Practice paper — BNSS Chapter IV — Powers Of Superior Officers Of Police And Aid To The Magistrates And The Police
24 questions · answer key at the end · no time limit
samvidhan.co.in
1.Who, according to Section 30 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, may exercise the same powers as an officer in charge of a police station?
- (A) Any police officer regardless of rank
- (B) Police officers superior in rank to an officer in charge of a police station
- (C) Only the officer in charge of that police station
- (D) A civilian magistrate appointed for that station
2.Within what area may a police officer superior in rank exercise the same powers as an officer in charge, under Section 30?
- (A) Throughout the local area to which they are appointed
- (B) Only within the limits of the particular police station
- (C) Throughout the entire State
- (D) Only within the immediate compound of the police station
3.Can a police officer superior in rank exercise the same powers in a police station that lies outside the local area to which the superior officer is appointed?
- (A) Yes, they can exercise the powers anywhere in the State
- (B) No, they may exercise the powers only within the local area to which they are appointed
- (C) Yes, but only with written permission of the officer in charge of that station
- (D) Yes, but only when deputed by a magistrate
4.When exercising powers under Section 30, do superior officers obtain greater powers than the officer in charge?
- (A) They obtain additional powers beyond those of the officer in charge
- (B) They can exercise powers only if the officer in charge is present
- (C) They are limited to different powers assigned by a higher authority
- (D) They may exercise the same powers as the officer in charge (but throughout their appointed local area)
5.Which statement best captures the distinction created by Section 30 regarding scope and geography of powers?
- (A) Superior officers get broader powers in kind and can act statewide
- (B) Superior officers get no powers beyond what an officer in charge has and are confined to the station
- (C) Superior officers get different powers unrelated to those of an officer in charge
- (D) Superior officers have the same kinds of powers as an officer in charge, but may exercise them throughout the local area to which they are appointed
6.Which of the following is NOT a ground listed in Section 31 (Public when to assist Magistrates and police) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023?
- (A) In the taking or preventing the escape of any other person whom such Magistrate or police officer is authorised to arrest
- (B) In the prevention or suppression of a breach of the peace
- (C) In the prevention of any injury attempted to be committed to any public property
- (D) Assisting an officer in executing a private search warrant
7.Under Section 31, who may 'reasonably demand' aid such that every person is bound to assist?
- (A) Only a Magistrate
- (B) Only a police officer
- (C) A Magistrate or a police officer
- (D) Any public official
8.A police officer reasonably requests a bystander's help to prevent the escape of an individual whom that officer is authorised to arrest. Under Section 31, is the bystander legally bound to assist?
- (A) Yes, the bystander is bound to assist
- (B) No, the bystander may refuse without consequence
- (C) Only if a Magistrate also requests assistance
- (D) Only if the officer produces a written arrest warrant
9.A police officer asks for assistance to stop a person from damaging a privately owned shop. Is a member of the public bound to assist under Section 31?
- (A) Bound only if a Magistrate orders the assistance
- (B) Not bound to assist
- (C) Bound to assist
- (D) Bound only if the shop owner asks for help
10.A magistrate reasonably demands a person's aid to take into custody an individual, but only a particular police officer (not the magistrate) is authorised to arrest that individual. Is the person bound to assist under Section 31?
- (A) Yes — because an authorised officer exists somewhere
- (B) Yes — because a magistrate's reasonable demand always binds the public
- (C) No — the Magistrate or police officer who makes the demand must themselves be authorised to arrest that person
- (D) Only if the magistrate later obtains specific arrest authority
11.According to Section 32 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, who may aid in the execution of a warrant directed to a person other than a police officer?
- (A) Any other person
- (B) Only a police officer
- (C) Only a magistrate
- (D) Only a family member of the person to whom the warrant is directed
12.Under what condition does Section 32 permit others to aid in execution of such a warrant?
- (A) Only when the warrant is directed to a police officer
- (B) At any time after issuance of the warrant
- (C) When the person to whom the warrant is directed is near at hand and acting in the execution of the warrant
- (D) Only with express court permission
13.If a warrant is directed to a private individual who is not present at the scene, may other persons aid in executing the warrant under Section 32?
- (A) Yes, any time after the warrant is issued
- (B) No, because the person to whom the warrant is directed must be near at hand and acting
- (C) Yes, but only with written permission from the magistrate
- (D) Yes, if the offence is serious
14.A warrant is directed to a non-police person who is present but merely observing and not taking steps to execute the warrant. Under Section 32, may others aid in execution?
