Schools of Hindu Law — MCQs

All questions with answers and explanations

Read the full set here, or use the practice card above to test yourself one question at a time.

1. The Mitakshara school is based on a commentary by which author on the Yajnavalkya Smriti?

   • Jimutavahana
   • Vijnaneshwara (correct answer)
   • Manu
   • Narada

   Explanation. The Mitakshara is a commentary by Vijnaneshwara on the Yajnavalkya Smriti.

2. The Dayabhaga school prevails in which part of India?

   • All India
   • Bengal and Assam (correct answer)
   • Southern India
   • Punjab

   Explanation. Dayabhaga, based on Jimutavahana's digest, prevails only in Bengal and Assam; Mitakshara governs everywhere else.

3. Under the Mitakshara school, when does a son acquire a coparcenary interest in ancestral property?

   • Only after his father's death
   • From the moment of his birth (correct answer)
   • Only after marriage
   • Only after demanding partition

   Explanation. Under Mitakshara, a son (and now a daughter) acquires a coparcenary interest by birth, not on the father's death.

4. Under the Dayabhaga school, how do coparceners hold their shares?

   • As joint tenants with a fluctuating interest
   • As tenants-in-common with a fixed, definite share (correct answer)
   • They cannot hold any share
   • As trustees for the eldest son

   Explanation. Dayabhaga treats coparceners as tenants-in-common, each with a fixed, ascertained share — unlike Mitakshara's undivided, fluctuating interest.

5. How many recognised sub-schools does the Mitakshara school have?

   • Two
   • Three
   • Four (correct answer)
   • Six

   Explanation. Mitakshara has four recognised sub-schools: Benares, Mithila, Maharashtra (Bombay), and Dravida (Madras).

6. Which Mitakshara sub-school governs Southern India?

   • Benares
   • Mithila
   • Maharashtra (Bombay)
   • Dravida (Madras) (correct answer)

   Explanation. The Dravida (Madras) sub-school governs Southern India.

7. Under Dayabhaga, why can a coparcener sell or mortgage their share even before formal partition?

   • Because Dayabhaga has no rules on alienation
   • Because their share is fixed and known in advance (correct answer)
   • Because they are not really coparceners
   • Because the father must approve every sale anyway

   Explanation. Since each Dayabhaga coparcener's share is definite and ascertained (not fluctuating as in Mitakshara), they can freely deal with it even before partition.

8. Does Dayabhaga recognise its own sub-schools the way Mitakshara does?

   • Yes, it has five sub-schools
   • Yes, it has two sub-schools
   • No, Dayabhaga has no sub-schools (correct answer)
   • Only in Assam

   Explanation. The Dayabhaga governs Bengal and Assam and has no sub-schools. The Mitakshara has four: Benares, Mithila, Maharashtra (Bombay) and Dravida (Madras).