Ethics · 4 Aug 2026

Delhi prisoner compensation scheme custodial deaths

With reference to Delhi's Scheme for Payment of Compensation on Account of Death of Prisoners, 2025, which one of the following statements is correct?

AThe National Human Rights Commission is informed of the compensation only after it has already been disbursed, rather than reviewing the negligence finding beforehand
BThe scheme mandates that an independent judicial magistrate, rather than the Jail Superintendent, submits the initial inquiry findings on the cause of death
CThe scheme provides a uniform compensation amount regardless of whether the death resulted from staff assault, inmate conflict, negligence or suicide
DThe scheme extends compensation to natural deaths and deaths occurring during escape attempts or disasters within prison premises

Tests precise procedural sequencing (who investigates, who approves, when oversight occurs) rather than surface recall of the scheme's existence, requiring careful distinction between similar-sounding administrative steps.

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About this question

Why in news

The Delhi government notified a compensation scheme for families of prisoners who die unnatural deaths in custody, framed as strengthening transparency and accountability in line with NHRC guidelines.

Why for UPSC

This tests careful reading of procedural detail - who investigates, who approves and when an oversight body is involved - which is exactly the layer beneath the headline fact that UPSC-style ethics-adjacent factual questions probe.

Prelims summary

Delhi's prisoner death compensation scheme offers Rs 7.5 lakh (assault/inmate conflict) or Rs 5 lakh (negligence/suicide); the Jail Superintendent submits inquiry findings; a departmental committee recommends the category; the NHRC is informed only after disbursement, not before.

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