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Polity PYQ Practice: Set 06

Authored CAPF-level polity MCQs (hardest, security and human-rights focus) on internal security law, AFSPA, transparency and special provisions, with answer key and explanations, not verbatim PYQs

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Authored practice, not a verbatim PYQ. Twenty-five questions on the security and human-rights dimension that the CAPF exam emphasises: internal security law, AFSPA, the human-rights machinery, transparency law, official language and special provisions. Attempt closed-book, then check the key.

Questions

Q1The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act is enforced in areas declared as:

AScheduled areas
BDisturbed areas
CCantonment areas
DBorder areas

Q2Under AFSPA, the power to declare an area "disturbed" is exercised by:

AThe local police only
BThe Governor of the state or the Central Government
CThe Supreme Court
DThe District Magistrate alone

Q3 (statement-based). Consider the following about the human-rights debate over AFSPA:

The Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee (2005) recommended its repeal.
The Supreme Court in Naga People's Movement of Human Rights (1998) upheld its constitutional validity.
AFSPA gives complete and unreviewable immunity to security personnel. How many are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Q4The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) primarily deals with:

ALand reforms
BTerrorism and unlawful associations
CForeign trade
DInter-state water disputes

Q5Which Article empowers Parliament to make laws restricting Fundamental Rights of forces engaged in maintaining public order, a key constitutional basis for special security laws affecting personnel?

AArticle 21
BArticle 22
CArticle 33
DArticle 35

Q6 (assertion-reason). Assertion (A): The NHRC has limited jurisdiction over human-rights violations by the armed forces. Reason (R): Under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the NHRC can only seek a report from the Central Government and make recommendations in cases involving the armed forces.

(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true, R is false
(d) A is false, R is true

Q7Preventive detention laws find their constitutional anchor in:

AArticle 19
BArticle 20
CArticle 21
DArticle 22

Q8The maximum period of preventive detention without reference to an Advisory Board, as originally fixed in Article 22, was:

AOne month
BTwo months
CThree months
DSix months

Q9Match List I (Law or body) with List II (Domain):

AAFSPA
BNHRC
CUAPA
DRTI Act

Designation of terrorist organisations
Special powers to the armed forces in disturbed areas
Citizens' access to government information
Inquiry into human-rights violations Codes:

(a) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
(b) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
(c) A-1, B-4, C-2, D-3
(d) A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1

Q10The Right to Information Act, 2005, designates which authority at the central level to hear second appeals?

AThe Supreme Court
BThe Central Information Commission
CThe Lokpal
DThe Comptroller and Auditor General

Q11Which of the following is exempt from disclosure under the RTI Act on grounds of national security and sovereignty?

AThe salary of a public servant
BInformation whose disclosure would prejudicially affect the security of the State
CThe minutes of a routine departmental meeting
DThe text of a passed law

Q12 (statement-based). Consider the following about Article 21 as interpreted by the courts:

The right to life includes the right to live with human dignity.
Custodial deaths and torture violate Article 21.
The right to a speedy trial flows from Article 21. How many are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Q13The D K Basu guidelines of the Supreme Court relate to:

AReservation policy
BProcedures during arrest and detention to prevent custodial abuse
CInter-state water sharing
DAnti-defection

Q14The Official Language of the Union, as per Article 343, is:

AEnglish only
BHindi in the Devanagari script
CSanskrit
DHindi and English with equal status forever

Q15The Eighth Schedule of the Constitution currently lists how many languages (verify the latest)?

Q16 (assertion-reason). Assertion (A): Article 370 conferred a special status on Jammu and Kashmir. Reason (R): In 2019, the operation of Article 370 was modified and the state was reorganised into Union Territories.

(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true, R is false
(d) A is false, R is true

Q17Which constitutional body has the mandate to investigate matters relating to the safeguards for linguistic minorities under Article 350B?

AThe Election Commission
BThe Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities
CThe Finance Commission
DThe NITI Aayog

Q18The doctrine that arrested persons must be informed of the grounds of arrest and produced before a magistrate within 24 hours is found in:

AArticle 19
BArticle 20
CArticle 22(1) and 22(2)
DArticle 25

Q19 (statement-based). Consider the following about the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs):

Law and order and police are primarily State subjects.
CAPFs can be deployed in a state at the Union's initiative or on a state's request.
The Union's duty to protect states under Article 355 supports such deployment. How many are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Q20The right against self-incrimination, that no person accused of an offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself, is guaranteed by:

AArticle 20(1)
BArticle 20(2)
CArticle 20(3)
DArticle 21

Q21Match List I (Provision) with List II (Protection):

AArticle 20(1)
BArticle 20(2)
CArticle 20(3)
DArticle 22(1)

No double jeopardy
No self-incrimination
Right to consult a legal practitioner of choice
No ex post facto criminal law Codes:

(a) A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3
(b) A-1, B-4, C-2, D-3
(c) A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3
(d) A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2

Q22Which international instrument, ratified by India, shapes domestic human-rights jurisprudence relevant to custodial safeguards?

