Unit IV · Topic 4Offences against human body – Previous Year Questions

34 previous year questions on Offences against human body from UGC NET Law papers (2009–2025), including 8 assertion–reason, 3 match-the-list, 1 statement-based questions. The correct option is marked in green.

Questions

34 questions

2009Match the lists

Match the following offence:

List-I — List-II A. Grave and sudden provocation — 1. Exception II to section 300 B. Death caused by sudden quarrel — 2. Exception V to section 300 C. Death caused by consent — 3. Exception I to section 300 D. Exceeding right private defence — 4. Exception IV to section 300

Codes:

  1. (a)A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
  2. (b)A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1
  3. (c)A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1✓
  4. (d)A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2
Answer & explanation

Ans. (c) : The correct matching is as follows: (A) Grave and sudden provocation — Exception I to Section 300 IPC (B) Death caused by sudden quarrel — Exception IV to Section 300 IPC (C) Death caused by consent — Exception V to Section 300 IPC (D) Exceeding right of private defence — Exception II to Section 300 IPC

2010

Buggery is an offence against:

  1. (a)Having carnal knowledge with a women
  2. (b)Offence committed without use of force
  3. (c)Depravity against natural oreder of sex✓
  4. (d)Manipulation and movement of male organ
Answer & explanation

Ans. (c) : According to Section 377 of I.P.C., buggery is an offence of depravity against the natural order of sex. Section 377 was declared unconstitutional in the case of Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India (2018) S.C. with respect to depravity against the natural order of sex.

2010

A police officer arrested and detained a girl in the lock-up despite bail oreder. The police officer shall be guilty of:

  1. (a)Kidnapping
  2. (b)Abduction
  3. (c)Intimidation
  4. (d)Wrongful confinement✓
Answer & explanation

Ans. (d) : Section 340 of I.P.C. defines wrongful confinement whose elements are as follows: (a) Wrongful restraint of a person. (b) Such restraint prevents the person from going beyond certain limits.

2011Sequence / order

Liability for culpable homicide can be fixed if death is caused by effect of words:

  1. (a)If it results in excitement
  2. (b)If the anticipated consequence becomes the result
  3. (c)By the absence of avoidability to suffer from Lingering torture
  4. (d)All the above✓
Answer & explanation

Ans. (d) : Liability for culpable homicide can be fixed if death is caused by effect of words if: (1) it results in excitement, (2) if the anticipated consequence becomes the result, and (3) by continuous torture instead of avoiding suffering.

2011

For the offence of wrongful confinement there must be circumscribing limits which may be:

  1. (a)Large or narrow boundary
  2. (b)Visible or tangible area
  3. (c)Movable or fixed territory
  4. (d)All of them✓
Answer & explanation

Ans. (d) : The definition of the offence of wrongful confinement is given in Section 340 of the Indian Penal Code 1860 and punishment for it is provided in Section 342. The essential elements of the offence of wrongful confinement: (A) There must be wrongful restraint of a person (B) Such restraint prevents the person from going beyond certain fixed limits (C) The restraint must be complete.

2012

A person who causes bodily injury to another who is labouring under a disorder, disease or bodily infirmity and thereby accelerates the death of the person. Under which it shall be deemed to have caused his death?

  1. (a)Explanation I to Section 299✓
  2. (b)Explanation I to Section 300
  3. (c)Explanation II to Section 299
  4. (d)Explanation II to Section 300
Answer & explanation

Ans. (a) : Criminal homicide has been clarified under section 299 of Indian Penal Code 1860. According to Explanation I of this section- The person, who causes bodily harm to another person suffering from any disorder, disease or infirmity and thereby accelerates his death, is said to have caused his death.

2012

When the injury is intentional and sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course of nature and death follows. The offence is of the category:

  1. (a)Attempt to murder
  2. (b)Culpable homicide not amounting to murder
  3. (c)Murder✓
  4. (d)Attempt to suicide
Answer & explanation

Ans. (c) : Murder is defined under section 300 of Indian Penal Code. According to clause 3 of this section, if any injury is caused with the intention of causing bodily harm to someone and that bodily harm is sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course of nature, then such person causing harm shall be guilty of 'murder'.

2012

Fill in the gap: A disability for............ days constitutes grievous hurt.

