This is Set 15 of 42 in the smartvidya question bank on the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964. Part III: Media, criticism, evidence and information. This set covers Rule 10 (evidence before committees and its exceptions) and Rule 11 (RTI, unauthorised communication, quoting documents).
Try each question first, then tap Show answer to see the correct option, a short explanation and the rule reference. The gift limits in Rule 13(3) are as revised in 2019, and share-trading intimation follows the DoPT OM of 07.02.2019.
Set 15: Rules 10 and 11 – Evidence and communication of information
1. Under Rule 10(1), what does a Government servant need before giving evidence in an enquiry conducted by any person, committee or authority?
(a) Previous sanction of the Government, unless the case falls under Rule 10(3)
(b) Intimation within one month
(c) Nothing in any case
(d) Previous knowledge of his Head of Office
Ans. (a) Previous sanction of the Government, unless the case falls under Rule 10(3) — Explanation: Rule 10(1) requires the previous sanction of the Government, save as provided in sub-rule (3), which lists the exempt enquiries. [Ref: Rule 10(1)]
2. Where sanction is given under Rule 10(1), what may the Government servant NOT do while giving evidence?
(a) Criticise the policy or any action of the Central Government or of a State Government
(b) Refer to published documents
(c) Reply to questions put to him
(d) State facts within his knowledge
Ans. (a) Criticise the policy or any action of the Central Government or of a State Government — Explanation: Rule 10(2) bars criticism of the policy or any action of the Central or a State Government while giving such evidence. [Ref: Rule 10(2)]
3. Which of the following enquiries is exempt from Rule 10, so that no sanction is needed to give evidence?
(a) An enquiry by an NGO
(b) An enquiry before an authority appointed by the Government, by Parliament or by a State Legislature
(c) An enquiry by a private commission set up by a political party
(d) An enquiry by a newspaper
Ans. (b) An enquiry before an authority appointed by the Government, by Parliament or by a State Legislature — Explanation: Rule 10(3) exempts evidence given at an enquiry before an authority appointed by the Government, Parliament or a State Legislature. [Ref: Rule 10(3)]
4. Does a Government servant need sanction under Rule 10 to give evidence in a court case as a witness?
(a) No, evidence in any judicial enquiry is exempt under Rule 10(3)
(b) Yes, previous sanction is required
(c) Only if the case is against the Government
(d) Only if he is a Group 'A' officer
Ans. (a) No, evidence in any judicial enquiry is exempt under Rule 10(3) — Explanation: Rule 10(3) exempts evidence given in any judicial enquiry. [Ref: Rule 10(3)]
5. A Government servant is summoned as a witness in a departmental enquiry ordered by his Head of Department. Does Rule 10(1) apply?
(a) Only if the enquiry is about corruption
(b) No, evidence at a departmental enquiry ordered by authorities subordinate to the Government is exempt
(c) Yes, he needs sanction of the Government
(d) Only if the charged officer is senior to him
Ans. (b) No, evidence at a departmental enquiry ordered by authorities subordinate to the Government is exempt — Explanation: Rule 10(3) exempts evidence given at any departmental enquiry ordered by authorities subordinate to the Government. [Ref: Rule 10(3)]
6. A Government servant is invited to depose before a commission set up by a private trade body. What is required?
(a) Nothing, as it is a private body
(b) Only intimation to the Head of Office
(c) Sanction of the trade body
(d) Previous sanction of the Government under Rule 10(1)
Ans. (d) Previous sanction of the Government under Rule 10(1) — Explanation: A commission set up by a private body is not among the exempt enquiries in Rule 10(3), so previous sanction is needed. [Ref: Rule 10(1), (3)]
7. How many categories of evidence are exempted by Rule 10(3)?
(a) Three
(b) Two
(c) Five
(d) Four
Ans. (a) Three — Explanation: The three exempt categories are evidence before an authority appointed by the Government, Parliament or a State Legislature; evidence in a judicial enquiry; and evidence at a departmental enquiry ordered by subordinate authorities. [Ref: Rule 10(3)]
8. Consider these statements about Rule 10: 1. Evidence before a Parliamentary committee needs no sanction. 2. Evidence in a judicial enquiry needs no sanction. 3. When giving sanctioned evidence, a Government servant may criticise State Government policy. Which are correct?
