Special Provisions For Certain Classes MCQs

The 105th Constitutional Amendment Act restored the power of which entity to identify and maintain their own list of SEBCs?

National Commission
Supreme Court
President of India
State Governments

Explanation: The 105th Amendment Act (2021) clarified that the 102nd Amendment did not take away the power of State Governments to identify and maintain their own state lists of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs).

In the landmark Indra Sawhney case (1992), the Supreme Court directed the government to create a permanent statutory body to examine complaints of over-inclusion or under-inclusion of OBCs. This body was the:

NCBC
NITI Aayog
Human Rights Commission
Minority Commission

Explanation: Following the Supreme Court's direction in the Mandal case (Indra Sawhney), the government enacted the National Commission for Backward Classes Act in 1993 to set up the NCBC as a permanent statutory body.

The Chairman and members of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) are appointed by the:

Chief Justice
Prime Minister
President of India
Union Home Minister

Explanation: According to Article 338A, the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and other Members of the NCST are appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.

Which commission was appointed under Article 340 to investigate the conditions of the socially and educationally backward classes in 1979?

Sachar Committee
Mandal Commission
Kalelkar Commission
Rohini Commission

Explanation: The Second Backward Classes Commission, commonly known as the Mandal Commission, was established in 1979 by the Morarji Desai government to identify socially or educationally backward classes.

According to the 102nd Amendment, any change to the Central List of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs) requires:

Order of the NCBC
Presidential Decree
Parliamentary Law
State Assembly Law

Explanation: Article 342A(2), inserted by the 102nd Amendment, stipulates that only Parliament may by law include in or exclude from the Central List of socially and educationally backward classes specified in a notification.

Are the recommendations of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) binding on the Government of India regarding the inclusion of a community in the central list?

Purely advisory in nature
Absolutely binding
Binding on states
Binding on Union

Explanation: The advice of the NCBC is ordinarily binding according to the NCBC Act of 1993, but constitutionally, like other commissions under Article 338, their overarching recommendations are advisory and the government can reject them with valid reasons.

Are members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes legally permitted to contest elections from unreserved (general) constituencies?

Requires ECI permit
Strictly prohibited
Allowed legally
Only in UTs

Explanation: The reservation of seats does not restrict SC or ST candidates from contesting from unreserved (general) seats. They enjoy the right to contest from general constituencies just like any other citizen.

Which Commission is mandated by the Constitution to participate and advise on the planning process of socio-economic development of the Scheduled Tribes?

NITI Aayog Panel
National Dev Council
Ministry of Tribal
NCST under Art 338A

Explanation: Under Article 338A(5)(c), it is the specific duty of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes to participate and advise on the planning process of socio-economic development of the STs.

The Commission appointed under Article 340 of the Constitution is primarily tasked with investigating the conditions of which specific group?

Scheduled Tribes
Educationally backward
Scheduled Castes
Religious minorities

Explanation: Article 340 empowers the President to appoint a commission to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes and the difficulties under which they labour.

Which Constitutional Amendment freed the state of Bihar from the obligation of having a Minister in charge of Tribal Welfare, extending it instead to Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh?

91st Amendment
94th Amendment
89th Amendment
97th Amendment

Explanation: The 94th Amendment Act of 2006 amended Article 164(1), exempting Bihar from the requirement of a Tribal Welfare Minister, and extending the provision to the newly formed states of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

Article 342 states that the President may, with respect to any State, specify the tribes or tribal communities after consultation with the:

NCST Chairperson
State Legislature
Chief Minister
Governor thereof

Explanation: Article 342 provides that the President may, with respect to any State or Union territory, and where it is a State, after consultation with the Governor thereof, issue a public notification specifying the tribes.

The power to declare any area as a 'Scheduled Area' under the Fifth Schedule rests with the:

President of India
Union Home Minister
Tribal Affairs Min
Governor of State

Explanation: Under the Fifth Schedule, the President is empowered to declare an area to be a Scheduled Area. He can also alter its boundaries or revoke the declaration in consultation with the Governor.