- (A) Yes, others may always assist if present
- (B) Yes, but only if a police officer is also present
- (C) Yes, but only if the magistrate authorizes
- (D) No, because the directed person must be "acting in the execution of the warrant" for others to aid
15.Does Section 32 authorize others to aid in execution when a warrant is directed to a police officer?
- (A) Yes, any person may aid even if the warrant is directed to a police officer
- (B) Only senior police officers may assist
- (C) No, the provision applies only when the warrant is directed to a person other than a police officer
- (D) Yes, but only with the magistrate's written approval
16.Under Section 33(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, who is required to give information upon being aware of the commission or intention to commit the listed offences?
- (A) Only police officers on duty.
- (B) Every person aware of the commission or intention to commit the listed offences.
- (C) Only victims of the offence.
- (D) Only Magistrates and prosecutors.
17.To whom must information be given under Section 33(1) once a person becomes aware of the commission or intention to commit a listed offence?
- (A) The nearest Magistrate or police officer.
- (B) Any court with jurisdiction.
- (C) The Central Government.
- (D) Any nearby resident or neighbour.
18.Does the obligation in Section 33 to give information extend to acts committed outside India?
- (A) No, subsection (2) excludes acts outside India.
- (B) Yes, but only if the act was committed by an Indian national.
- (C) Yes — if the act would constitute an offence if committed in India.
- (D) Only when the accused is present in India.
19.If a person becomes aware of an intended offence under section 316, must they give information under Section 33?
- (A) Yes, the duty applies to any subsection of section 316.
- (B) No, the duty applies only to sub-section (5) of section 316.
- (C) No, section 316 is wholly excluded from the list.
- (D) Only if a Magistrate specifically orders them to report.
20.Who is required to communicate information under Section 34 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023?
- (A) Only the headman and the panchayat members of the village
- (B) Every officer employed in connection with the affairs of a village and every person residing in a village
- (C) Only police officers stationed near the village
- (D) Only the District Magistrate
21.Does the term 'village' in Section 34 include 'village lands'?
- (A) Yes — 'village' includes village lands
- (B) No — village means only inhabited hamlet areas
- (C) Only when the lands are under panchayat control
- (D) Only if the lands contain permanent residences
22.Under Section 34(1)(b), if a person reasonably suspects an escaped convict is passing through a village, to whom must they report?
- (A) Only to the nearest Magistrate
- (B) Only to the officer in charge of the nearest police station
- (C) Either to the nearest Magistrate or to the officer in charge of the nearest police station, whichever is nearer
- (D) To both the nearest Magistrate and the officer in charge of the nearest police station simultaneously
23.Section 34(1)(c) covers "the commission of, or intention to commit ... any non-bailable offence or any offence punishable under section 189 and section 191". Must an intention to commit an offence under sections 189 or 191 be reported even if that offence is bailable?
- (A) No — only non-bailable offences must be reported
- (B) Yes — offences punishable under sections 189 or 191 must be reported regardless of bailability
- (C) Only if the person reporting is an officer employed in village affairs
- (D) Only if the District Magistrate has issued a special order
24.Which statement correctly reflects the definition of "proclaimed offender" in Section 34(2)(ii)?
- (A) It includes any person proclaimed as an offender by any Court or authority anywhere in India regardless of the punishment for the act
- (B) It includes a person proclaimed as an offender by a Court or authority in any territory in India to which this Sanhita does not extend, but only in respect of acts which, if committed in territories to which this Sanhita extends, would be punishable with imprisonment for ten years or more, life, or death
- (C) It includes only persons proclaimed by courts within the same State as the village
- (D) It includes persons proclaimed in other territories only if the act would attract less than ten years' imprisonment
Answer key
Explanations
- 1. (B) Section 30 states that "Police officers superior in rank to an officer in charge of a police station may exercise the same powers...". Thus the provision specifically confers those powers on officers superior in rank, not on any officer or civilians.
- 2. (A) Section 30 provides that such superior officers may exercise the same powers "throughout the local area to which they are appointed." It does not extend those powers to the entire State or confine them solely to station limits.
- 3. (B) The provision limits the exercise of those powers to "throughout the local area to which they are appointed." It therefore does not authorize exercising the same powers outside that appointed local area.
- 4. (D) Section 30 specifies they "may exercise the same powers... as may be exercised by such officer within the limits of his station." It grants the same powers in nature but allows them to be exercised throughout the superior officer's appointed local area, not additional powers.