(a) 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 1 and 2 only
Ans. (d) 1 and 2 only — Explanation: Enquiries by authorities appointed by Parliament and judicial enquiries are exempt. Rule 10(2) bars criticism of both Central and State Government policy. [Ref: Rule 10]
9. Rule 11 first requires every Government servant, in performance of his duties in good faith, to communicate information to a person in accordance with which law?
(a) The Public Records Act, 1993
(b) The Right to Information Act, 2005 and the rules made under it
(c) The Indian Evidence Act, 1872
(d) The Official Secrets Act, 1923 only
Ans. (b) The Right to Information Act, 2005 and the rules made under it — Explanation: After amendment, Rule 11 begins by requiring Government servants to communicate information in accordance with the Right to Information Act, 2005 and its rules. [Ref: Rule 11]
10. Under Rule 11, a Government servant shall not communicate any official document or classified information to a person to whom he is not authorised to communicate it, EXCEPT:
(a) When a Member of Parliament asks for it privately
(b) When the person is a relative
(c) When the document is more than ten years old
(d) In accordance with any general or special order of the Government or in the performance in good faith of duties assigned to him
Ans. (d) In accordance with any general or special order of the Government or in the performance in good faith of duties assigned to him — Explanation: Rule 11 allows communication only in accordance with a general or special order of the Government or in good-faith performance of assigned duties. [Ref: Rule 11]
11. Under the Explanation to Rule 11, quoting from which documents in a representation amounts to unauthorised communication?
(a) Letters, circulars, office memoranda or file notes to which he is not authorised to have access or which he is not authorised to keep
(b) Published rules and manuals
(c) Any Gazette notification
(d) His own pay slip
Ans. (a) Letters, circulars, office memoranda or file notes to which he is not authorised to have access or which he is not authorised to keep — Explanation: The Explanation covers quoting from any letter, circular, office memorandum or notes on file to which he is not authorised to have access, or which he is not authorised to keep in personal custody or for personal purposes. [Ref: Rule 11, Explanation]
12. A Government servant quotes from confidential file notings, which he had no authority to access, in his appeal to the President. How is this treated?
(a) As permitted, since it concerns his own case
(b) As permitted, since it is addressed to the President
(c) As unauthorised communication of information under Rule 11
(d) As a breach only if the appeal is rejected
Ans. (c) As unauthorised communication of information under Rule 11 — Explanation: The Explanation to Rule 11 says quoting such material in a representation to the Head of Office, Head of Department, President or any other authority amounts to unauthorised communication. [Ref: Rule 11, Explanation]
13. Which of the following authorities is expressly mentioned in the Explanation to Rule 11 as a recipient of representations?
(a) The Election Commission
(b) The Supreme Court
(c) The President
(d) The Press Council
Ans. (c) The President — Explanation: The Explanation mentions representations to the Head of Office, Head of Department, President or any other authority. [Ref: Rule 11, Explanation]
14. A Public Information Officer supplies information to an applicant strictly as required under the RTI Act. Does this breach Rule 11?
(a) Only if the information is about a senior officer
(b) Yes, all official information is confidential
(c) No, Rule 11 requires him to communicate information in accordance with the RTI Act
(d) Yes, unless the Head of Department approves each reply
Ans. (c) No, Rule 11 requires him to communicate information in accordance with the RTI Act — Explanation: Rule 11 expressly requires communication of information in accordance with the Right to Information Act, 2005. [Ref: Rule 11]
15. Rule 11 bars communication of official documents or classified information:
(a) Only to foreign nationals
(b) Directly or indirectly
(c) Only to the press
(d) Only in writing
Ans. (b) Directly or indirectly — Explanation: The rule bars communication "directly or indirectly" to any Government servant or any other person not authorised to receive it. [Ref: Rule 11]
16. A Section Officer passes a copy of a draft tender evaluation to a friend who works for a bidder. Which rule is directly breached?
