50 important MCQs and Short questions on the Indian Judiciary System for UPSC, SSC, and other competitive exams:

1-10: Basics of the Indian Judiciary

The Indian Judiciary is based on which system?
a) Unitary System
b) Federal System
c) British System
d) American System
Ans: b) Federal System

Which article establishes the Supreme Court of India?
a) Article 324
b) Article 141
c) Article 124
d) Article 226
Ans: c) Article 124

The Supreme Court of India was established in which year?
a) 1950
b) 1947
c) 1952
d) 1949
Ans: a) 1950

What is the maximum number of judges (including the Chief Justice) in the Supreme Court as per the latest amendment?
a) 31
b) 34
c) 25
d) 27
Ans: b) 34

The judicial review power of the Supreme Court comes from:
a) Article 13 and Article 32
b) Article 72
c) Article 356
d) Article 368
Ans: a) Article 13 and Article 32

Judicial Review in India means:
a) Reviewing laws passed by Parliament
b) Reviewing laws and executive orders against the Constitution
c) Reviewing state laws only
d) Amending laws of Parliament
Ans: b) Reviewing laws and executive orders against the Constitution

The minimum age for a Supreme Court judge in India is:
a) 40 years
b) 50 years
c) No minimum age prescribed
d) 45 years
Ans: c) No minimum age prescribed

A Supreme Court judge retires at the age of:
a) 60 years
b) 62 years
c) 65 years
d) 67 years
Ans: c) 65 years

Which of the following is a writ issued by the Supreme Court?
a) Mandamus
b) Habeas Corpus
c) Certiorari
d) All of the above
Ans: d) All of the above

The Supreme Court's power to issue writs comes under:
a) Article 226
b) Article 32
c) Article 72
d) Article 368
Ans: b) Article 32

11-20: High Courts and Subordinate Courts

The High Courts in India were first established in which year?
a) 1861
b) 1891
c) 1911
d) 1950
Ans: a) 1861

The first High Courts in India were established in:
a) Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai
b) Bombay, Madras, Calcutta
c) Lucknow, Hyderabad, Patna
d) Kolkata, Hyderabad, Delhi
Ans: b) Bombay, Madras, Calcutta

Under which article are the High Courts established?
a) Article 214
b) Article 324
c) Article 131
d) Article 142
Ans: a) Article 214

The retirement age for High Court judges is:
a) 60 years
b) 62 years
c) 65 years
d) 67 years
Ans: b) 62 years

Which is the highest judicial court of appeal in a state?
a) Supreme Court
b) District Court
c) High Court
d) Sessions Court
Ans: c) High Court

The Governor appoints High Court judges with consultation from:
a) Chief Justice of India
b) Prime Minister
c) Lok Sabha Speaker
d) Election Commission
Ans: a) Chief Justice of India

Under which article does the High Court have the power to issue writs?
a) Article 32
b) Article 226
c) Article 368
d) Article 143
Ans: b) Article 226

Which article deals with the jurisdiction of High Courts?
a) Article 214
b) Article 131
c) Article 226
d) Article 141
Ans: c) Article 226

The lowest court in the judiciary system is:
a) District Court
b) Munsiff Court
c) High Court
d) Lok Adalat
Ans: b) Munsiff Court

Which court handles criminal cases at the district level?
a) High Court
b) Civil Court
c) Sessions Court
d) Family Court
Ans: c) Sessions Court

21-50: Miscellaneous Questions

The Collegium System appointing judges was established by:
Ans: Supreme Court judgments

First Chief Justice of India?
Ans: Justice H.J. Kania

First woman Supreme Court judge?
Ans: Justice Fathima Beevi

Which High Court has the largest jurisdiction?
Ans: Allahabad High Court

How many High Courts are there in India (2024)?
Ans: 25

Fast-track courts were introduced in which year?
Ans: 2000

The Chief Justice of India is appointed by?
Ans: President of India

The term ‘Court of Record’ refers to?
Ans: Supreme Court

Which is the final interpreter of the Constitution?
Ans: Supreme Court

Which article gives the Supreme Court original jurisdiction?
Ans: Article 131

Which article gives advisory jurisdiction to the Supreme Court?
Ans: Article 143

The doctrine of Basic Structure was laid down in which case?
Ans: Kesavananda Bharati Case

The Supreme Court is also called?
Ans: Guardian of the Constitution

Lok Adalats function under which Act?
Ans: Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987

PIL (Public Interest Litigation) was introduced in India by?
Ans: Justice P.N. Bhagwati

Which article deals with the impeachment of judges?
Ans: Article 124(4)

Which amendment introduced National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC)?
Ans: 99th Amendment

Which case struck down NJAC?
Ans: Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association case

Which is India's highest civilian court?
Ans: Supreme Court

40-50: Advanced and Miscellaneous Questions

Under which article can the President seek the opinion of the Supreme Court?
a) Article 124
b) Article 143
c) Article 226
d) Article 141
Ans: b) Article 143

The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in disputes between:
a) States and the President
b) Parliament and the Prime Minister
c) Two or more states
d) None of the above
Ans: c) Two or more states

Who administers the oath to the Chief Justice of India?
a) Prime Minister
b) President
c) Vice President
d) Attorney General
Ans: b) President

Which schedule of the Indian Constitution deals with the salaries of judges?
a) Third Schedule
b) Fourth Schedule
c) Second Schedule
d) Seventh Schedule
Ans: c) Second Schedule

The power to increase the number of Supreme Court judges lies with:
a) Chief Justice of India
b) Parliament
c) President
d) Prime Minister
Ans: b) Parliament

Which amendment increased the strength of Supreme Court judges from 31 to 34?
a) 99th Amendment
b) 102nd Amendment
c) 103rd Amendment
d) 104th Amendment
Ans: d) 104th Amendment

Which article gives special leave to appeal in any case from any court?
a) Article 136
b) Article 142
c) Article 226
d) Article 324
Ans: a) Article 136

Who is the first Law Officer of the country?
a) Attorney General of India
b) Chief Justice of India
c) Solicitor General of India
d) Law Minister
Ans: a) Attorney General of India

Who was the first Attorney General of India?
a) M.C. Setalvad
b) C.K. Daphtary
c) Soli Sorabjee
d) Goolam E. Vahanvati
Ans: a) M.C. Setalvad

Which of the following is not a type of jurisdiction of the Supreme Court?
a) Original Jurisdiction
b) Advisory Jurisdiction
c) Superficial Jurisdiction
d) Appellate Jurisdiction
Ans: c) Superficial Jurisdiction

Which case led to the recognition of the Right to Privacy as a Fundamental Right?
a) Kesavananda Bharati Case
b) A.K. Gopalan Case
c) Menaka Gandhi Case
d) K.S. Puttaswamy Case
Ans: d) K.S. Puttaswamy Case