Which specific Article provides the constitutional definition of the term 'Anglo-Indian'?

Article 366(2)
Article 341
Article 331
Article 342

Explanation: Article 366(2) defines an 'Anglo-Indian' as a person whose father or any of whose other male progenitors in the male line is or was of European descent but who is domiciled within the territory of India.

A person belonging to a Scheduled Caste completely loses their SC status and associated benefits if they convert to which of the following religions?

Hinduism
Buddhism
Christianity
Sikhism

Explanation: According to the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, only persons professing the Hindu, Sikh, or Buddhist religions can be deemed to be members of a Scheduled Caste. Conversion to Christianity or Islam results in the loss of SC status.

Which constitutional amendment added Article 16(4A) to enable the State to provide reservation in matters of promotion for SCs and STs?

77th Amendment
81st Amendment
85th Amendment
82nd Amendment

Explanation: The 77th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1995 inserted Article 16(4A) which empowers the state to make provisions for reservation in matters of promotion for SCs and STs.

The National Commission set up in 2014 under the chairmanship of Bhiku Ramji Idate was formed specifically to look into the grievances of:

Manual Scavengers
Transgender Rights
Denotified Tribes
Linguistic Minorities

Explanation: The National Commission for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (NCDNT) was constituted under the chairmanship of Bhiku Ramji Idate to prepare a state-wise list and assess the progress of these tribes.

Who appoints the Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities under Article 350B of the Constitution?

Parliament
President of India
Prime Minister
Chief Justice

Explanation: Article 350B mandates that there shall be a Special Officer for linguistic minorities to be appointed by the President of India.

The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK), which investigates specific grievances regarding manual scavengers, currently functions as a:

Non-statutory body
Corporate entity
Constitutional body
Statutory body

Explanation: The NCSK was established as a statutory body in 1993, but the Act lapsed in 2004. Since then, it has been acting as a non-statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment via executive orders.

If a report of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) relates to any matter concerning a State Government, a copy of such report must be forwarded to the:

State Assembly
High Court CJ
Chief Minister
State Governor

Explanation: Under Article 338B(7), where an NCBC report relates to a State, a copy must be forwarded to the Governor of the State, who shall cause it to be laid before the Legislature of the State.

Under Article 338, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes has the powers of a civil court trying a suit, particularly in respect of:

Arresting officials
Enacting new laws
Imposing heavy fines
Summoning witnesses

Explanation: While investigating matters or inquiring into complaints, the Commission has the powers of a civil court trying a suit, which includes summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining them on oath.

Which Article provides for the appointment of a Commission by the President to report on the administration of Scheduled Areas and the welfare of STs?

Article 339
Article 340
Article 338
Article 341

Explanation: Article 339 deals with the control of the Union over the administration of Scheduled Areas. It empowers the President to appoint a commission to report on the administration of these areas and the welfare of STs.

To give effect to the 93rd Constitutional Amendment, the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006 mandated what specific quota for OBCs?

22.5 percent
10 percent
15 percent
27 percent

Explanation: The Act mandated a 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in all central higher educational institutions, including IITs and IIMs.

Which Constitutional Amendment protected the 'carry forward' rule, ensuring that unfilled reserved vacancies are treated as a separate class of vacancies for subsequent years?

82nd Amendment
85th Amendment
81st Amendment
77th Amendment

Explanation: The 81st Amendment Act of 2000 inserted Article 16(4B), which allows the state to consider unfilled reserved vacancies of a year as a separate class, exempting them from the 50% ceiling limit on reservations.

What are the specific criteria explicitly laid down in the text of the Constitution for declaring a community as a Scheduled Tribe?

Educational deficit
Geographic isolation
No criteria laid down
Primitive traits

Explanation: The Constitution itself does not define or lay down any specific criteria for specifying a community as a Scheduled Tribe. The criteria (like primitive traits, distinct culture) are based on established administrative conventions.

