During whose administration were the early Company-era civil and criminal courts reorganised in Bengal?

Warren Hastings. The 1772 judicial plan reorganised the East India Company's civil and criminal justice arrangements in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. This is more precise than saying that 'courts were established in India' for the first time.

An embargo is an official prohibition or restriction on trade or other commercial activity with a particular country, entity or class of goods. It may restrict exports, imports or both.

Who can remove or dismiss a District/Sessions Judge?

The position is not accurately stated by answering only 'High Court'. Under the Constitution, appointment of district judges is by the Governor in consultation with the High Court (Article 233), while control over the subordinate judiciary is vested in the High Court (Article 235). Formal disciplinary orders are made under the applicable constitutional and service-law framework, generally on the High Court's recommendation.

Who is a Notary Public?

A notary is a legal professional appointed under the Notaries Act, 1952 to perform notarial functions such as verifying, authenticating, certifying or attesting instruments and administering oaths where authorised.

A pawnbroker is a person who advances money on the security of goods or movable property pledged with the pawnbroker, subject to the applicable State pawnbrokers law and licensing requirements.

What is an important constitutional right of an accused in a criminal trial?

An accused has the right to a fair trial and the right to legal representation. Article 22(1) protects the right to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner of choice, subject to the Constitution and law; legal aid may also be required in appropriate cases.

Which court exercises advisory jurisdiction under Article 143 of the Constitution?

The Supreme Court of India. The President may refer questions to the Supreme Court under Article 143, subject to the constitutional conditions.

When was the Life Insurance Corporation Act enacted?

1956. The Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956 is Act 31 of 1956 and was enacted on 18 June 1956.

What is the nature of a fire insurance contract?

A fire insurance contract is generally a contract of indemnity: the insured is compensated for the actual insured loss, subject to the policy terms and applicable insurance law.

What is the purpose of a Commission of Inquiry?

Under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, a Commission may be appointed to inquire into a definite matter of public importance and report on it.

Who drafted the first will in the world?

The old answer 'Roger, King of Sicily' is not supported by a reliable legal or historical authority suitable for a legal-GK page. This question is therefore retained only as a caution: there is no single universally accepted 'first will' that can safely be stated as fact.

Who wrote 'Judicial Review or Confrontation?'

Justice H. R. Khanna is associated with the work commonly cited as 'Judicial Review or Confrontation?'. For examination use, check the exact title and edition prescribed by the relevant syllabus.

Updated: 1 September 2026

Legal General Knowledge Questions and Answers for Law Entrance, Students and Lawyers

This updated legal-GK reference retains the original 30-question format while correcting outdated, over-broad or unsupported answers and aligning current-law questions with the Constitution of India, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and current central statutes.

Current-law note: Criminal-procedure questions should now be read with the BNSS, 2023, which came into force on 1 July 2024. Historical questions have been retained where useful, but claims that could not responsibly be stated as established fact have been qualified rather than repeated as certainty.

