2022 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2022 · GS Paper I

Question 11: Polity and Governance

Consider the following statements :

  1. 1.Pursuant to the report of H.N. Sanyal Committee, the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 was passed.
  2. 2.The Constitution of India empowers the Supreme Court and the High Courts to punish for contempt of themselves.
  3. 3.The Constitution of India defines Civil Contempt and Criminal Contempt.
  4. 4.In India, the Parliament is vested with the powers to make laws on Contempt of Court.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

a1 and 2 only
b1, 2 and 4
c3 and 4 only
d3 only

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

The H.N. Sanyal Committee (1961) report led to the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. Articles 129 and 215 make the Supreme Court and High Courts courts of record with power to punish contempt of themselves. Parliament can legislate on contempt: it figures in the Union List (for the Supreme Court) and the Concurrent List. But the Constitution does not define civil or criminal contempt; the 1971 Act does, in Section 2.

  • 1. The Sanyal Committee's recommendations were enacted as the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.
  • 2. Articles 129 and 215 give the Supreme Court and High Courts this power.
  • 3. Civil and criminal contempt are defined in the 1971 Act, not in the Constitution.
  • 4. Parliament has law-making power over contempt of court.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (c) and (d) go: each of them leaves 1 out.

    What you needed to know: The Sanyal Committee's recommendations were enacted as the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 4 is correct, (a) goes: it leaves 4 out.

    What you needed to know: Parliament has law-making power over contempt of court.

Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statements 2 or 3.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Wrong. Statement 4 is also correct, so this is incomplete.
  • (b) Correct. Statements 1, 2 and 4 hold; the Constitution does not define the two kinds of contempt.
  • (c) Wrong. Statement 3 is false.
  • (d) Wrong. Statement 3 is false and is the only one chosen here.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2022, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.