UPSC Prelims 2023 Q92: Indian Polity – Constitutional & Statutory Bodies
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two
- (c) All three
- (d) None
Answer: (b) Only two
Explanation
Actions and Legal Provisions
| Pair | Action | Act Claimed | Verdict | Correct Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unauthorized wearing of police/military uniforms | Official Secrets Act, 1923 | TRUE | Section 7 of the Official Secrets Act covers impersonation of government officials including wearing police/military uniforms without authority. |
| 2 | Knowingly misleading police/military officer on duty | Indian Evidence Act, 1872 | FALSE | Misleading a police officer during duty falls under IPC Section 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of duties) or Section 187 — NOT the Indian Evidence Act, which governs admissibility of evidence in court. |
| 3 | Celebratory gunfire endangering personal safety | Arms (Amendment) Act, 2019 | TRUE | The Arms (Amendment) Act, 2019 specifically added provisions against aerial firing/celebratory firing that can endanger personal safety of others. This was enacted following deaths at weddings from celebratory gunfire. |
Pairs 1 and 3 correct → Only two.
Answer: (b) Only two.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. 'Only one' — both unauthorized uniform wearing (1) and celebratory gunfire (3) are correctly matched.
- (b) CORRECT. Pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched. Pair 2 is wrong — misleading police falls under IPC, not the Evidence Act.
- (c) Incorrect. 'All three' — misleading a police officer is not covered by the Indian Evidence Act.
- (d) Incorrect. 'None' — the Official Secrets Act's impersonation provision and Arms Act's celebratory firing provision are correctly cited.
Key point
Official Secrets Act = unauthorized uniform wearing ✓. Evidence Act ≠ misleading police (IPC covers that) ✗. Arms Amendment 2019 = celebratory gunfire ✓. Two of three correct.
Remember
Unauthorized wearing of police/military uniforms is covered by the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (Section 7). Celebratory gunfire is covered by the Arms (Amendment) Act, 2019. Misleading a police officer falls under the IPC, not the Indian Evidence Act.
Common mistakes
- Thinking the Evidence Act covers police obstruction — the Evidence Act is about court procedures and admissibility; police obstruction is IPC.
- Not knowing Arms (Amendment) Act 2019 specifically addressed celebratory firing — this was a targeted legislative response to wedding-related deaths from aerial gunfire.
- Not knowing Official Secrets Act covers uniform impersonation — Section 7 of OSA is broader than just classified information.
Exam tip
OSA 1923 = spying, impersonation, sabotage of government installations. Evidence Act = court evidence rules (relevancy, admissibility) — NOT police/military obstruction. Arms (Amendment) 2019 = celebratory/aerial firing ban. Two correctly matched = only two.
Sources
- Official Secrets Act, 1923 — Section 7
- Arms (Amendment) Act, 2019 — Celebratory Firing Provisions