30 Updated Legal GK Questions and Answers

S.No.	Legal Question	Updated Answer
1	During whose administration were the early Company-era civil and criminal courts reorganised in Bengal?	Warren Hastings. The 1772 judicial plan reorganised the East India Company's civil and criminal justice arrangements in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. This is more precise than saying that 'courts were established in India' for the first time.
2	What is an embargo?	An embargo is an official prohibition or restriction on trade or other commercial activity with a particular country, entity or class of goods. It may restrict exports, imports or both.
3	Who can remove or dismiss a District/Sessions Judge?	The position is not accurately stated by answering only 'High Court'. Under the Constitution, appointment of district judges is by the Governor in consultation with the High Court (Article 233), while control over the subordinate judiciary is vested in the High Court (Article 235). Formal disciplinary orders are made under the applicable constitutional and service-law framework, generally on the High Court's recommendation.
4	Who is a Notary Public?	A notary is a legal professional appointed under the Notaries Act, 1952 to perform notarial functions such as verifying, authenticating, certifying or attesting instruments and administering oaths where authorised.
5	Who is a pawnbroker?	A pawnbroker is a person who advances money on the security of goods or movable property pledged with the pawnbroker, subject to the applicable State pawnbrokers law and licensing requirements.
6	What is an important constitutional right of an accused in a criminal trial?	An accused has the right to a fair trial and the right to legal representation. Article 22(1) protects the right to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner of choice, subject to the Constitution and law; legal aid may also be required in appropriate cases.
7	Which court exercises advisory jurisdiction under Article 143 of the Constitution?	The Supreme Court of India. The President may refer questions to the Supreme Court under Article 143, subject to the constitutional conditions.
8	When was the Life Insurance Corporation Act enacted?	1956. The Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956 is Act 31 of 1956 and was enacted on 18 June 1956.
9	What is the nature of a fire insurance contract?	A fire insurance contract is generally a contract of indemnity: the insured is compensated for the actual insured loss, subject to the policy terms and applicable insurance law.
10	What is the purpose of a Commission of Inquiry?	Under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, a Commission may be appointed to inquire into a definite matter of public importance and report on it.
11	Who drafted the first will in the world?	The old answer 'Roger, King of Sicily' is not supported by a reliable legal or historical authority suitable for a legal-GK page. This question is therefore retained only as a caution: there is no single universally accepted 'first will' that can safely be stated as fact.
12	Who wrote 'Judicial Review or Confrontation?'	Justice H. R. Khanna is associated with the work commonly cited as 'Judicial Review or Confrontation?'. For examination use, check the exact title and edition prescribed by the relevant syllabus.
13	Under which law can a person be prosecuted merely for being drunk in a city?	There is no single all-India answer. Alcohol prohibition and public drunkenness offences depend on the State or Union Territory and the applicable excise/prohibition law. The earlier answer referring generally to a 'Madras Prohibition Offenders Act' is not suitable as a nationwide rule.
14	Can one owner make two valid sales of the same property interest?	An owner cannot convey the same subsisting proprietary interest twice so as to give both transferees identical title. Priority and competing-transfer issues are governed by the Transfer of Property Act, Registration Act and the facts of the transactions.
15	Who appoints Magistrates under the current criminal procedure law?	The question must distinguish Judicial and Executive Magistrates. Under the BNSS framework, presiding officers of courts of Judicial Magistrates are appointed by the High Court, while Executive Magistrates are appointed by the State Government.
16	When was the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act enacted?	1984. Its correct title is the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 (Act 3 of 1984).
17	Who opposed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Bill in public debate and resigned from the Union Council of Ministers over the issue?	Arif Mohammad Khan is widely associated with opposition to the 1986 legislation and resigned from the Union Council of Ministers. The older wording that he 'spoke against but voted for it' is not sufficiently reliable and has been removed.
18	When was the National Security Act enacted?	1980. The National Security Act, 1980 is Act 65 of 1980 and provides for preventive detention in specified circumstances.
19	Is consent a defence to theft?	If the owner voluntarily consents to the taking, an essential element of theft-dishonest taking without consent-is absent. Under current Indian criminal law, theft is governed by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
20	What kind of liberty is affected when a person is unlawfully denied freedom of movement?	Freedom of movement is a civil liberty and is also constitutionally protected in specific contexts, including Article 19(1)(d) for citizens, subject to lawful restrictions.
21	Who was the first woman Chief Justice of the Madras High Court?	Justice Kanta Kumari Bhatnagar is generally identified as the first woman Chief Justice of the Madras High Court. Historical appointment dates should be checked against the High Court's official records when used academically.
22	Dower (Mahr) belongs to which branch of personal law?	Muslim personal law. Mahr or dower is an obligation arising from Muslim marriage and is governed by the applicable principles of Muslim personal law and statute.
23	Whose appointment as a High Court Judge was quashed by the Supreme Court for want of constitutional qualification?	K. N. Srivastava. In Kumar Padma Prasad v. Union of India (1992), the Supreme Court held that he did not satisfy the constitutional qualification for appointment and quashed his appointment as a Judge of the Gauhati High Court. The earlier answer 'Justice Ramaswamy' was incorrect.
24	What is a lock-out?	A lock-out is the temporary closing of a place of employment, suspension of work, or refusal by an employer to continue to employ persons, as defined by the applicable labour law. Labour-code commencement and State-specific provisions should be checked for current practice.
25	Who was alleged by the prosecution to have led the conspiracy behind Rajiv Gandhi's assassination?	V. Prabhakaran, leader of the LTTE, was among those alleged to have been behind the conspiracy. Because this is a historical criminal-case question, it is better framed as an allegation/prosecution case rather than simply calling someone the 'prime accused' without context.
26	Which form of government is characterised by division of powers and an independent judiciary?	A federal form of government. India has a federal constitutional structure with a strong Union, distribution of legislative powers and an independent judiciary.
27	What is conscription?	Compulsory enlistment or compulsory national service imposed by the State, usually for military service.
28	Can a distinguished jurist be appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of India?	Yes. Article 124(3)(c) permits appointment of a person who is, in the President's opinion, a distinguished jurist. This constitutional route has historically not been used.
29	Does a High Court have advisory jurisdiction comparable to Article 143?	No. The Constitution gives the Supreme Court a specific advisory jurisdiction under Article 143; High Courts do not have a corresponding general advisory jurisdiction.
30	Where may a retired permanent High Court Judge practise?	Under Article 220, a person who has held office as a permanent Judge of a High Court may plead or act only in the Supreme Court and in High Courts other than the High Court in which that person held permanent judicial office, subject to the constitutional text and other applicable professional rules.

Important current-law corrections

Magistrates: the old question "Who appoints a magistrate?" was ambiguous. Judicial Magistrates and Executive Magistrates are governed differently under the BNSS. Retired High Court judges: Article 220 permits practice in the Supreme Court and High Courts other than the High Court where the person held permanent judicial office; the older answer "in any other High Court" was incomplete because it omitted the Supreme Court.

High Court appointment quashed: the earlier answer naming "Justice Ramaswamy" has been corrected. In Kumar Padma Prasad v. Union of India, the Supreme Court quashed the appointment of K. N. Srivastava as a Judge of the Gauhati High Court because he lacked the constitutional qualification required by Article 217.

Criminal-law terminology: the theft question is now framed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The principle remains that a consensual taking does not satisfy the element of taking without consent that is necessary for theft.

Official legal sources

For current constitutional and statutory text, use the Constitution of India - Legislative Department, Ministry of Home Affairs - New Criminal Laws, Notaries Act, 1952 - India Code, Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952 - India Code, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 - India Code, National Security Act, 1980 - India Code and the Supreme Court of India - Jurisdiction.

Study note: Legal GK books and older examination compilations often compress complex legal propositions into one-line answers. For current examinations or professional use, verify the statutory provision and the date on which the question is being asked.