1997 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 1997 · General Studies

Question 54: Polity and Governance

The concept of Public Interest Litigation originated in

athe United Kingdom
bAustralia
cthe United States
dCanada

AnswerThe answer is (c).

Public Interest Litigation began in the United States, where it grew from lawsuits brought by groups for the public good, especially in the civil-rights era. In India it took root from the late 1970s, when Justices P.N. Bhagwati and V.R. Krishna Iyer relaxed the rules of locus standi so that any public-spirited person could approach the court on behalf of those who could not.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) The United Kingdom has judicial review, but PIL as a concept took shape in the United States.
  • (b) Australia is not where PIL originated.
  • (c) Right: PIL originated in the United States.
  • (d) Canada is not where PIL originated.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

Practise this paper timedPrevious questionNext question

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1997, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.