सं Samvidhan

BNSS · Chapter XXIII

Plea Bargaining — MCQs with answers

59 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 · BNSS S.289

Under Section 289, to which accused does this Chapter apply?

  1. A.Only to an accused against whom the officer in charge of the police station has forwarded a report under section 193 alleging an offence punishable by death, life, or imprisonment exceeding seven years.
  2. B.Only to an accused against whom a Magistrate has taken cognizance on complaint but has not examined the complainant and witnesses under section 223.
  3. C.To an accused against whom either (a) a report under section 193 has been forwarded alleging an offence other than one punishable by death, life or imprisonment exceeding seven years, or (b) a Magistrate has taken cognizance on complaint and, after examining complainant and witnesses under section 223, issued process under section 227, provided the offence is not punishable by death, life or imprisonment exceeding seven years.✓ correct
  4. D.To any accused in any criminal matter regardless of how cognizance was taken or the punishment prescribed.

Why: Section 289(1)(a) and (b) state the Chapter applies where (a) a report under s.193 alleges an offence other than one punishable by death, life or imprisonment exceeding seven years, or (b) a Magistrate, after examining under s.223, issues process under s.227. Both (a) and (b) are included in the provision.

Read Section 289 — Application of Chapter →

Q2 · easy · BNSS S.289

Which of the following exclusions does Section 289 expressly provide for (i.e. when the Chapter does not apply)?

  1. A.Offences punishable by death, imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for a term exceeding seven years.
  2. B.Offences committed by public servants in the discharge of official duties.
  3. C.Offences involving only property disputes between private parties.
  4. D.Offences that affect the socio‑economic condition of the country, or offences committed against a woman or a child.✓ correct

Why: Section 289(1) expressly says the Chapter does not apply where the offence affects the socio‑economic condition of the country or has been committed against a woman or a child. The provision does not list the other distractors.

Read Section 289 — Application of Chapter →

Q3 · medium · BNSS S.289

A police report under section 193 alleges an offence punishable by 5 years' imprisonment, and the Central Government has notified that this offence affects the socio‑economic condition of the country. Does Section 289 apply to the accused?

  1. A.Yes — Section 289 still applies because the punishment is less than seven years.
  2. B.No — Section 289 does not apply because the Chapter is excluded where the offence affects the socio‑economic condition of the country.✓ correct
  3. C.Yes, but only if a Magistrate later takes cognizance on complaint and issues process under section 227.
  4. D.No, unless the offence was also committed against a woman or a child.

Why: Section 289(1) states the Chapter does not apply where the offence affects the socio‑economic condition of the country. Section 289(2) gives the Central Government power to notify such offences, so a notified offence is excluded even if the punishment is under seven years.

Read Section 289 — Application of Chapter →

Q4 · medium · BNSS S.289

Who, under Section 289(2), is empowered to determine by notification the offences that 'affect the socio‑economic condition of the country'?

  1. A.The Central Government, by notification.✓ correct
  2. B.The State Government, by notification.
  3. C.Parliament, by an Act.
  4. D.The High Court, by judicial order.

Why: Section 289(2) explicitly provides that for the purposes of subsection (1), the Central Government shall, by notification, determine the offences which shall be the offences affecting the socio‑economic condition of the country.

Read Section 289 — Application of Chapter →

Q5 · hard · BNSS S.289

An offence is punishable with imprisonment for exactly seven years. A report under section 193 alleges this offence. Does Section 289 apply to the accused?

  1. A.Yes — the Chapter applies because the exclusion is only for imprisonment for a term exceeding seven years (i.e., more than seven years).✓ correct
  2. B.No — the Chapter does not apply because seven years is treated the same as imprisonment exceeding seven years.
  3. C.Only if the Central Government has not notified the offence as affecting the socio‑economic condition of the country.
  4. D.Only if a Magistrate also takes cognizance on complaint and issues process under section 227.

Why: Section 289(1)(a) excludes offences for which punishment of death, imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for a term exceeding seven years has been provided. An offence punishable with exactly seven years is not 'exceeding seven years', so the Chapter would apply unless another exclusion (e.g. socio‑economic notification or offence against woman/child) applies.

Read Section 289 — Application of Chapter →

54 more questions on Plea Bargaining

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