Q62 · UPSC Prelims 2026 · Set A · Current Affairs and GK

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Which of the following statements about a Zero First Information Report (Zero FIR) under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 is/are correct?1.A Zero FIR can be lodged at a police station, even though the place of commission of a cognizable/non-cognizable offence is outside the territorial jurisdiction of that police station.2.The Officer-in-Charge of the police station where a Zero FIR has been lodged may, with the permission of the competent authority, initiate a preliminary enquiry.3.Under Zero FIR, it is obligatory for the informant to furnish information electronically

A 1, 2 and 3
B 2 and 3 only
C 1 only
D 2 only

Correct answer: (d) 2 only

Explanation

  1. A

    1, 2 and 3

    1, 2 and 3. Incorrect. Statement 1 overreaches by bundling cognizable and non-cognizable offences into the Zero FIR claim, and statement 3 wrongly makes exclusive electronic filing obligatory.

  2. B

    2 and 3 only

    2 and 3 only. Incorrect. Statement 2 can stand, but statement 3 does not: Zero FIR does not oblige the informant to furnish information only electronically.

  3. C

    1 only

    1 only. Incorrect. Statement 1 is not correct as framed — Zero FIR is not correctly stated for both cognizable and non-cognizable offences outside jurisdiction.

  4. D

    2 only

    2 only. Correct. After a Zero FIR is lodged, the officer-in-charge may, with permission of the competent authority, initiate a preliminary enquiry; that is the only keyed correct statement here.

Summary. Official key is (d): only statement 2 is correct — preliminary enquiry after a Zero FIR may proceed with competent permission — while statements 1 and 3 fail as framed.

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