सं Samvidhan

BNS · Chapter XI

Of Offences Against The Public Tranquillity — MCQs with answers

45 exam-style questions on this chapter, written from the actual legal text and tagged for UPSC, Judiciary and CLAT. Five are shown below with answers and explanations — the rest are in the free interactive drill.

Q1 · easy · BNS S.189

Under Section 189(1) BNS, what is the minimum number of persons required to constitute an 'unlawful assembly'?

  1. A.Two
  2. B.Seven
  3. C.Ten
  4. D.Five✓ correct

Why: Section 189(1) BNS designates an assembly of five or more persons as an unlawful assembly if the common object of the persons composing it falls within any of the five clauses (a) to (e). Fewer than five persons cannot form an unlawful assembly under the section.

Read Section 189 — Unlawful assembly →

Q2 · easy · BNS S.189

Which of the following is NOT one of the common objects that renders an assembly 'unlawful' under Section 189(1) BNS?

  1. A.To resist the execution of any law or of any legal process
  2. B.To peacefully assemble to petition a public servant for redress of grievances✓ correct
  3. C.To overawe by criminal force, or show of criminal force, the Central Government or any State Government
  4. D.By means of criminal force, or show of criminal force, to enforce any right or supposed right

Why: Clauses (a) to (e) of Section 189(1) BNS list the five common objects, which include overawing the Government by criminal force, resisting execution of law, committing mischief or criminal trespass, forcibly taking property or depriving rights, and compelling persons by criminal force. A peaceful petition to a public servant involves no criminal force or unlawful object and is not among them.

Read Section 189 — Unlawful assembly →

Q3 · medium · BNS S.189

A group of five persons gathers lawfully for a meeting, but midway they resolve to use criminal force to take possession of a neighbour's property. Under Section 189 BNS:

  1. A.The assembly remains lawful because it was lawful when it assembled
  2. B.Only the person who proposed the plan is liable
  3. C.The assembly may subsequently become an unlawful assembly, as the Explanation to sub-section (1) expressly provides✓ correct
  4. D.The assembly is unlawful only if it exceeds ten persons

Why: The Explanation to Section 189(1) BNS states that an assembly which was not unlawful when it assembled may subsequently become an unlawful assembly. Once the common object becomes one described in clauses (a) to (e), such as taking property by criminal force under clause (d), the assembly becomes unlawful.

Read Section 189 — Unlawful assembly →

Q4 · medium · BNS S.189

Under Section 189(4) BNS, a member of an unlawful assembly who is armed with a deadly weapon, or with anything which used as a weapon of offence is likely to cause death, shall be punished with:

  1. A.Imprisonment of either description up to two years, or fine, or both✓ correct
  2. B.Imprisonment up to six months only
  3. C.Imprisonment up to seven years and fine
  4. D.Imprisonment for life

Why: Section 189(4) BNS prescribes imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or fine, or both, for an armed member of an unlawful assembly. This is higher than the six-month term for mere membership under Section 189(2).

Read Section 189 — Unlawful assembly →

Q5 · hard · BNS S.189

An assembly of five or more persons likely to cause a disturbance of the public peace is lawfully commanded to disperse, but X knowingly continues in it. If the assembly is also an 'unlawful assembly' within the meaning of Section 189(1) BNS, under which provision is X punishable?

  1. A.Under Section 189(5), with imprisonment up to six months
  2. B.Under Section 189(3), with imprisonment up to two years, or fine, or both, as the Explanation to sub-section (5) directs✓ correct
  3. C.Under Section 189(4), because continuing after a dispersal order is treated as being armed
  4. D.Under both sub-sections (3) and (5) cumulatively

Why: Section 189(5) BNS punishes continuing in an assembly of five or more persons likely to disturb the public peace after a lawful command to disperse with up to six months' imprisonment. However, the Explanation to sub-section (5) provides that if the assembly is an unlawful assembly within the meaning of sub-section (1), the offender shall be punishable under sub-section (3), which prescribes imprisonment up to two years, or fine, or both.

Read Section 189 — Unlawful assembly →

40 more questions on Of Offences Against The Public Tranquillity

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Questions are AI-generated from the legal text, machine-verified against the provision, and editorially reviewable. Education, not legal advice.