Comprehension
Children come in contact with the criminal justice system either as victims or witnesses to a crime or as children in conflict with law (CICL). As CICL, they could be alleged of, accused or recognised as having broken the law by committing a crime. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) Report 2021, India recorded a total number of 1,49,404 instances of crimes against children in 2021 a rise of over 16 per cent from the previous year. In terms of percentage, the top categories under crime against children were kidnapping and abduction, followed by cases registered under the POCSO Act. Further, the NCRB report revealed that of the total cases, 53,874 were registered under POCSO Sections. Sexual offences against children shows a steady ascent, with 47,221 such cases being recorded in 2020, and 47,335 cases in 2019. In 2019, as many as 32,269 cases were registered across the country, while the 2021 report registered a decline of 3.5 per cent recording 31,170 cases.
The Criminal Justice system of any country broadly refers to agencies of the government charged with enforcing law, adjudicating crime, and correcting criminal conduct. The main objective of the criminal justice system is 'deterrence', ie., to punish the 'transgressors and the criminals' and to maintain law and order in the society. Globally, children and young people are routinely exposed to various forms of violence if they are before the criminal justice system. They are at risk of physical and psychological abuse, sexual assault, and other harms, including inadequate educational opportunities, poor and outdated vocational training. They face several challenges including mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders. Children, who are victims of violence or exposed to violence during childhood, are more likely to have difficulty in school, abuse drugs or alcohol, act aggressively, suffer from depression or other mental health problems and engage in criminal behaviour as adults.
[Extracted, with edits and revisions from "Child Rights in the Criminal Justice System: Need for Law Reform" written by Dr. Asha Bajpai published in the Journal of the National Human Rights Commission, India].
The Criminal Justice system of any country broadly refers to agencies of the government charged with enforcing law, adjudicating crime, and correcting criminal conduct. The main objective of the criminal justice system is 'deterrence', ie., to punish the 'transgressors and the criminals' and to maintain law and order in the society. Globally, children and young people are routinely exposed to various forms of violence if they are before the criminal justice system. They are at risk of physical and psychological abuse, sexual assault, and other harms, including inadequate educational opportunities, poor and outdated vocational training. They face several challenges including mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders. Children, who are victims of violence or exposed to violence during childhood, are more likely to have difficulty in school, abuse drugs or alcohol, act aggressively, suffer from depression or other mental health problems and engage in criminal behaviour as adults.
[Extracted, with edits and revisions from "Child Rights in the Criminal Justice System: Need for Law Reform" written by Dr. Asha Bajpai published in the Journal of the National Human Rights Commission, India].
Question: 1
Which of the following issues, children, who are victims of violence during childhood face in life, as per the author of the above passage?
Which of the following issues, children, who are victims of violence during childhood face in life, as per the author of the above passage?
Updated On: Sep 10, 2025
- They may have difficulties in school
- They may abuse drugs or alcohol and suffer from mental health problems
- They may act aggressively and engage in criminal behaviour
- All of the above
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The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Based on the comprehension provided, it is evident that children who are victims of violence or exposed to violence during childhood face several issues in life. As per the author, victims are more likely to:
- Experience difficulties in school.
- Abuse drugs or alcohol and suffer from mental health problems.
- Act aggressively and engage in criminal behaviour.
Thus, considering the options given in the question, the most comprehensive answer is:
All of the above
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Question: 2
What is the primary objective of the criminal justice system as mentioned in the passage?
What is the primary objective of the criminal justice system as mentioned in the passage?
Updated On: Sep 10, 2025
- Rehabilitation of offenders
- Punishment of the offenders
- Reformation of the offenders
- Protection of victims from the offender
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The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
The primary objective of the criminal justice system, as mentioned in the passage, is 'deterrence'. This is elaborated in the passage as the act of punishing 'transgressors and the criminals' to maintain law and order in society. Consequently, the correct answer aligns with the given option:
- Punishment of the offenders
The comprehension emphasizes the role of the criminal justice system in enforcing law, adjudicating crime, and correcting criminal conduct
| Objective | Punishment of offenders |
|---|
The function of deterrence serves the purpose of punishing offenders to establish a societal norm of lawful behavior, thereby discouraging crimes.
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Question: 3
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in India is responsible for:
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in India is responsible for:
Updated On: Sep 10, 2025
- Conducting forensic investigation of Records of Criminals
- Maintaining a national database of fingerprints of Criminals
- Compiling and analysing crime data
- Maintaining a national database of enforcement of criminal laws
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The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in India plays a critical role in the criminal justice framework by compiling and analyzing crime data. This task is essential for maintaining an informed overview of crime trends, supporting law enforcement agencies, and formulating evidence-based policies. NCRB's analysis includes detailed reports on various categories of crime, notably those involving children. For example, the NCRB Report 2021 highlighted a significant increase in crimes against children, with a total of 1,49,404 incidents recorded, up by more than 16% from the previous year. The report provides insights into trends such as kidnapping, abduction, and sexual offenses under the POCSO Act. By meticulously compiling crime data, NCRB assists in identifying high-risk categories and geographic areas, therefore promoting strategic planning and intervention.
