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Q87·GS Paper 1 · Prelims 2026

Zero FIR Provisions under BNSS 2023

PolityJudiciary & Legal FrameworkStatement-based● MediumCurrent-affairs-linked

Question

Which of the following statements about a Zero First Information Report (Zero FIR) under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 is/are correct?

1A 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.
2The 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.
3Under Zero FIR, it is obligatory for the informant to furnish information electronically .

Select the answer using the code given below : (a) 1, 2 and 3 . (b) 2 and 3 only . (c) 1 only . (d) 2 only.

Options

a

1, 2 and 3

b

2 and 3 only

c

1 only

Answer
d

2 only

Explanation

Only statement 1 is correct. The primary purpose of a Zero FIR is to allow a citizen to file a complaint at any convenient police station immediately after a cognizable offense occurs, regardless of territorial boundaries. The receiving station records the complaint without assigning a standard number, filing it as 'Zero', and transfers it to the proper local jurisdiction. Statement 2 is incorrect because the receiving station's duty is to transfer the case records to the relevant jurisdiction, rather than initiating a preliminary inquiry. Statement 3 is incorrect because the BNSS permits electronic reporting but does not make it mandatory for all filings.

A Zero FIR can be registered at any police station regardless of territorial boundaries to ensure timely reporting, and the records are subsequently transferred to the correct local jurisdiction.

Question details

Year

2026

Paper

GS Paper 1

Question

Q87

Subject

Polity

Sub-topic

Judiciary & Legal Framework

Type

Statement-based

Difficulty

Medium

Nature

Current-affairs-linked

Source hint

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 statutory provisions

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