AThe Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948, and the ICCPR, 1966
BThe Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties only
CThe Geneva Conventions only
DThe Outer Space Treaty

Q23A writ of Habeas Corpus is the most direct judicial protection against:

AExcessive taxation
BUnlawful or arbitrary detention
CDefamation
DBreach of contract

Q24 (assertion-reason). Assertion (A): Even during a National Emergency, the protection of Articles 20 and 21 cannot be suspended. Reason (R): The 44th Amendment, 1978, removed the power to suspend Articles 20 and 21 during an emergency, a key human-rights safeguard.

(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true, R is false
(d) A is false, R is true

Q25Which of the following best captures the constitutional balance the CAPF exam tests on internal security?

ASecurity powers are absolute and not subject to rights
BFundamental Rights always override all security needs without exception
CSpecial security powers exist but remain subject to constitutional limits, judicial review and human-rights safeguards
DThe judiciary has no role in security matters

Answer key

Reveal the answer key and full worked solutions

Q	Answer
1	(b) Disturbed areas
2	(b) The Governor of the state or the Central Government
3	(b) Only two
4	(b) Terrorism and unlawful associations
5	(c) Article 33
6	(a) Both true, R is the correct explanation
7	(d) Article 22
8	(c) Three months
9	(a) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
10	(b) The Central Information Commission
11	(b) Information prejudicial to the security of the State
12	(c) All three
13	(b) Procedures during arrest and detention
14	(b) Hindi in the Devanagari script
15	(c) 22
16	(b) Both true, R not the correct explanation
17	(b) The Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities
18	(c) Article 22(1) and 22(2)
19	(c) All three
20	(c) Article 20(3)
21	(a) A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3
22	(a) UDHR 1948 and ICCPR 1966
23	(b) Unlawful or arbitrary detention
24	(a) Both true, R is the correct explanation
25	(c) Special powers subject to limits, review and human-rights safeguards

Explanations

Q1. AFSPA applies in areas notified as "disturbed". See human rights and internal security.
Q2. The Governor of a state, the Administrator of a Union Territory, or the Central Government may declare an area disturbed under AFSPA. See human rights and internal security.
Q3. Statements 1 and 2 are correct; statement 3 is false because immunity is not absolute and sanction and judicial scrutiny apply. The Jeevan Reddy Committee recommended repeal, and the 1998 judgment upheld validity with safeguards. See human rights and internal security.
Q4. The UAPA addresses terrorism, unlawful associations and the designation of terrorist organisations. See human rights and internal security.
Q5. Article 33 allows Parliament to modify Fundamental Rights for forces maintaining public order, an underpinning for special service laws. See fundamental rights and human rights and internal security.
Q6. Both true and correctly linked: under the 1993 Act the NHRC, for armed-forces cases, may only seek a report and recommend, which is why its jurisdiction there is limited. See human rights and internal security.
Q7. Article 22 deals with protection against arrest and detention, including preventive detention. See fundamental rights.
Q8. Article 22 originally allowed up to three months of preventive detention without Advisory Board reference. See fundamental rights.
Q9. AFSPA special powers, NHRC inquiry, UAPA designation of terrorist groups, RTI information access. See human rights and internal security and rti and transparency laws.
Q10. The Central Information Commission hears second appeals under the RTI Act, 2005. See rti and transparency laws.
Q11. Information whose disclosure would prejudicially affect the security or sovereignty of the State is exempt under Section 8 of the RTI Act. See rti and transparency laws.
Q12. All three are correct expansions of Article 21 by the courts (dignity, anti-torture, speedy trial). See fundamental rights and human rights and internal security.
Q13. The D K Basu guidelines prescribe arrest and detention procedures to prevent custodial abuse. See human rights and internal security.
Q14. Article 343 makes Hindi in Devanagari script the official language of the Union, with English continued for official purposes. See official language and the eighth schedule.
Q15. The Eighth Schedule currently lists 22 languages; verify the latest before exam day. See official language and the eighth schedule.
Q16. Both true but unconnected as cause and effect: Article 370 conferred special status, and its 2019 modification is a later act, not the explanation of the original status, so R is not the correct explanation. See special provisions articles 370 and 371.
Q17. The Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities under Article 350B safeguards linguistic minorities. See official language and the eighth schedule.
Q18. Article 22(1) and 22(2) guarantee being informed of grounds of arrest, legal counsel and production before a magistrate within 24 hours. See fundamental rights and human rights and internal security.
Q19. All three are correct: police is a State subject, CAPFs deploy at Union initiative or state request, and Article 355 supports it. See human rights and internal security and federalism and centre state relations.
Q20. Article 20(3) protects against self-incrimination. See fundamental rights.
Q21. Article 20(1) no ex post facto law, 20(2) no double jeopardy, 20(3) no self-incrimination, 22(1) right to counsel. See fundamental rights.
Q22. The UDHR (1948) and the ICCPR (1966), to which India is a party, inform custodial-safeguard jurisprudence. See human rights and internal security.
Q23. Habeas Corpus is the principal remedy against unlawful or arbitrary detention. See fundamental rights.
Q24. Both true and correctly linked: the 44th Amendment removed the power to suspend Articles 20 and 21 in an emergency. See citizenship and emergency provisions.
Q25. The CAPF-tested balance is that special security powers exist but remain subject to constitutional limits, judicial review and human-rights safeguards. See human rights and internal security.

Cross-references

Framework and honesty rule: 00 pipeline
Polity module index: Index
Previous set: set 05

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