Any inclusion or exclusion from the list of Scheduled Castes notified by the President under Article 341 can only be done by:

Union Cabinet
Supreme Court Order
Parliament by law
Presidential Order

Explanation: Once the Presidential list of Scheduled Castes is promulgated, any subsequent modification (inclusion or exclusion) can only be made by an Act of Parliament, not by a subsequent Presidential notification.

The 103rd Amendment Act, 2019, which introduced a 10% quota for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), amended which specific Articles?

Articles 29 and 30
Articles 338 and 340
Arts 15 & 16
Articles 330 and 332

Explanation: The 103rd Amendment introduced EWS reservation by adding new clauses, Article 15(6) and Article 16(6), enabling the state to make special provisions for economically weaker sections.

Which specific Article of the Constitution contains the definition of 'Scheduled Castes', referring to those deemed under Article 341?

Article 338
Article 366(25)
Article 342A
Article 366(24)

Explanation: Article 366(24) defines 'Scheduled Castes' as such castes, races or tribes or parts of or groups within such castes, races or tribes as are deemed under Article 341 to be Scheduled Castes for the purposes of this Constitution.

Originally, Article 334 stipulated that the reservation of seats and special representation would cease after how many years from the commencement of the Constitution?

Fifteen years
Twenty years
Ten years
Twenty-five years

Explanation: In the original Constitution, Article 334 specified that the reservation of seats for SCs/STs and the representation of Anglo-Indians would expire after a period of ten years (i.e., in 1960).

What is the fixed term of office for the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Members of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC)?

Two years
Five years
Four years
Three years

Explanation: According to the rules framed by the President under Article 338, the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and other Members of the NCSC hold office for a term of three years from the date of assumption of charge.

Article 335 was amended by the 82nd Amendment Act (2000) to allow relaxation in qualifying marks for SCs and STs in examinations for:

Promotion in jobs
University admissions
Private sector jobs
Initial recruitment

Explanation: The 82nd Amendment added a proviso to Article 335 enabling the state to make provisions for relaxation in qualifying marks or lowering standards of evaluation for reservation in matters of promotion for SCs and STs.

Which Constitutional Amendment provided for 'consequential seniority' in the case of promotion by virtue of rule of reservation for government servants belonging to SCs and STs?

85th Amendment
82nd Amendment
77th Amendment
81st Amendment

Explanation: The 85th Amendment Act, 2001 amended Article 16(4A) to provide for consequential seniority in the case of promotion by virtue of rule of reservation for government servants belonging to the SCs and STs.

The special provisions for the administration of tribal areas in the North-Eastern states, establishing Autonomous District Councils, are contained in the:

Seventh Schedule
Ninth Schedule
Sixth Schedule
Fifth Schedule

Explanation: The Sixth Schedule contains special provisions for the administration of tribal areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram, granting them significant autonomy.

Once the President issues the initial notification specifying the list of Scheduled Tribes for a state under Article 342, who holds the exclusive power to modify this list?

Parliament by law
State Legislature
Supreme Court
Union Cabinet

Explanation: Similar to the provision for Scheduled Castes, Article 342(2) states that only Parliament may by law include in or exclude from the list of Scheduled Tribes specified in a notification issued by the President.

The power of the state to make special provisions for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes was added by which amendment?

42nd Amendment
First Amendment
Ninth Amendment
24th Amendment

Explanation: The First Constitutional Amendment Act of 1951 added Article 15(4), empowering the state to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes or for SCs and STs.

The conditions of service and tenure of office of the Chairperson of the National Commission for Backward Classes are determined by the:

President by rule
Parliamentary law
The Supreme Court
The Union Cabinet

Explanation: Under Article 338B(2), the conditions of service and tenure of office of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and other Members of the NCBC shall be such as the President may by rule determine.

Which Part of the Indian Constitution is exclusively dedicated to 'Special Provisions relating to Certain Classes'?