  1. (a)A week
  2. (b)A fortnight
  3. (c)A month
  4. (d)A minimum of twenty days✓
Answer & explanation

Ans. (d) : Grievous hurt is described in section 320 of Indian Penal Code. According to this section 8 types of hurt are considered grievous. According to clause 8 of section 320, any hurt which endangers life or due to which the injured person remains in severe bodily pain for 20 days or is unable to do his ordinary work is a grievous hurt.

2012

Fill in the gap with appropriate word: Wrongful restraint means keeping a person from out of his ................. of his residence.

  1. (a)House
  2. (b)Place✓
  3. (c)Hotel
  4. (d)Guest House
Answer & explanation

Ans. (b) : According to section 339 of Indian Penal Code if any person obstructs in such a way that the other person is prevented from going in the direction in which he has the legal right to go, then he wrongfully restrains.

2012

The offence of ............ homicide supposes knowledge of likelihood of causing death.

  1. (a)unlawful
  2. (b)abnormal
  3. (c)culpable✓
  4. (d)all types of
Answer & explanation

Ans. (c) : The offence of culpable homicide presupposes knowledge of the possibility of causing death. The offence of culpable homicide is defined in section 299 of the Indian Penal Code. It is punishable under section 309. In culpable homicide there is only an imagination of the possibility of murder, whereas in murder there is full possibility of causing death. This is an important difference between murder and culpable homicide.

2013Assertion–Reason

Assertion I: Publishing a report of proceedings of a Court will not amount to defamation.

Reason II: It is a an exception to the principle of defamation.

Code:

  1. (a)I is true, because II is the specific objective✓
  2. (b)I is true, but II is not the correct proposition
  3. (c)II is always true, because I is not dependent
  4. (d)II is false, because I is always independent of criminal liability
Answer & explanation

Ans. (a) : Defamation is both a tort and a punishable offence. That is, civil and punitive proceedings can be done together. Section 499 to 502 of Indian Penal Code is related to defamation. Ten exceptions are described in it. According to the fourth exception of section 499, publication of reports of court proceedings will not be considered defamation.

Read Assertion I and Reason II and with the help of codes given below point out the correct explanation

2013Assertion–Reason

Assertion (A): Culpable homicide becomes murder when the act causes death and is dones with the intention of causing death.

Reason (R): One of the conditions to be satisfied for treating it murder provide the injury intended to be inflicted is sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death.

Codes:

  1. (a)(A) is true, but (R) is not the reason
  2. (b)(A) and (R) are both true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
  3. (c)(A) is false and (R) is true
  4. (d)Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the reasonable explanation of (A)✓
Answer & explanation

Ans. (d) : Section 299 of Indian Penal Code 1860 defines culpable homicide and section 300 defines murder. According to clause one of section 300, culpable homicide is murder if the act by which the death is caused is done with the intention of causing death. According to clause three of section 300, if culpable homicide is done with the intention of causing bodily injury to any person and the bodily injury intended to be inflicted is sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death.

2013

Administration of unwholesome drug is strictly punishable under law even though it may not cause hurt. Under what provision of law punishment can be inflicted?

  1. (a)Section 324
  2. (b)Section 328✓
  3. (c)Section 326
  4. (d)All of the above
Answer & explanation

Ans. (b) : Section 328 of Indian Penal Code provides for causing hurt by means of poison etc. with intent to commit an offence. According to it, administering of unwholesome drug is strictly punishable under law even though no hurt is caused by it.

2013Statements

Select the statement that is most suitalbe in law: Culpable homicide is not murder when one is deprived of the power of self-control resulting from-

  1. (a)Grave and sudden provocation✓
  2. (b)When death results by voluntary provocation
  3. (c)Where death results incourse of obediency of law
  4. (d)When death results by mistake
Answer & explanation

Ans. (a) : Section 299 of Indian Penal Code 1860 defines culpable homicide. According to the first exception of section 300, culpable homicide is not murder when the offender is deprived of the power of self-control by grave and sudden provocation.

2013

The accused caused bodily pain, disease or infirmity. But it is cognizable, bailable or compoundable. What offence, if any, has been committed by the accused?

  1. (a)Voluntary causing grievaous hurt as per Section 322, IPC
  2. (b)Voluntary causing serious hurt as per Section 325, IPC
  3. (c)Voluntary causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapon as per Section 324, IPC
  4. (d)Voluntary causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapon as per Section 326, IPC
Answer & explanation

Ans. (*) : Section 324 of Indian Penal Code 1860 provides for voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, while section 326 provides for voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means. This section 319 defines hurt. Note- All options are wrong. UGC has considered option 'c' as correct.