(a) Rule 8
(b) Rule 11
(c) Rule 10
(d) Rule 14
Ans. (b) Rule 11 — Explanation: Passing an official document to an unauthorised person breaches Rule 11; it would also breach integrity under Rule 3 and may attract criminal law. [Ref: Rule 11]
17. Rule 11 bars unauthorised communication of official documents to:
(a) Only foreign agents
(b) Any Government servant or any other person not authorised to receive them
(c) Only journalists
(d) Only persons outside Government
Ans. (b) Any Government servant or any other person not authorised to receive them — Explanation: The rule covers communication to "any Government servant or any other person" not authorised to receive the document or information. [Ref: Rule 11]
18. A Government servant, while preparing his appeal, uses a copy of a circular that was supplied to him officially and that he is allowed to keep. Is this barred by the Explanation to Rule 11?
(a) Only if the circular is marked "confidential"
(b) Yes, unless the Head of Office approves
(c) No, the Explanation targets documents he is not authorised to access or keep
(d) Yes, all quotations are barred
Ans. (c) No, the Explanation targets documents he is not authorised to access or keep — Explanation: The Explanation covers only documents to which he is not authorised to have access or which he is not authorised to keep in personal custody. [Ref: Rule 11, Explanation]
19. Which rule would be breached if a Government servant gave evidence without sanction before a committee set up by a private university?
(a) Rule 11
(b) Rule 15(1)
(c) Rule 10(1)
(d) Rule 9(i)
Ans. (c) Rule 10(1) — Explanation: A committee set up by a private university is not among the exempt enquiries, so previous sanction under Rule 10(1) is required. [Ref: Rule 10(1)]
20. An enquiry commission appointed by the Central Government under the Commissions of Inquiry Act calls a Government servant as a witness. What is the position under Rule 10?
(a) No sanction is needed, since it is an authority appointed by the Government
(b) Sanction is needed from the President
(c) Sanction is needed from the Head of Office
(d) He must decline to appear
Ans. (a) No sanction is needed, since it is an authority appointed by the Government — Explanation: Evidence before an authority appointed by the Government is exempt under Rule 10(3). [Ref: Rule 10(3)]
21. Consider these statements about Rule 11: 1. It requires communication of information in accordance with the RTI Act. 2. It permits communication of official documents to relatives. 3. Quoting unauthorised file notes in a representation is unauthorised communication. Which are correct?
(a) 2 and 3 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1 and 2 only
Ans. (c) 1 and 3 only — Explanation: The first and third restate the RTI clause and the Explanation. There is no permission to pass official documents to relatives. [Ref: Rule 11]
22. Rule 11 applies to "classified information" and also to:
(a) Only financial documents
(b) Only documents marked "Top Secret"
(c) Only documents signed by a Secretary
(d) Any official document or any part of it
Ans. (d) Any official document or any part of it — Explanation: Rule 11 covers "any official document or any part thereof or classified information". [Ref: Rule 11]
23. Which rule forbids criticism of Government policy by a Government servant giving sanctioned evidence?
(a) Rule 9(iii)
(b) Rule 10(3)
(c) Rule 11
(d) Rule 10(2)
Ans. (d) Rule 10(2) — Explanation: Rule 10(2) specifically bars such criticism when giving evidence with sanction. [Ref: Rule 10(2)]
24. Rule 10(3) exempts departmental enquiries ordered by which authorities?
(a) Only the President
(b) Only State Governments
(c) Only the Central Vigilance Commission
(d) Authorities subordinate to the Government
Ans. (d) Authorities subordinate to the Government — Explanation: Rule 10(3) exempts evidence at any departmental enquiry ordered by authorities subordinate to the Government. [Ref: Rule 10(3)]
25. A Government servant receives an RTI request in his capacity as a PIO and deliberately releases exempt personal information about a colleague to harm him. Is he protected by the RTI clause of Rule 11?
(a) No, the protection is for communicating information in accordance with the RTI Act in good faith
(b) Yes, any disclosure under RTI is protected
(c) Only if the colleague consents later
(d) Yes, if the applicant paid the fee
Ans. (a) No, the protection is for communicating information in accordance with the RTI Act in good faith — Explanation: Rule 11 requires good-faith communication in accordance with the RTI Act and its rules. Deliberate disclosure of exempt information to harm someone is neither. [Ref: Rule 11]
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These questions are prepared for practice from the text of the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964 and related Government of India instructions. Always check the latest DoPT orders before relying on any point for official decisions.