Part XVI
Part XIV
Part XVII
Part XV

Explanation: Part XVI of the Constitution, spanning Articles 330 to 342A, contains special provisions regarding reservation and protection for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes, and Anglo-Indians.

The 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019, which created a quota for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), capped the maximum reservation limit for this category at:

10 percent
20 percent
15 percent
5 percent

Explanation: The 103rd Amendment Act enabled the State to make reservations for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in admissions and public employment up to a maximum of 10 percent, in addition to the existing reservations.

Which Article provides for the appointment of a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities to investigate all matters relating to the safeguards provided for them?

Article 350B
Article 350A
Article 338A
Article 340

Explanation: Article 350B, inserted by the 7th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1956, provides for a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities to be appointed by the President to investigate matters relating to constitutional safeguards for linguistic minorities.

Which committee was constituted in 2017 to examine the sub-categorization of Other Backward Classes (OBCs)?

Sachar Committee
Mandal Commission
Justice Rohini Panel
Kalelkar Commission

Explanation: The Justice G. Rohini Commission was established under Article 340 in 2017 to examine the sub-categorization of OBCs to ensure equitable distribution of reservation benefits.

Who was the chairman of the First Backward Classes Commission appointed in 1953 under Article 340?

B.P. Mandal
Justice G. Rohini
Kaka Kalelkar
Morarji Desai

Explanation: The First Backward Classes Commission was appointed by the President in 1953 under the chairmanship of Kaka Kalelkar to identify criteria for social and educational backwardness.

Under the Tenth Schedule, a nominated Anglo-Indian member of the Lok Sabha would be disqualified if they joined any political party after the expiry of:

Twelve months
Nine months
Three months
Six months

Explanation: A nominated member of a House (including the erstwhile nominated Anglo-Indians) is disqualified from being a member if they join any political party after the expiry of six months from the date they took their seat.

The Anglo-Indian community was provided nominated representation in the Lok Sabha under which Article, before its cessation in 2020?

Article 333
Article 331
Article 330
Article 332

Explanation: Article 331 allowed the President to nominate members of the Anglo-Indian community to the Lok Sabha if they were not adequately represented. This provision was not extended by the 104th Amendment.

The total number of seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes in the Lok Sabha after the 2008 delimitation exercise is:

47 seats
84 seats
61 seats
52 seats

Explanation: Following the 2008 delimitation based on the 2001 census, 84 seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and 47 seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Lok Sabha.

The 65th Constitutional Amendment Act (1990) established a multi-member National Commission for SCs and STs, replacing the system of:

Welfare Minister
Tribal Council
A Special Officer
Joint Committee

Explanation: Originally, Article 338 provided for a 'Special Officer' (Commissioner for SCs and STs). The 65th Amendment replaced this single-officer system with a high-level, multi-member National Commission.

The 104th Amendment Act did NOT extend the reservation for which community, effectively ending their nominated representation in 2020?

Anglo-Indians
Backward Classes
Scheduled Castes
Scheduled Tribes

Explanation: While the 104th Amendment extended the political reservations for SCs and STs in legislatures for another 10 years, it conspicuously omitted extending the nomination provisions for the Anglo-Indian community.

Before the 104th Amendment, the President could nominate how many members of the Anglo-Indian community to the Lok Sabha?

Four members
Two members
Three members
Twelve members

Explanation: Under the now-repealed provision of Article 331, the President had the power to nominate a maximum of two members of the Anglo-Indian community to the Lok Sabha.

The provision requiring the State of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha to have a Minister in charge of tribal welfare is found in:

Sixth Schedule
Article 164(1)
Article 338A
Fifth Schedule

Explanation: Article 164(1) mandates that in the states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha, there shall be a Minister in charge of tribal welfare who may also look after the welfare of SCs and backward classes.

Under Article 335, the claims of SCs and STs to services and posts shall be taken into consideration consistently with the maintenance of:

Distributive justice
Economic parity
Efficiency of admin
Social equality

Explanation: Article 335 stipulates that the claims of the members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes shall be taken into consideration, consistently with the maintenance of efficiency of administration, in the making of appointments.

