16 previous year questions on Succession and inheritance from UGC NET Law papers (2009–2026), including 1 match-the-list, 1 statement-based questions. The correct option is marked in green.
16 questions
Hindu daughter become a Coparcenary by:
Ans. (b) : Hindu Succession And (Amendment) Act, 2005
Explanation: Section 3 of the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act 2005 replaced Section 6 of the Hindu Succession Act 1956, by which a daughter in a Joint Hindu Family governed by Mitakshara law was made a coparcener.
Where a Hindu male and a Hindu female contract their marriage under the Special Marriages Act, 1954, Hindu Personal Law:
Ans. (d) : Applies with the Indian Contract Act
Explanation: Under the Hindu Marriage Act 1955, if both parties are Hindu, Hindu law will apply. But if both parties contract their marriage under the Special Marriage Act 1954, they are governed by that contract and the Hindu Marriage Act will apply along with the Indian Contract Act.
Where a Hindu male and Hindu female contract their marriage under the special Marriage Act, 1954, Hindu Personal law:
Ans. (b) : Does not apply
Explanation: Where a Hindu man and a Hindu woman solemnize their marriage under the Special Marriage Act 1954, Hindu personal law does not apply to such marriage.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are incorrect?
'Agnate' is a person who is related by blood or adoption wholly through males.
'Cognate' is a person who is related by blood or adoption but not wholly through males.
'Agnate' is a person who is related only by blood wholly through males.
'Cognate' may be ascendant, descendant and collateral.
Ans. (c) : Only (3) Explanation: Under Section 3(a) of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, an Agnate is a person related by blood or adoption wholly through males — so Statement 1 is correct. Statement 3 is incorrect because it omits adoption as a basis of agnatic relationship, limiting it only to blood. Under Section 3(b), a Cognate is a person related by blood or adoption but not wholly through males — Statement 2 is correct. A Cognate can indeed be ascendant, descendant or collateral — Statement 4 is correct. Only Statement 3 is incorrect.
Answer with the help of codes given below:
Which of the following is not correct under Section 8 of Hindu Succession Act 1956? The property of a Hindu male dying intestate shall devolve:
Ans. (d) : Fourthly upon the government Explanation: Under Section 8 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, the property of a Hindu male dying intestate devolves in the following order: firstly upon Class I heirs, secondly upon Class II heirs (if no Class I heirs), thirdly upon Agnates (if no Class II heirs), and fourthly upon Cognates (if no Agnates). The government (escheat) gets the property only if there are no heirs at all — it is not the fourth step but the last resort. Hence option (d) incorrectly states "fourthly upon the government."
Arrange the provisions of Hindu Succession Act 1956 in chronological order (Section wise):
Presumption in case of simultaneous death
Failure of heirs
Act not to apply to certain properties
Full blood preferred to half blood
Ans. (c) : 3, 4, 1, 2 Explanation: The correct section-wise chronological order under the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 is: Section 5 — Act not to apply to certain properties; Section 18 — Full blood preferred to half blood; Section 21 — Presumption in case of simultaneous death; Section 29 — Failure of heirs. Hence the correct chronological order is 3 (Section 5), 4 (Section 18), 1 (Section 21), 2 (Section 29) = option (c).
Which of the following is NOT a feature of 'Mitakshara Coparcenary'?
Ans. (b) : Obstructed heritage Explanation: The Mitakshara Coparcenary is characterized by the following features: unobstructed heritage (Apratibandha Daya — property that passes by survivorship and birth), community of interest and unity of possession (coparceners jointly own and possess the property), fluctuating and unpredictable interest (a coparcener's share increases on death of a coparcener and decreases on birth), and right by birth. Obstructed heritage (Sapratibandha Daya) is a feature of Dayabhaga school — not Mitakshara. Under Dayabhaga, inheritance is obstructed until the death of the owner.
Here are all the questions with answers and explanations:
Under the provisions of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956: (1) Son of a predeceased daughter is class I heir (2) Widow of a predeceased son of a predeceased son is class II heir (3) Mother's mother is class I heir (4) Mother's father is class II heir
Ans. (b) : (1) and (4) only Explanation: Under Schedule I and II of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956: Son of a predeceased daughter is a Class I heir — Statement 1 correct. Widow of a predeceased son of a predeceased son is also a Class I heir (not Class II) — Statement 2 is incorrect. Mother's mother is a Class II heir (not Class I) — Statement 3 is incorrect. Mother's father is a Class II heir — Statement 4 correct. Hence only Statements 1 and 4 are correct.
One of the heirs is not included in 'class I heirs' under the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005?
