 3. Passing decrees and orders for doing justice in any matter before it. 4. Render advice to the President of India in matters of law Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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Answer A (official UPSC key)SC powers → original jurisdiction in Centre–State disputes | appeals from High Courts | decrees and orders for complete justice | advice to the President on questions of law
CSE2017Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·2

In India, Judicial Review implies

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Judicial Review → power to pronounce on the constitutionality of laws and executive orders
CDS2016 · 1Supreme CourtOn card POL 3·4

In which one of the following judgments of the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court of India, the „rarest of rare‟ principle in the award of death penalty was first laid down?

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Answer A (official UPSC key)'Rarest of rare' death-penalty principle first laid down → Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab (1980)
CDS2016 · 2Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·2

Which one of the following is not true about the powers of the Supreme Court?

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Answer D (official UPSC key)NOT true of the SC → exclusive power to issue writs for fundamental rights
CSE2012Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·2

Which of the following are included in the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court? [2012 - I] 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 :

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Answer C (official UPSC key)SC's original jurisdiction → Government of India vs one or more States | between two or more States | NOT: election disputes of Parliament/State Legislature | NOT: Government of India vs a Union Territory
CSE2012Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·1

What is the provision to safeguard the autonomy of the Supreme Court of India? [2012 - I] 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 staffs 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?

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Safeguards of SC autonomy → President must consult the CJI on appointments | judges' salaries charged on the CFI, not voted | NOT: SC judges removable by the CJI | NOT: SC staff appointed by the Government after consulting the CJI
CAPF2011Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·1

Which of the following is/are the part/parts of the procedure for the impeachment of a Judge of the Supreme Court of India ? 1. A motion signed by atleast 100 members of Lok Sabha or 50 members of Rajya Sabha is delivered to the Speaker or Chairman. 2. The motion is investigated by a Committee of three Jurists constituted by the Speaker or Chairman. 3. The Judge will be removed by the Speaker or Chairman if the Committee of three Jurists recommends. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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Answer B (official UPSC key)SC judge impeachment → motion signed by at least 100 LS or 50 RS members delivered to the Speaker/Chairman | investigated by a three-member committee constituted by the Speaker/Chairman | NOT: Speaker/Chairman removes the judge
CDS2011 · 2Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·1

Which of the following statements with respect to the judiciary in India is/are correct ? 1. Unlike in the United States, India has not provided for a double system of courts. 2. Under the Constitution of India, there is a single integrated system of courts for the Union as well as the states. 3. The organisation of the subordinate judiciary varies slightly from state to state. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Judiciary → unlike the US, no double system of courts | a single integrated system for the Union and States | subordinate judiciary's organisation varies slightly across States
CAPF2010Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·2

Which one among the following disputes is not included in the „original jurisdiction‟ of the Supreme Court of India ?

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Answer B (official UPSC key)NOT in the SC's original jurisdiction → disputes between the Government of India and citizens
CDS2010 · 2Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·2

The original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India extends to [2011-1]

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Answer B (official UPSC key)SC's original jurisdiction extends to → disputes between the Government of India and one or more States
CAPF2009Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·2

In which one of the following cases did the Supreme Court of India include the „right to education‟ in „right to life‟ ?

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Right to education included in the right to life → Mohini Jain v. State of Karnataka (1992)
CSE2007Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·3

Consider the following statements: 1 The mode of removal of a Judge of a High Court in India is same as that of removal of a Judge of the Supreme Court. 2 After retirement from the office, a permanent judge of a High Court cannot plead or act in any court or before any authority in India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Removal of an HC judge → same mode as an SC judge | NOT: a retired permanent HC judge cannot plead in any court
CSE2006Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·3

Consider the following statements: [2006] 1 A person who has held office as a permanent Judge of a High Court cannot plead or act in any court or before any authority in India except of the Supreme Court. 2 A person is not qualified for appointment as a Judge of a High Court in India unless he has for at least five years held a judicial office in the territory of India. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

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Answer D (official UPSC key)NOT: a retired permanent HC judge may plead only in the Supreme Court | NOT: HC judgeship needs at least five years in judicial office
CSE1997Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·2

Assertion (A): Wilful disobedience or non-compliance of Court orders and use of derogatory language about judicial behaviour amount to Contempt of Court. Reason (R): Judicial activism cannot be practised without arming the judiciary with punitive powers to punish contemptuous behaviour. In the context of the above two statements which one of the following is correct?

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Answer B (official UPSC key)Wilful disobedience of court orders and derogatory language about judges amount to contempt | judicial activism needs punitive power over contempt (not the explanation)
CSE1992Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·1

Which of the following statements regarding judiciary in India are correct? 1. Supreme Court of India is free from the control and influence of legislature and executive 2. Subordinate courts are at the head of the judicial hierarchy of the state. 3. The Chief Justice and other judges of the High Court are appointed by the Governor in consultation with the Chief Justice of India 4. A High Court can withdraw a case from a subordinate court and can deal with the case itself if it is satisfied that the case involves a substantial point of constitutional law Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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Answer C (official UPSC key)SC free from legislative and executive control | a High Court may withdraw a case involving a substantial question of constitutional law | NOT: subordinate courts head the State's judicial hierarchy | NOT: HC judges appointed by the Governor
CSE1991Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·1

The appointment of the Judges of Supreme Court is done by

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Answer B (official UPSC key)SC judges appointed by → the President in consultation with the Chief Justice of India
CSE1985Supreme CourtOn card POL 7·3

After retirement, a High Court Judge

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Answer B (official UPSC key)After retirement, a High Court judge → cannot plead in the same High Court

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High Courts · 19Subordinate Courts / Tribunals · 13