1. With reference to the ‘Gram Nyayalaya Act’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- As per the Act, Gram Nyayalayas can hear only civil cases and not criminal cases.
- The Act allows local social activists as mediators/reconciliators.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
[A] 1 only
[B] 2 only
[C] Both 1 and 2
[D] Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [2 only]
Notes:The correct answer is
[B] 2 only. The Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 was enacted to provide access to justice to citizens at their doorsteps and ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen.
- Jurisdiction (Statement 1 – Incorrect): Gram Nyayalayas have jurisdiction over both civil and criminal cases. They can try criminal offences specified in the First Schedule and civil suits specified in the Second Schedule of the Act. This includes petty offences, disputes related to wages (MGNREGA), and mobile courts that can function at the village level.
- Mediators and Social Activists (Statement 2 – Correct): The Act emphasizes conciliation and settlement. It specifically provides for the appointment of social activists or persons having experience in mediation as conciliators to help parties reach an amicable settlement before the case proceeds to a formal trial.
- Key Features: * The Gram Nyayalaya is presided over by a Nyayadhikari, who has the same powers and salary as a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class.
- The court is not bound by the strict rules of evidence provided in the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, but is guided by the principles of natural justice.
- Appeals in criminal cases go to the Court of Session, while appeals in civil cases go to the District Court.
The Act was a significant step toward decentralizing the judicial system and reducing the burden on higher courts while providing speedy and affordable justice to rural populations.
2. Which country became the first in Europe to ban social media access for children below 16 years of age?
[A] France
[B] Germany
[C] Spain
[D] Italy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Spain]
Notes:
Spain has announced a nationwide ban on social media access for children below 16 years of age. It became the first European country and the second globally after Australia to take this step. The ban is expected to come into force within a week. Social media companies must enforce strict age verification and compliance. Australia introduced a similar ban in December 2025, leading to removal of over 5.5 lakh underage accounts. The move may influence other European Union countries to adopt stricter digital child protection laws.
3. Which state has the highest number of dedicated social media monitoring cells as of 2024?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Bihar
[C] Assam
[D] Maharashtra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bihar]
Notes:
Over the past five years, police across India have expanded social media monitoring to track evolving crime trends. Dedicated social media monitoring cells increased from 262 in 28 States and 8 Union Territories in 2020 to 365 by 2024. Bihar (52), Maharashtra (50), Punjab (48), West Bengal (38), and Assam (37) have the highest number of cells. Cyber Crime police stations rose from 376 in 2020 to 624 in 2024. Drones in police forces increased to 1,147 in 2024 from 1,010 in 2023. India has 5,92,839 vacant police posts out of a sanctioned strength of 27,55,274.
4. Which country has become the first in world to ban social media for children under 16?
[A] Australia
[B] Brazil
[C] India
[D] Kenya
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Australia]
Notes:
Australia has implemented the world’s first nationwide ban on social media access for children below the age of 16 years, with the objective of strengthening child online safety and protecting minors from digital harms. The law places the responsibility of enforcement on social media companies rather than on children or their parents. It aims to shield minors from addictive algorithms, cyberbullying, online predators and exposure to harmful or inappropriate content, while promoting healthier boundaries between childhood, family life and the digital environment.
5. Which country announced a ban on social media access for individuals below 15 years of age in November 2025?
[A] Norway
[B] Denmark
[C] Poland
[D] Singapore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Denmark]
Notes:
Recently, Denmark announced a ban on social media access for individuals below 15 years of age to protect children’s mental health and safety. Denmark is located in north-central Europe and is one of the Scandinavian countries. It also includes the Faroe Islands and Greenland, both situated in the North Atlantic Ocean. It shares its land border with Germany to the south. Denmark is surrounded by the Baltic Sea, North Sea, Kattegat Bay, and Kiel Bay. The capital city of Denmark is Copenhagen.
6. Consider the following statements regarding the social consequences of the Industrial Revolution:
- Emergence of urban slums and poor sanitation
- Rise of trade unions and labor movements
- Immediate and universal female suffrage in industrial societies
How many of the above statements are correct?
[A] Only 1 and 3
[B] Only 1 and 2
[C] Only 2 and 3
[D] All three are correct
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only 1 and 2]
Notes:
Industrialization led to rapid urbanization and overcrowded slums with poor sanitation, and spurred the rise of trade unions and labor movements demanding better conditions. However, immediate and universal female suffrage did not occur; women in most industrial societies received voting rights much later. Thus, only statements 1 and 2 are correct.
7. Which country has decided to ban all unregistered social media sites in September 2025?
[A] Bhutan
[B] Nepal
[C] Sri Lanka
[D] Bangladesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Nepal]
Notes:
The Government of Nepal has decided to ban all unregistered social media sites in the country. Minister of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT) Prithvi Subba Gurung announced the decision. Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) is instructed to disable unregistered social media platforms. On August 28, 2025, MoCIT issued a 7-day ultimatum for domestic and international platforms to register, requiring a local office and contact person under the Directive for Regulation of Social Media Use, 2080. 26 sites, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, X, YouTube, Viber, Botim, will be banned.
8. Which state government has launched the ‘Garud Drishti’ social media monitoring and cyber intelligence project?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Gujarat
[C] Odisha
[D] Rajasthan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Maharashtra]
Notes:
Recently, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis launched the ‘Garud Drishti’ social media monitoring and cyber intelligence project in Nagpur to curb online hate, misinformation, and cybercrime. ₹10 crore recovered from cybercrime cases was distributed to victims during the event. The tool will help police detect hate posts, anti-India propaganda, caste-tension content, and online drug sales. It will be extended to other units to strengthen state-wide law and order.
9. With respect to legal advertising practices, which of the following observations is/are correct?
- The Bar Council of India prohibits advocates from using social media for advertising their services.
- The Bar Council of India has no authority over foreign-based content creators.
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2
[C] Both 1 & 2
[D] Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Both 1 & 2]
Notes:
- The Bar Council of India prohibits advocates from using social media for advertising their services. Correct: The Bar Council of India has issued warnings against advocates advertising their services through social media, emphasizing the need to maintain the integrity of the legal profession.
- The Bar Council of India has no authority over foreign-based content creators. Correct: The BCI’s jurisdiction does not extend to foreign-based content creators, making it challenging to regulate unethical legal advertisements that originate outside India.
10. Which country recently passed the “Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024”?
[A] Australia
[B] India
[C] France
[D] Bangladesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Australia]
Notes:
Australia’s House of Representatives passed the “Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill, 2024,” requiring social media platforms to prevent children under 16 from creating accounts. Excessive social media use can lead to loneliness, depression, anxiety, reduced attention spans, and cyberbullying. Globally, China proposed minors’ modes for mobile internet in 2023. The US enforces COPPA (1998), requiring parental consent for children under 13. France mandates parental authorization for children under 15 on social networks.