Ans. (c) : Under Class I of the Schedule to the Hindu Succession Act 1956, there are 16 heirs. Among the 16 Class I heirs, the daughter of a pre-deceased daughter of a pre-deceased daughter, the daughter of a pre-deceased son of a pre-deceased daughter, and the daughter of a pre-deceased daughter of a pre-deceased son were added by the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act 2005.
Under the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, heirs of a Hindu Male fall under following heads A. Class I heirs B. Class II heirs C. Sharers D. Agnates E. Cognates
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Ans. (c) : As per Section 8 of the Hindu Succession Act 1956, the property of a Hindu male shall devolve as follows: a. Firstly, upon the heirs in Class I of the Schedule b. Secondly, upon the heirs in Class II of the Schedule c. Thirdly, upon the Agnates (paternal relations) d. Lastly, upon the Bandhu (cognates)
With respect of 'Daughters' under 'class I heirs' in the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, which one the following holds true?
Ans. (c) : Under Class I heirs of the Hindu Succession Act 1956, posthumous daughters are included in the category of daughters.
What is the guiding principle of inheritance under Mitakshara law?
Answer: (c) Doctrine of sapinda relationship
Explanation: Under Mitakshara law, inheritance is based on proximity via the doctrine of sapinda relationship, i.e., closeness of bloodline.
Match the following heirs with their succession categories
List-I (Heirs)
A. Paternal Aunt’s Son
B. Daughter’s Son’s Daughter
C. Paternal Uncle’s Daughter
D. Daughter of a Predeceased Son
List-II (Succession Category)
1. Class II
2. Cognate
3. Class I
4. Agnate
Answer: (b) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
Explanation: • Paternal Aunt's Son – Cognate
• Daughter’s Son’s Daughter – Class II
• Paternal Uncle’s Daughter – Agnate
• Daughter of predeceased son – Class I heir
Arrange the following Class-II legal heirs in the order of their appearance in the schedule in the Hindu Succession Act, 1956
A. Son's daughter's son
B. Daughters son's son
C. Daughter's son's daughters
D. Son's daughter's daughter
Choose the correct answer from the options given below
Answer: (a) A, D, B, C
Arrange in ascending order, the sequence of devolution of property Under Section 8 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 in case of a male Hindu dying intestate
A. Upon the heirs being the relatives specified in class I of the schedule
B. If there is no heir of class I, then upon the heirs of class II of the schedule
C. If their is no agnate, then upon the cognates of the deceased
D. If their is no heir in class I and II, then upon the agnates of the deceased
Choose the correct answer from the options given below
Answer: (a) A, B, D, C
Explanation: Under Section 8 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, the property of a male Hindu dying intestate devolves according to a strict order of priority as follows:
1. A. Firstly, upon the heirs, being the relatives specified in Class I of the Schedule:
The primary beneficiaries (e.g., Son, Daughter, Widow, Mother, etc.) inherit equal shares first to the exclusion of all other categories.
2. B. Secondly, if there is no heir of Class I, then upon the heirs, being the relatives specified in Class II of the Schedule:
Class II heirs (e.g., Father, Brother, Sister, Son's daughter's son, etc.) inherit only when no Class I heir is present.
3. D. Thirdly, if there is no heir of any of the two classes, then upon the agnates of the deceased:
An agnate is a person related to the deceased wholly through male relatives (e.g., father's brother's son).
4. C. Fourthly, if there is no agnate, then upon the cognates of the deceased:
A cognate is a person related to the deceased, but not wholly through male relatives (e.g., mother's brother's son).
Hari Prasad, died by a sudden heart attack without making any will. Arrange the following as per the class of heirs who would inherit his property as per the rule of succession
A. Brother
B. Sister's Son
C. Son of a pre-deceased Son
D. Father
Choose the correct answer from the options given below
Answer: (b) C, D, A, B
Explanation: Under Section 8 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, when a Hindu male dies intestate (without leaving a valid will), his property devolves according to the following strict order of priority:
1. Class I Heirs (first priority, take simultaneously)
2. Class II Heirs (second priority, in entry order)
3. Agnates (relatives through male line only)
4. Cognates (relatives through female line) Categorizing the given heirs under the statutory scheme:
• C. Son of a pre-deceased Son:
Falls under Class I Heirs. Class I heirs exclude all other classes entirely. Thus, C inherits first.
• D. Father:
Falls under Class II Heirs (Entry I). He inherits only if there are no Class I heirs present. Thus, D comes second.
• A. Brother:
Falls under Class II Heirs (Entry II). Entry I (Father) completely excludes Entry II heirs. Thus, A comes third.
• B. Sister's Son:
Falls under Class II Heirs (Entry IV). He is excluded by heirs in higher entries (Entry I and Entry II). Thus, B comes fourth.
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