POCSO Act MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for POCSO Act - Download Free PDF

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 is a comprehensive law enacted in India to safeguard children (below 18 years) from sexual abuse and exploitation. It defines various forms of sexual offences, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, penetrative sexual assault, and aggravated forms of these crimes.

Key Points

•  Under the POCSO Act, aggravated sexual assault refers to situations where the offender is in a position of authority, trust, or care (such as police officers, teachers, family members, etc.) or where the act results in serious harm to the child. The law classifies such offences as more severe due to the vulnerability of the victim and the breach of trust involved.
• The punishment prescribed for aggravated sexual assault is rigorous imprisonment for a term not less than 10 years, which may extend to life imprisonment, and the offender is also liable to fine.
• This reflects the seriousness of the offence and the need for strong legal consequences.

Hence, the correct answer is 10 years imprisonment.

The correct answer is Option 1

Key Points Section 35. Period for Recording Child's Evidence and Disposing of the Case. – (1) The child's evidence must be recorded within thirty days from the date the Special Court takes cognizance of the offence, and any delay must be accompanied by a recorded explanation by the Court.
(2) The Special Court shall, as far as possible, conclude the trial within one year from the date it took cognizance of the offence.

The correct answer is Option 2

Key PointsSection 3 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 
Penetrative sexual assault.—
A person is said to commit “penetrative sexual assault” if—
(a) he penetrates his penis, to any extent, into the vagina, mouth, urethra or anus of a child or makes the child to do so with him or any other person; or
(b) he inserts, to any extent, any object or a part of the body, not being the penis, into the vagina, the urethra or anus of the child or makes the child to do so with him or any other person; or
(c) he manipulates any part of the body of the child so as to cause penetration into the vagina, urethra, anus or any part of body of the child or makes the child to do so with him or any other person; or
(d) he applies his mouth to the penis, vagina, anus, urethra of the child or makes the child to do so to such person or any other person.

The correct answer is Attorney General for India and Ors. v. Satish and Others.

 Key Points

• The case of Attorney General for India and Ors. v. Satish and Others (2018) is significant in the context of child sexual abuse and the legal interpretation of sexual assault under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
• The case primarily focused on the scope of Section 7 and Section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

Additional Information

• The case involved a situation where the accused had fondled the victim's body in a manner that was alleged to be a sexual assault, but there was no "skin-to-skin" contact.
• The question before the Court was whether sexual assault under the POCSO Act required "skin-to-skin" contact or whether actions such as fondling over clothes also constituted sexual assault.
• The Supreme Court held that the words "physical contact" and "touch" should not be limited to just "skin-to-skin" contact.
• The Court emphasized that sexual assault involves any form of sexual contact or behavior with a child that violates their autonomy and dignity, regardless of whether the act is done with or without direct skin contact.

The correct answer is Option 3.

Key PointsSection 27 of  the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012: Medical examination of a child.

(1) The medical examination of a child in respect of whom any offence has been committed under this Act, shall, notwithstanding that a First Information Report or complaint has not been registered for the offences under this Act, be conducted in accordance with section 164A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1973).

(2) In case the victim is a girl child, the medical examination shall be conducted by a woman doctor.

(3) The medical examination shall be conducted in the presence of the parent of the child or any other person in whom the child reposes trust or confidence.

(4) Where, in case the parent of the child or other person referred to in sub-section (3) cannot be present, for any reason, during the medical examination of the child, the medical examination shall be conducted in the presence of a woman nominated by the head of the medical institution

The correct answer is Gender neutral

Key Points

• POCSO stands for Protection of Children from Sexual Offences 
• To deal with child sexual abuse cases, the Government has brought in a special law, namely, The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
• It states that, “ a child means any person below the age of eighteen year”. This implies that offences perpetrated against anyone of the age less than eighteen years are punishable under the POCSO Act.
• The Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) was passed by both houses of Parliament on May 22, 2012.  
• The Act has come into force with effect from 14th November 2012 along with the Rules framed thereunder. 
• The POCSO Act, 2012 is a comprehensive law to provide for the protection of children from the offences of
  • Sexual assault
  • Sexual harassment
  • 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 offences through designated Special Courts.
• Salient Feature of POCSO- 
  • It is gender-neutral.
  • It makes the reporting of abuse mandatory.
  • It makes the recording of sexual abuse mandatory.
  • It lists all known types of sexual offences towards minors.
  • It provides for the protection of minors during the judicial process.

The correct answer is option 2.Key Points

• Section 25 of  Recording of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 deals with statement of a child by Magistrate.
• If the statement of the child is being recorded under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)(herein referred to as them Code), the Magistrate recording such statement shall, notwithstanding anything contained therein, record the statement as spoken by the child:
  • Provided that the provisions contained in the first proviso to sub-section (1) of section 164 of the Code shall, so far it permits the presence of the advocate of the accused shall not apply in this case.
• The Magistrate shall provide to the child and his parents or his representative, a copy of the document specified under section 207 of the Code, upon the final report being filed by the police under section 173 of that Code.