The correct answer to the question regarding NCRB's responsibilities is:Compiling and analysing crime data.
The correct answer to the question regarding NCRB's responsibilities is:Compiling and analysing crime data.
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Question: 4
Which category had the highest number of cases under crimes against children according to the NCRB Report 2021?
Which category had the highest number of cases under crimes against children according to the NCRB Report 2021?
Updated On: Sep 10, 2025
- POCSO
- Kidnapping and abduction
- Sexual Offences
- All of the above
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The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Upon reviewing the comprehension information from the NCRB Report 2021, the question requires identification of which category had the highest number of cases under crimes against children. The options provided include POCSO, Kidnapping and abduction, Sexual Offences, and All of the above. According to the report:
The number of crimes against children in 2021 totaled 1,49,404 instances. Of these, 53,874 were registered under POCSO Sections. Sexual offences accounted for a significant portion but not the highest. To determine the category with the highest cases, we must evaluate the data for each option:
The number of crimes against children in 2021 totaled 1,49,404 instances. Of these, 53,874 were registered under POCSO Sections. Sexual offences accounted for a significant portion but not the highest. To determine the category with the highest cases, we must evaluate the data for each option:
- POCSO: 53,874 cases
- Sexual Offences: The report mentions a decline in 2021, totaling 31,170 cases.
- Kidnapping and Abduction: This category accounted for the highest percentage.
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Question: 5
Which one of the following is the correct expansion of the term POCSO used in the passage?
Which one of the following is the correct expansion of the term POCSO used in the passage?
Updated On: Sep 10, 2025
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences
- Prosecution of Criminals of Sexual Offences
- Protection of Children & Women from Sexual Offences
- None of the above
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
The correct expansion of the term POCSO, as used in the passage, is Protection of Children from Sexual Offences.
The POCSO Act is a comprehensive law enacted by the Government of India to protect children from offenses of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and pornography while safeguarding the interests of the child at every stage of the judicial process by incorporating child-friendly mechanisms for reporting, recording of evidence, investigation, and speedy trial of offenses through designated Special Courts.
In the provided passage, references are made to crimes against children, and significant percentages of cases are noted under the POCSO Act, highlighting its role as a vital legal mechanism in addressing sexual offenses against minors. This context confirms that the expansion of POCSO is indeed "Protection of Children from Sexual Offences," supporting its key purpose of ensuring child safety through the legal framework.
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Question: 6
What risks do children face when exposed to the criminal justice system as per the passage?
What risks do children face when exposed to the criminal justice system as per the passage?
Updated On: Sep 10, 2025
- Limited access to vocational training
- Exposed to risk of physical abuse
- Mental health challenges and behavioural disorders
- All of the above
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The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Upon reviewing the passage provided on the exposure of children to the criminal justice system, several risks are highlighted. These are:
- Limited Access to Vocational Training: The passage indicates that children in these environments often face inadequate educational opportunities, and are subjected to poor and outdated vocational training.
- Exposed to Risk of Physical Abuse: The text outlines that globally, when children are before the criminal justice system, they are routinely exposed to various forms of violence, including physical and psychological abuse.
- Mental Health Challenges and Behavioural Disorders: Children exposed to such environments are at high risk of developing mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders. These challenges can manifest as difficulties in school, substance abuse, aggression, depression, and may even lead to criminal behavior in adulthood.
The correct answer to the question, “What risks do children face when exposed to the criminal justice system as per the passage?” is indeed All of the above, as all the mentioned options are valid risks that children face in this context.
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Top CLAT Questions
- In the realm of contemporary literature, the interplay between character and setting is a nuanced dance that shapes the narrative’s essence. The setting, often described with painstaking detail, becomes more than a backdrop; it becomes a character, influencing the plot and character development.
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Yes, there were some apricot trees close to the house. There were clumps of iris that had finished blooming. There was the kitchen with a wing of smoke lifting out of its chimney and a stack of wood outside its door. But these were incidental, almost unimportant.
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The 19th century ushered in a new era of literary giants. Jane Austen’s novels, such as Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, provide incisive social commentary through the lens of wit and romance. Austen’s heroines, like Elizabeth Bennet and Elinor Dashwood, remain beloved literary figures known for their intelligence and resilience. The Romantic era brought forth poets like William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who celebrated * 8 UG the beauty of nature and the emotional intensity of the individual. Wordsworth’s ‘‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’’ and Coleridge’s ‘‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’’ are testament to the power of the written words to evoke profound emotions and imagery. Moving towards 20th century, English literature continued to evolve. Virginia Woolf’s ground-breaking novel Mrs. Dalloway explored the inner thoughts and lives of its characters with a modernist narrative style. Dystopian visions, as seen in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four provided stark warnings about the dangers of totalitarianism and the erosion of individual freedom.
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[Col. Wedgwood, MP, speaking in the British Parliament, 22 December 1919]
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