2013

An individual's act of abridgement of another's right to movement could be an offence of:

  1. (a)wrongful confinement as per Section 340, IPC
  2. (b)an act of abridgement of right to movement was done in good faith and hence no offence
  3. (c)the movement route being diverted so assault results
  4. (d)wrongful restraint as per Section 339, IPC✓
Answer & explanation

Ans. (d) : This is the offence of wrongful restraint. Wrongful restraint is defined in section 339 of Indian Penal Code 1860, according to which whoever voluntarily obstructs any person so as to prevent that person from proceeding in any direction in which that person has a right to proceed, is said wrongfully to restrain that person.

Match the statement that mens rea is a loose term of elastic significance with that of the meaning in sequential order.

Foresight of the consequences of the act

Criminal intention of deepest dye

An act which is visible

It depends upon knowledge and belief

2014

What offence, if any, has been caused by the accused 'X' in the following facts: 'X' had some verbal wrangle with his wife 'Y' and in course of that he gave her a blow with great force and after an interval for two hours 'Y' died. Medical evidence provided the causative factor as rapture in the spleen."

  1. (a)Culpable homicide not amounting to murder
  2. (b)Grievous hurt✓
  3. (c)Homicide
  4. (d)Simple hurt
Answer & explanation

Ans. (b) : The present problem is based on the case of Indu Beg, in this case there was some argument between the accused and his wife, during which he was hit hard on the left side of his body. As a result of this blow, he vomited many times and started bleeding from the nose, due to the injury, his death occurred after about an hour, during the post-mortem it was found that his death was due to rupture of the spleen. Hence, the accused was held guilty of grievous hurt.

2015

Which of the following offences fall under causing hurt as well as assault?

  1. (a)Digging a pit in the public path
  2. (b)Hinging boiling water over a person✓
  3. (c)Mixing deleterious poison in a liquid and placing the same on another table
  4. (d)Pulling hair of a women
Answer & explanation

Ans. (b) : According to sections 319 and 351 of Indian Penal Code, the offence will come under both hurt and assault. To pour boiling water on a person - throwing boiling water in a sequence is assault and as soon as the boiling water falls on the body, it is the offence of hurt.

2015Assertion–Reason

Read Assertion (A) and Reason (R) and answer using the code given below:

Assertion (A): That the act is imminently dangerous or that in all probability it will cause death

Reason (R): Such specific principal apply to punish a person although there is no intention to cause death

Codes:

  1. (a)Both (A) and (R) are concurrent as per Sec. 299 (c) and 300 (4) respectively✓
  2. (b)Both (A) and (R) are intravivos as per Sec. 300 and Sec. 302
  3. (c)Both (A) and (R) are dependant upon facts based as per Sec. 299(b) and Sec. 302
  4. (d)Both (A) and (R) must co-exit as per Sec. 300(2) and Sec.301
Answer & explanation

Ans. (a) : Section 299 of IPC is the third category culpable homicide and section 300 is the fourth category of murder is concurrent. The words written in the third paragraph of Section 299 - With this knowledge that he will cause death by that act and it is probable that according to the fourth clause of Section 300, if the person doing the act knows that the act is so imminently dangerous that it must in all probability cause death, and is done without any excuse for the risk of causing death. It is clear from both these that 299 (3) and 300 (4) are concurrent to each other.

2016Assertion–Reason

Assertion (A): Section 304-A is directed at offences outside the range of Section 299 and 300. Reason (R): It contemplates those acts into which neither intention nor knowledge enters.

Codes:

  1. (a)Both (A) and (R) are correct as the act results form rash and negligence act✓
  2. (b)(A) is correct as certain acts are unjustifiable while (R) is not the correct reason as it falls short of culpable homicide
  3. (c)(R) is correct while (A) is incorrect application to the rule of coupabl homicide to cause murder
  4. (d)Both (A) and (R) are incorrect statements as to imposing penalty
Answer & explanation

Ans. (a) : This assertion is true that 'Section 304 A' refers to those offences which are outside the area of articles 299 and 300 because it considers those acts in which neither intention nor knowledge has any entry. Section 304-A of Indian Penal Code is related to causing death by negligence.

2016Assertion–Reason

Assertion (A): The apprehension of use of criminal force must emanate from the gesture of a person to attract punishment.

Reason (R): Mere advancing with a threatening attitude will not amount to criminal force.

