When were the Nuremberg Trials conducted?

The principal International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg tried major Nazi war criminals from 20 November 1945 to 1 October 1946, after the Second World War.

What is the current central law governing land acquisition for public purpose?

The principal central law is the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, effective from 1 January 2014. It requires a transparent acquisition process and provides compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement safeguards.

Can an advocate practise both civil and criminal law?

Yes. An advocate enrolled under the Advocates Act, 1961 may practise across civil, criminal and other fields, subject to applicable court rules, professional standards and any statutory restrictions.

What constitutional protection applies to freedom of religion in India?

Article 25 of the Constitution protects freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion, subject to public order, morality, health and the other provisions of Part III. State laws may regulate secular activities associated with religion and laws on conversion are subject to constitutional scrutiny.

Which Union Territory has a High Court established exclusively for it?

Delhi has its own High Court under the Delhi High Court Act, 1966. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are separate Union Territories but share the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

What is the supreme law of India?

The Constitution of India is the supreme law. All legislative, executive and judicial action must conform to it.

What is an ex parte order?

An ex parte order is an order passed in the absence of a party when the court is legally entitled to proceed without that party, for example after due service and non-appearance. Depending on the law and circumstances, the affected party may seek recall or setting aside.

What is the present status of the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976?

The central 1976 Act was repealed by the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Repeal Act, 1999 in the territories to which the Repeal Act applies, subject to statutory savings. State-specific repeal and saved proceedings must be checked before relying on the old ceiling law.

Can an insolvent person contest an election?

The answer depends on the election and governing statute. For Parliament and State Legislatures, Article 102 or 191 of the Constitution disqualifies a person who is an undischarged insolvent. A blanket statement that every person who has ever been bankrupt is permanently barred is incorrect.

Is a Suyamariyathai (self-respect) marriage valid?

In Tamil Nadu, Section 7-A of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, as inserted by the Tamil Nadu amendment, recognizes Suyamariyathai and Seerthiruththa marriages when the statutory requirements are met. In Ilavarasan v. Superintendent of Police (2023), the Supreme Court confirmed that such a marriage need not be performed publicly merely because Section 7-A permits solemnization in the presence of relatives, friends or other persons.

What is a Prize Court?

A Prize Court is a national court or tribunal applying the law of prize during armed conflict to determine the lawful capture of enemy or neutral ships, cargo or related maritime property. It is not simply a court for all maritime disputes.

What is the current law on medical termination of pregnancy in India?

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, as amended in 2021, permits termination up to 20 weeks on the opinion of one registered medical practitioner in the circumstances specified by law; from over 20 to 24 weeks for prescribed categories of women on the opinion of two registered medical practitioners; and beyond 24 weeks for substantial foetal abnormalities through the statutory Medical Board framework, subject to the Act and Rules.

Updated: 1 September 2026

Law General Knowledge: 30 Updated Legal Questions and Answers

This legal general-knowledge guide is designed for law students, advocates, teachers, litigants and competitive-examination candidates. The answers have been updated for current Indian law, including the Constitution, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, current land-acquisition law, medical-termination law and other commonly tested legal concepts.

Important: several older one-line legal answers can become misleading after statutory amendments. This page therefore states the current rule together with the relevant qualification where a simple "yes/no" answer would be inaccurate.

Questions 1-10 Questions 11-20 Questions 21-30

Questions 1-10

No.	Legal question	Updated answer
1	When were the Nuremberg Trials conducted?	The principal International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg tried major Nazi war criminals from 20 November 1945 to 1 October 1946, after the Second World War.
2	What is the current central law governing land acquisition for public purpose?	The principal central law is the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, effective from 1 January 2014. It requires a transparent acquisition process and provides compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement safeguards.
3	Can an advocate practise both civil and criminal law?	Yes. An advocate enrolled under the Advocates Act, 1961 may practise across civil, criminal and other fields, subject to applicable court rules, professional standards and any statutory restrictions.
4	What constitutional protection applies to freedom of religion in India?	Article 25 of the Constitution protects freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion, subject to public order, morality, health and the other provisions of Part III. State laws may regulate secular activities associated with religion and laws on conversion are subject to constitutional scrutiny.
5	Which Union Territory has a High Court established exclusively for it?	Delhi has its own High Court under the Delhi High Court Act, 1966. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are separate Union Territories but share the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
6	What is the supreme law of India?	The Constitution of India is the supreme law. All legislative, executive and judicial action must conform to it.
7	What is an ex parte order?	An ex parte order is an order passed in the absence of a party when the court is legally entitled to proceed without that party, for example after due service and non-appearance. Depending on the law and circumstances, the affected party may seek recall or setting aside.
8	What is the present status of the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976?	The central 1976 Act was repealed by the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Repeal Act, 1999 in the territories to which the Repeal Act applies, subject to statutory savings. State-specific repeal and saved proceedings must be checked before relying on the old ceiling law.
9	Can an insolvent person contest an election?	The answer depends on the election and governing statute. For Parliament and State Legislatures, Article 102 or 191 of the Constitution disqualifies a person who is an undischarged insolvent. A blanket statement that every person who has ever been bankrupt is permanently barred is incorrect.
10	Is a Suyamariyathai (self-respect) marriage valid?	In Tamil Nadu, Section 7-A of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, as inserted by the Tamil Nadu amendment, recognizes Suyamariyathai and Seerthiruththa marriages when the statutory requirements are met. In Ilavarasan v. Superintendent of Police (2023), the Supreme Court confirmed that such a marriage need not be performed publicly merely because Section 7-A permits solemnization in the presence of relatives, friends or other persons.

