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Predicted Questions with Model Answers
Q1 (5 marks — 50 words): What is "penetrative sexual assault" under POCSO Act 2012? What is the punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault?
Model Answer:
Under Section 3 POCSO Act, penetrative sexual assault means insertion of penis/object/body part into child's vagina, urethra, anus, or mouth with sexual intent. Punishment (Section 4): minimum 10 years RI extendable to life. Aggravated penetrative sexual assault (Section 5) is committed by persons of trust — police, teachers, relatives, gang — or on children below 12. Punishment (Section 6): minimum 20 years RI, which may extend to death penalty (post-2019 amendment).
Word count: 52 words EN
Q2 (5 marks — 50 words): Explain "sexual harassment" under POCSO Act 2012 and state the difference from "sexual assault."
Model Answer:
Under Section 11 POCSO, sexual harassment of a child includes non-contact acts — making sexual comments/gestures, showing pornography, inducing child to expose body parts, following/stalking, monitoring online. Punishment (Section 12): up to 3 years + fine. Sexual assault (Section 7) involves physical contact — touching genitals, breast, or anus with sexual intent — without penetration; punishment (Section 8): minimum 3 years up to 5 years. Key distinction: contact vs. non-contact.
Word count: 53 words EN
Q3 (5 marks — 50 words): What are the child-friendly procedures under POCSO Act 2012 for recording the statement of a child victim?
Model Answer:
Under Sections 24–26 POCSO 2012: (1) Police must not be in uniform, must be accompanied by a woman constable; (2) No overnight detention at police station (Section 25); (3) Child's statement is recorded by a Magistrate at child's home or preferred neutral place — not court; (4) Woman Magistrate preferred; (5) Disabled children get special educator/interpreter; (6) Trial held in camera (Section 37) with screen/video conferencing (Section 36) — child and accused not visible to each other.
Word count: 55 words EN
Q4 (5 marks — 50 words): What is the significance of the reverse burden of proof under Section 29 of POCSO Act 2012?
Model Answer:
Section 29 POCSO reverses the ordinary criminal law principle: when a person is prosecuted for sexual offences against a child under Sections 3, 5, 7, 9, the Special Court shall presume guilt — the accused must prove innocence. Ordinary criminal law requires prosecution to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Significance: Children are often sole witnesses; trauma impairs testimony; abusers usually hold power over victims — reverse burden compensates for evidentiary disadvantages and strengthens child protection. Upheld as constitutionally valid.
Word count: 52 words EN
Q5 (5 marks — 50 words): What is mandatory reporting under Section 19 of POCSO Act 2012? What is the punishment for failure to report?
Model Answer:
Under Section 19 POCSO 2012, any person who has knowledge or apprehension of a sexual offence against a child must report it to the Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU) or local police — orally or in writing. This is a legal duty on all citizens — not just professionals. Under Section 21, failure to report is punishable with imprisonment up to 6 months or fine or both. Personnel of child care institutions who fail to report face up to 1 year imprisonment.
Word count: 55 words EN
Q6 (5 marks — 50 words): What changes did the POCSO Amendment 2019 bring to the punishment provisions of the Act?
Model Answer:
The POCSO Amendment 2019 made three key changes: (1) Death penalty added as punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault where victim is below 16 years (Section 6); (2) Minimum imprisonment for penetrative sexual assault on child below 16 enhanced from 10 to 20 years; (3) Punishment for using children in pornography (Section 14) strengthened — minimum 5 years for first offence, 7 years for repeat; Section 15 strengthened storage/transmission penalties. Amendments respond to rising child sexual abuse cases nationally.
Word count: 54 words EN