Under Article 332, seats are reserved for SCs and STs in the Legislative Assembly of every State on the basis of:

Economic backwardness
Population proportion
Literacy levels
Historical disadvantage

Explanation: Article 332 specifies that the number of seats reserved for SCs and STs in a State Assembly shall bear the same proportion to the total number of seats as their population bears to the total population of the State.

Who is constitutionally responsible for causing the reports of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) to be laid before each House of Parliament?

Social Justice Minister
President of India
Prime Minister
Speaker of Lok Sabha

Explanation: Under Article 338B(6), the President shall cause all such reports of the NCBC to be laid before each House of Parliament along with a memorandum explaining the action taken.

Which Amendment Act extended the reservation of seats for SCs and STs in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies up to the year 2030?

104th Amendment
105th Amendment
102nd Amendment
103rd Amendment

Explanation: The 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019, extended the deadline for the cessation of seats for SCs and STs in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies by ten years, up to January 25, 2030.

Which body serves as the nodal ministry for the overall policy, planning, and coordination of programs for the development of Scheduled Castes?

NITI Aayog
Tribal Affairs Min
Min of Social Justice
Ministry of Home

Explanation: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is the nodal ministry for the welfare, social justice, and empowerment of disadvantaged sections, including Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes.

Under Article 341, when the President notifies a list of Scheduled Castes, that specification is deemed to be valid only in relation to:

A specific State or UT
All linguistic zones
Central government jobs
The entire nation equally

Explanation: The notification of Scheduled Castes under Article 341 is strictly state/UT specific. A community classified as an SC in one state may not be classified as an SC in another state.

Under Article 338(9), which authorities are constitutionally mandated to consult the National Commission for Scheduled Castes on all major policy matters affecting SCs?

Only Union Government
NITI Aayog and Centre
Only State Governments
Both Union and States

Explanation: Article 338(9) strictly obligates both the Union Government and every State Government to consult the NCSC on all major policy matters affecting Scheduled Castes.

Who has the sole authority to initially specify the castes, races, or tribes to be deemed as Scheduled Castes in relation to a State under Article 341?

Parliament
Supreme Court
President of India
State Governor

Explanation: Under Article 341, the President, after consultation with the Governor of a State, is authorized to issue the initial order specifying the castes, races, or tribes deemed to be Scheduled Castes.

The special provision under Article 333 allowed the Governor to nominate a member of the Anglo-Indian community to the State Assembly if:

They requested it
Not adequately rep.
They had no elected MP
Population was high

Explanation: Article 333 stated that the Governor of a State may, if he is of the opinion that the Anglo-Indian community needs representation and is not adequately represented in the Legislative Assembly, nominate one member.

Which Article was added by the 102nd Amendment Act (2018) to confer constitutional status on the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)?

Article 338A
Article 342A
New Article 338B
Article 340A

Explanation: The 102nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 2018 inserted a new Article 338B in the Constitution, providing constitutional status to the previously statutory National Commission for Backward Classes.

The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) was created by inserting Article 338A through which Constitutional Amendment?

89th Amendment Act
92nd Amendment
65th Amendment
Eighty-Sixth Act

Explanation: The 89th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2003 bifurcated the combined National Commission for SCs and STs into two separate bodies, establishing the NCST under the new Article 338A.

The claims of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to services and posts under Article 335 apply to appointments made in connection with the affairs of:

State affairs only
Union affairs only
Local bodies only
Both Union and States

Explanation: Article 335 clearly states that the claims of SCs and STs shall be taken into consideration in the making of appointments to services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or of a State.

Under Article 330, the reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribes in the Lok Sabha for the State of Assam specifically applies to tribes in the:

Bodo Territorial Area
Barak Valley districts
Karbi Anglong only
Autonomous districts

Explanation: Article 330 guarantees reservation for STs in the Lok Sabha. However, for Assam, it explicitly reserves seats for the Scheduled Tribes in the autonomous districts.

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