Questions 11-20

No.	Legal question	Updated answer
11	What is a Prize Court?	A Prize Court is a national court or tribunal applying the law of prize during armed conflict to determine the lawful capture of enemy or neutral ships, cargo or related maritime property. It is not simply a court for all maritime disputes.
12	What is the current law on medical termination of pregnancy in India?	The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, as amended in 2021, permits termination up to 20 weeks on the opinion of one registered medical practitioner in the circumstances specified by law; from over 20 to 24 weeks for prescribed categories of women on the opinion of two registered medical practitioners; and beyond 24 weeks for substantial foetal abnormalities through the statutory Medical Board framework, subject to the Act and Rules.
13	Can a court amend an Act of Parliament or a State Legislature?	A court does not legislate or formally amend an Act. It may interpret legislation and, in constitutional review, strike down, read down or sever unconstitutional provisions. Legislative amendment is for the competent legislature.
14	What does sub judice mean?	Sub judice means that a matter is under judicial consideration. In civil procedure, Section 10 CPC contains a specific rule on stay of trial where the matter in issue is directly and substantially in issue in a previously instituted suit between the specified parties.
15	What is the Rule of Law?	Rule of Law broadly means that public power is exercised under law, all persons and authorities are subject to law, and legal rights and liabilities are determined through lawful processes by independent courts.
16	What is a Muta marriage?	Muta is a form of temporary marriage recognized in certain schools of Shia Muslim personal law. Its legal incidents depend on the applicable personal law and facts; it should not be treated as a universally recognized form of Muslim marriage in India.
17	What is the legal significance of the K. M. Nanavati case?	K. M. Nanavati v. State of Maharashtra is the famous 1959-1961 murder case associated with India's move away from jury trials. It is safer to describe it as a landmark case in the decline and abolition of the jury system rather than as an unquestioned 'last jury trial' in every part of India.
18	What is preventive detention?	Preventive detention is detention intended to prevent anticipated prejudicial acts rather than punishment for a past conviction. Article 22 of the Constitution provides special safeguards and exceptions for preventive detention, and statutes such as the National Security Act, 1980 operate within that constitutional framework.
19	What criminal procedure law is generally in force in India today?	The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) came into force on 1 July 2024 and generally replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, subject to savings and transition provisions. Older local police laws may continue to apply separately where not repealed.
20	What is the present legal position on sedition?	Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code is no longer part of the current general penal code because the IPC was replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024. BNS Section 152 creates a distinct offence concerning acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India. It should not simply be described as a verbatim continuation of old sedition law.

Questions 21-30

No.	Legal question	Updated answer
21	Who is a mutawalli?	Under the current central waqf law, a mutawalli is a person appointed under the waqf deed or by competent authority, or otherwise falling within the statutory definition, who manages or administers a waqf or waqf property. The central law was substantially amended in 2025, and some provisions have been subject to interim Supreme Court directions.
22	Who handles the administrative work of a High Court?	A High Court's administration is institutionally under the Chief Justice and the Court's administrative side. The Registrar General and other Registrars perform major administrative functions under the relevant High Court rules. Saying that all administrative functions are simply 'in the hands of the Registrar' is too broad.
23	What are the constitutional qualifications for appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India?	Under Article 124(3), a person must be a citizen of India and must have been a High Court judge for at least five years, or a High Court advocate for at least ten years, or be, in the opinion of the President, a distinguished jurist. There is no 16-year advocacy requirement.
24	Who regulates standards of legal education for enrolment as an advocate?	Section 7 of the Advocates Act, 1961 empowers the Bar Council of India to promote legal education and lay down standards of legal education in consultation with universities and State Bar Councils. Universities and other higher-education regulators also have roles within their respective statutory fields.
25	What is the retirement age of a Supreme Court Judge?	A Judge of the Supreme Court of India holds office until attaining 65 years of age, subject to resignation, removal or other constitutional provisions.
26	What is genocide?	Genocide is not merely 'killing an entire race'. Under international law it consists of specified acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group as such.
27	Is legal practice a profession?	Yes. Advocacy is a regulated legal profession governed principally by the Advocates Act, 1961, Bar Council rules, professional ethics and court rules.
28	Within what time must a document normally be presented for registration?	Under Section 23 of the Registration Act, 1908, a document other than a will must ordinarily be presented for registration within four months from the date of execution, subject to special rules and the limited extension mechanism in Section 25. Wills may be presented at any time.
29	When can a divorce petition be filed under the Hindu Marriage Act?	Section 14 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 generally bars a divorce petition within one year of marriage. The court may permit an earlier petition where the case is one of exceptional hardship to the petitioner or exceptional depravity by the respondent, subject to the statutory conditions.
30	What is a cognizable offence?	Under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, a cognizable offence is one for which a police officer may, in accordance with the First Schedule or another law, arrest without warrant. A cognizable offence is not the same thing as a bailable offence; bailability is a separate classification.

Official legal sources

For authoritative verification, use the India Code, Legislative Department - Constitution of India, Supreme Court of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bar Council of India and the relevant High Court or statutory authority for State-specific law.

State amendments, personal-law rules, saved proceedings and local statutes may alter the answer in a particular case. This page is a general legal-knowledge resource and not case-specific legal advice.