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 is a comprehensive law enacted in India to safeguard children (below 18 years) from sexual abuse and exploitation. It defines various forms of sexual offences, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, penetrative sexual assault, and aggravated forms of these crimes.

Key Points

•  Under the POCSO Act, aggravated sexual assault refers to situations where the offender is in a position of authority, trust, or care (such as police officers, teachers, family members, etc.) or where the act results in serious harm to the child. The law classifies such offences as more severe due to the vulnerability of the victim and the breach of trust involved.
• The punishment prescribed for aggravated sexual assault is rigorous imprisonment for a term not less than 10 years, which may extend to life imprisonment, and the offender is also liable to fine.
• This reflects the seriousness of the offence and the need for strong legal consequences.

Hence, the correct answer is 10 years imprisonment.

The correct answer is option 4.Key Points

• Section 24 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 deals with recording of statement of a child.
  • (1) The statement of the child shall be recorded at the residence of the child or at a place where he usually resides or at the place of his choice and as far as practicable by a woman police officer not below the rank of sub-inspector.
  • (2) The police officer while recording the statement of the child shall not be in uniform.
  • (3) The police officer making the investigation, shall, while examining the child, ensure that at no point of time the child come in the contact in any way with the accused.
  • (4) No child shall be detained in the police station in the night for any reason.
  • (5) The police officer shall ensure that the identity of the child is protected from the public media, unless otherwise directed by the Special Court in the interest of the child.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 Key Points Section 24: Recording of statement of a child.

1. The statement of the child shall be recorded at the residence of the child or at a place where he usually resides or at the place of his choice and as far as practicable by a woman police officer not below the rank of sub-inspector.
2. The police officer while recording the statement of the child shall not be in uniform.
3. The police officer making the investigation, shall, while examining the child, ensure that at no point of time the child come in the contact in any way with the accused.
4. No child shall be detained in the police station in the night for any reason.
5. The police officer shall ensure that the identity of the child is protected from the public media, unless otherwise directed by the Special Court in the interest of the child

The correct answer is Option 2

An offense can be reported after it has occurred, or even before it has occurred, if there is fear that such a crime may occur.

Key Points

• Any person can report an offense under POCSO.
• The child facing or fearing such abuse can also report the crime directly. What is important is the crime MUST BE REPORTED.
• If a person fails to report an offense under POCSO, the person can be punished with imprisonment of up to 6 months and/or with a fine.

Hence, we can conclude that Imprisonment of up to 6 months and/or with a fine is the punishment for a person who fails to report an offense under POCSO.

Additional InformationIf a person is in-charge of an institution and fails to report an offense under POCSO committed by a subordinate (i.e. someone over whom the person has professional control), the person can be punished with imprisonment of up to 1 year and/or with a fine.

The correct answer is option 1

Key PointsSection 15 of The POCSO Act, 2012 deals with Punishment for storage of pornographic material involving child -it says that Whoever uses a child or children for pornographic purposes shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than five years and shall also be liable to fine and in the event of second or subsequent conviction with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years and also be liable to fine.

The correct answer is Section 2(da)Key Points Section 2 '(da) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.
"child pornography" means any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a child which include photograph, video, digital or computer generated image indistinguishable from an actual child, and image created, adapted, or modified, but appear to depict a child.

Inserted by Act 25 of 2019,s. 2 (w.e.f. 16-08-2019)

The correct answer is Section 14 of The POCSO Act, 2012

Key Points

Section 14 of The POCSO Act, 2012 Substituted by Protection Of Children From Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act, 2019, w.e.f. 16.08.2019 for the following:-

(1) Whoever, uses a child or children for pornographic purposes shall be punished with imprisonment of either description which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine and in the event of second or subsequent conviction with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years and also be liable to fine.

(2) If the person using the child for pornographic purposes commits an offence referred to in section 3, by directly participating in pornographic acts, he shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than ten years but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.

(3) If the person using the child for pornographic purposes commits an offence referred to in section 5, by directly participating in pornographic acts, he shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine.

(4) If the person using the child for pornographic purposes commits an offence referred to in section 7, by directly participating in pornographic acts, he shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than six years but which may extend to eight years, and shall also be liable to fine.

(5) If the person using the child for pornographic purposes commits an offence referred to in section 9, by directly participating in pornographic acts, he shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than eight years but which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

The correct answer is In 2012.

Key Points

• The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, (POCSO Act)  and its corresponding rules were enacted with the objective of protecting children from a slew of sexual offences and introducing child-friendly judicial mechanisms for dealing with such offences.
  • Child sexual abuse laws in India have been enacted as part of the child protection policies of India.
  • The Parliament of India passed the 'Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Bill (POCSO), 2011' regarding child sexual abuse on 22 May 2012 into an Act.
  • The rules formulated by the government in accordance with the law have also been notified in November 2012 and the law has become ready for implementation.
  • There have been many calls for more stringent laws.

Additional Information 

• Protection of children by the state is guaranteed to Indian citizens by an expansive reading of Article 21[9] of the Indian constitution and also mandated given India's status as a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 was enacted to provide a robust legal framework for the protection of children from offenses of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and pornography, while safeguarding the interest of the child at every stage of the judicial process.