Codes:

  1. (a)Both (A) and (R) are contradictory to each other
  2. (b)(A) is correct while (R) is not the cause of it✓
  3. (c)(A) is incorrect while (R) is appropriate
  4. (d)(A) is correct while (R) is the cause of it
Answer & explanation

Ans. (b) : According to section 350 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Force becomes criminal force if - (1) It is used to commit any offence, without the consent of the person against whom the offence is committed, or (2) If it is used with the intention of causing injury, fear or annoyance to any person. Under section 351, it is not necessary that any actual hurt should be caused to make the structure of assault. It can be created by mere threatening, it is necessary that the next person has the apprehension in his mind that criminal force is about to be used on him.

Read Assertion (A) and Reason (R) and using the codes given below write the correct answer.

2016

In which of the conditions the act will not be wrongful confinement?

  1. (a)Circumscribing limits
  2. (b)Malice✓
  3. (c)Moral force
  4. (d)Mistaken exercise of power
Answer & explanation

Ans. (b) : Wrongful confinement is defined in section 340 of Indian Penal Code. According to which, whoever wrongfully restrains any person in such a manner as to prevent that person from proceedings beyond certain circumscribing limits, wrongfully confines that person. Malice is not an essential element of the offence of wrongful confinement.

2017Assertion–Reason

Assertion (A): Section 304-A is directed at offences outside the range of Section 299 and 300. Reason (R): It contemplates those acts into which neither intention nor knowledge enters.

Codes:

  1. (a)Both (A) and (R) are correct as the act results form rash and negligence act✓
  2. (b)(A) is correct as certain acts are unjustifiable while (R) is not the correct reason as it falls short of culpable homicide
  3. (c)(R) is correct while (A) is incorrect application to the rule of coupabl homicide to cause murder
  4. (d)Both (A) and (R) are incorrect statements as to imposing penalty
Answer & explanation

Ans. (a) : This assertion is true that 'Section 304 A' refers to those offences which are outside the area of articles 299 and 300 because it considers those acts in which neither intention nor knowledge has any entry. Section 304-A of Indian Penal Code is related to causing death by negligence.

2017Assertion–Reason

Assertion (A): The apprehension of use of criminal force must emanate from the gesture of a person to attract punishment.

Reason (R): Mere advancing with a threatening attitude will not amount to criminal force.

Codes:

  1. (a)Both (A) and (R) are contradictory to each other
  2. (b)(A) is correct while (R) is not the cause of it✓
  3. (c)(A) is incorrect while (R) is appropriate
  4. (d)(A) is correct while (R) is the cause of it
Answer & explanation

Ans. (b) : According to section 350 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Force becomes criminal force if - (1) It is used to commit any offence, without the consent of the person against whom the offence is committed, or (2) If it is used with the intention of causing injury, fear or annoyance to any person. Under section 351, it is not necessary that any actual hurt should be caused to make the structure of assault. It can be created by mere threatening, it is necessary that the next person has the apprehension in his mind that criminal force is about to be used on him.

Read Assertion (A) and Reason (R) and using the codes given below write the correct answer.

2017

In which of the conditions the act will not be wrongful confinement?

  1. (a)Circumscribing limits
  2. (b)Malice✓
  3. (c)Moral force
  4. (d)Mistaken exercise of power
Answer & explanation

Ans. (b) : Wrongful confinement is defined in section 340 of Indian Penal Code. According to which, whoever wrongfully restrains any person in such a manner as to prevent that person from proceedings beyond certain circumscribing limits, wrongfully confines that person. Malice is not an essential element of the offence of wrongful confinement.

2018

Under which of the following provisions of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 an assault or criminal force used in attempting to commit theft of property is punishable?

  1. (a)Section 356✓
  2. (b)Section 378
  3. (c)Section 379
  4. (d)Section 384
Answer & explanation

Ans. (a) : Section 356

Explanation: Under Section 356 of the Indian Penal Code, dealing with assault or use of criminal force in attempting to commit theft of property. According to Section 356 — "Whoever assaults or uses criminal force on any person in attempting to commit theft of any property which that person is then wearing or carrying, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both."