- 5. (D) Section 30 says superior officers "may exercise the same powers, throughout the local area to which they are appointed, as may be exercised by such officer within the limits of his station." This means the nature of the powers is the same, but the geographical scope is broader (their appointed local area).
- 6. (D) Section 31 lists three specific grounds: (a) taking or preventing escape of a person whom the demanding Magistrate or police officer is authorised to arrest, (b) prevention or suppression of a breach of the peace, and (c) prevention of injury to public property. Assisting with a private search warrant is not mentioned in the provision.
- 7. (C) The provision begins: 'Every person is bound to assist a Magistrate or police officer reasonably demanding his aid—', which explicitly identifies a Magistrate or a police officer as the persons who may reasonably demand aid. It does not refer to any other public official.
- 8. (A) Clause (a) of Section 31 requires every person to assist in 'the taking or preventing the escape of any other person whom such Magistrate or police officer is authorised to arrest.' A reasonable demand by an authorised police officer to prevent escape therefore creates the duty to assist.
- 9. (B) Clause (c) of Section 31 requires assistance in 'the prevention of any injury attempted to be committed to any public property.' The provision specifies public property, so damage to private property is not covered and the public is not bound under this section.
- 10. (C) Clause (a) requires assistance 'in the taking or preventing the escape of any other person whom such Magistrate or police officer is authorised to arrest.' The language ties the authorization to the Magistrate or police officer who makes the demand, so assistance is not required if the demanding magistrate is not authorised to arrest that person.
- 11. (A) The provision states that when a warrant is directed to a person other than a police officer, "any other person may aid in the execution of such warrant." Thus the correct answer is any other person.
- 12. (C) Section 32 permits aid only "if the person to whom the warrant is directed be near at hand and acting in the execution of the warrant." The aid is therefore conditional on the directed person being present and acting.
- 13. (B) The provision requires that the person to whom the warrant is directed be "near at hand and acting in the execution of the warrant." If that person is not present, the condition is not satisfied and others may not aid under this section.
- 14. (D) Section 32 permits aid only where the directed person is "near at hand and acting in the execution of the warrant." Mere presence without acting does not meet this condition, so others may not aid under this provision.
- 15. (C) The section begins by qualifying its operation: "When a warrant is directed to a person other than a police officer..." Therefore it does not authorize aid when the warrant is directed to a police officer; it applies only to warrants directed to non-police persons.
- 16. (B) Section 33(1) begins with “Every person, aware of the commission of, or of the intention of any other person to commit…” and then states such person must “forthwith give information,” so the duty is on every person who is aware. The provision expressly imposes the obligation on the person so aware to give information.
- 17. (A) Section 33(1) requires that the person so aware shall “forthwith give information to the nearest Magistrate or police officer of such commission or intention.” The provision specifies those two categories as the recipients of the information.
- 18. (C) Section 33(2) states that for the purposes of this section, the term “offence” includes any act committed at any place out of India which would constitute an offence if committed in India. Therefore the duty to give information applies to such out-of-India acts that would be offences in India.
- 19. (B) Clause (x) of Section 33(1) expressly lists “sub-section (5) of section 316,” which means only that specific sub‑section of section 316 is included. Other sub‑sections of section 316 are not covered by the clause as written.
- 20. (B) Section 34(1) states that "Every officer employed in connection with the affairs of a village and every person residing in a village shall forthwith communicate" specified information. The provision therefore places the duty on both such officers and village residents, not only on headmen, police or the District Magistrate.
- 21. (A) Section 34(2)(i) explicitly provides that "'village' includes village lands." Thus the statutory definition covers village lands as part of the term "village."
- 22. (C) Section 34(1) requires communication "to the nearest Magistrate or to the officer in charge of the nearest police station, whichever is nearer." Therefore the person must report to either authority, choosing the one that is nearer, not necessarily both.
- 23. (B) Section 34(1)(c) separately includes "any non-bailable offence or any offence punishable under section 189 and section 191," indicating that offences under sections 189 and 191 are to be reported even if they are not captured by the term "non-bailable offence." The duty therefore covers those sections irrespective of bailability.
- 24. (B) Section 34(2)(ii) defines "proclaimed offender" to include persons proclaimed as offenders by courts or authorities in territories where the Sanhita does not extend, but only in respect of acts which, if committed in territories to which the Sanhita extends, would be punishable with imprisonment for ten years or more, with imprisonment for life, or with death. Thus the inclusion is limited by the severity of the punishable sentence.