The Supreme Court — MCQs with Answers (Set 5)

The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, passed by the Rajya Sabha on 4 August 2026, raised the Court’s sanctioned strength from 34 to 38 judges (a Chief Justice plus 37 others, up from 33). It replaced an ordinance the President had promulgated on 16 May 2026. The 2019 increase, by contrast, had raised the strength from 31 to 34.

Article 141 makes the law declared by the Supreme Court binding on all courts within the territory of India, not just the parties to a case. This is what gives Supreme Court judgments precedent-setting force nationwide.

The Supreme Court exercises original jurisdiction (enforcing fundamental rights and settling federal disputes), appellate jurisdiction (hearing appeals from High Courts and tribunals), and advisory jurisdiction (giving opinions on questions the President refers under Article 143). There is no separate “executive jurisdiction” — that power belongs to the executive branch, not the judiciary.

The original Constitution of 1950 provided for a Chief Justice and 7 puisne judges, a total of 8. Parliament has raised this repeatedly since: to 11 in 1956, 14 in 1960, 18 in 1978, 26 in 1986, 31 in 2009, and 34 in 2019.

The Supreme Court held its first sitting on 28 January 1950, two days after the Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950. It replaced the Federal Court of India, and initially sat in the Chamber of Princes in the old Parliament building.

Both are correct. The ruling restored High Court appeals over CAT decisions, and reaffirmed judicial review as part of the basic structure.

The Court held that decisions of tribunals under Articles 323A and 323B are subject to the High Court’s writ power under Articles 226 and 227. These are heard by a Division Bench. The exclusion clauses were struck down only to the extent they shut out the High Courts and the Supreme Court.

Correct: it refused to order confiscation. The Court dismissed the plea on 2 August 2024. It said the petitioner had other remedies, such as criminal procedure or Article 226.

Correct: the right to information under Article 19(1)(a). The Court said funding information is essential for voters to choose well, so anonymous bonds violated that right.

Correct: it unanimously struck down the scheme as unconstitutional. The five-judge bench was unanimous. The Chief Justice wrote the lead judgment and Justice Khanna concurred separately.

Correct: it set aside the contempt order. In December 2025 the Supreme Court held that contempt power is not a personal armour for judges. It noted the woman had shown unconditional remorse at the earliest stage.

Correct: Article 129. It makes the Supreme Court a court of record with power to punish contempt of itself. Article 215 gives High Courts the same power.

The writ of Certiorari is issued to quash an order of a lower court or tribunal that has acted beyond its jurisdiction, or in violation of natural justice.

Article 348 requires that all proceedings in the Supreme Court, and in every High Court, shall be conducted in the English language, unless Parliament provides otherwise.

The 15th Constitutional Amendment inserted the provision empowering Parliament to determine, by law, the authority and procedure for deciding a Supreme Court Judge’s age.

Article 141 provides that the law declared by the Supreme Court is binding on all courts throughout the territory of India.

Articles 132 to 136 collectively provide for the Supreme Court’s Appellate Jurisdiction, covering constitutional, civil, and criminal appeals from lower courts.

The concept of Public Interest Litigation, allowing courts to be approached on behalf of disadvantaged groups, originally developed in the United States before India adapted it.

After the widely criticised ADM Jabalpur ruling permitted suspension of these rights during the Emergency, the 44th Amendment ensured Articles 20 and 21 can never be suspended even during a National Emergency.

Judicial Review is the judiciary’s power to examine and pronounce upon the constitutionality of laws enacted by the legislature and orders issued by the executive.

Article 32 (Supreme Court) and Article 226 (High Courts) together most directly express India’s constitutional power of judicial review through the writ jurisdiction they confer.

A retired permanent Judge of the Supreme Court is constitutionally barred from pleading or acting in any court or before any authority in India.

Correct: punish for its own contempt. Article 129 says the Supreme Court is a court of record. It has all the powers of such a court, including power to punish contempt of itself.