2018

'X' gives grave and sudden provocation to 'Y'. 'Y' on this provocation, fires a pistol at 'X', neither intending nor knowing himself to be likely to kill 'Z'. Here 'Y' has committed:

  1. (a)Death by negligence
  2. (b)Murder
  3. (c)Culpable homicide not amounting to murder✓
  4. (d)No ofence
Answer & explanation

Ans. (c) : Culpable homicide not amounting to murder

Explanation: The present problem is based on Exception 1 to Section 300 of the Indian Penal Code. According to Exception 1 of Section 300 — Culpable homicide is not murder if the offender, whilst deprived of the power of self-control by grave and sudden provocation, causes the death of the person who gave the provocation or causes the death of any other person by mistake or accident. That is, Y will be punished under Section 304.

Match List-I with List-II and give the correct answer by using the code given below:

List-I/सूची-I A. Dishonest taking of property B. Dishonestly inducing any person to deliver property C. Entrustment of property D. Conversion of property

List-II/सूची-II

Criminal breach of Trust

Extortion

Criminal Misappropriation

2018

A, a police officer, tortues B to induce him to point out where certain stolen property is deposited. Here A is guilty of an offence under:

  1. (a)Section 330, I.P.C.✓
  2. (b)Section 331, I.P.C.
  3. (c)Section 332, I.P.C.
  4. (d)Section 333, I.P.C.
Answer & explanation

Ans. (a) : The present problem is based on illustration (b) of Section 330 of the Indian Penal Code. According to Section 330, whoever voluntarily causes hurt for the purpose of extorting confession or any information which may lead to the detection of an offence, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

2019

X, with the intention to cause miscarriage administered a drug to a pregnant lady, Y. The child in the womb died. X is guilty of:

  1. (a)murder
  2. (b)culpable homicide not amounting to murder
  3. (c)no offence
  4. (d)causing miscarriage✓
Answer & explanation

Ans. (d) : The present problem is based on Section 312 of the Indian Penal Code, according to which, whoever voluntarily causes a woman with child to miscarry, shall, if such miscarriage be not caused in good faith for the purpose of saving the life of the woman, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

December 2023 · Q79

A is lawfully arrested by Z who is a police officer. A loses his self control by grave and sudden provocation due to arrest and kills Z. A shall be punished under

  1. (a)Section 304 of IPC
  2. (b)Section 302 of IPC✓
  3. (c)Section 304 or 302 of IPC
  4. (d)Section 301 read with Section 302 of IPC
Answer & explanation

Answer: (b) Section 302 of IPC

June 2025 · Q53Match the lists

Match the following exceptions under Section 300 of IPC with their exception number

List-I (Exception)

A. Sudden and grave provocation

B. Exceeding right of private defence

C. Death caused in sudden fight

D. Death caused with consent of person

List-II (Exception Number)

1. Exception 5

2. Exception 1

3. Exception 4

4. Exception 2

  1. (a)A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV
  2. (b)A-II, B-IV, C-III, D-I✓
  3. (c)A-II, B-IV, C-I, D-III
  4. (d)A-IV, B-III, C-II, D-I
Answer & explanation

Answer: (b) A-II, B-IV, C-III, D-I

Explanation: These are the established exceptions to murder under IPC. Each matches its respective clause correctly.

31 Dec 2025 (Shift 1) · Q70Assertion–Reason

Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R

Assertion A: Culpable homicide is genus and murder is specie

Reason R: All murders are culpable homicide but not vice-versa. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below

  1. (a)Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explantion of A✓
  2. (b)Both A and R are correct but R is NOT the correct explantion of A
  3. (c)A is correct but R is not correct
  4. (d)A is not correct but R is correct
Answer & explanation

Answer: (a) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explantion of A

31 Dec 2025 (Shift 1) · Q71

What is the nature of the question where the provocation was grave and sudden enough to prevent the offence from amounting to murder?

  1. (a)Mixed question of fact and law
  2. (b)Question of law
  3. (c)Question of fact✓
  4. (d)Question of criminal law
Answer & explanation

Answer: (c) Question of fact

31 Dec 2025 (Shift 1) · Q98Match the lists

Match the LIST-I with LIST-II LIST-I (Exception to Murder) LIST-II (Corresponding Provision)

A. Exception - 2 I. Act of Public Servant

B. Exception - 3 II. Exceeding the right of private defense

C. Exception - 4 III. Sudden fight

D. Exception - 5 IV. Death by consent

Choose the correct answer from the options given below

  1. (a)A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV
  2. (b)A-II, B-I, C-III, D-IV✓
  3. (c)A-I, B-II, C-IV, D-III
  4. (d)A-IV, B-III, C-II, D-I
Answer & explanation

Answer: (b) A-II, B-I, C-III, D-IV

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