Laxmikanth MCQs: National Commission for BCs | Indian Polity for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Ans: (a)

• Statement 1: True. The 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, 2018, granted constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) by inserting Article 338B into the Indian Constitution. This empowered the NCBC to oversee the inclusion and welfare of socially and educationally backward classes.
• Statement 2: True. Prior to this amendment, the NCBC operated as a statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment since its establishment in 1993 under the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993.

Thus, both statements are correct, and the answer is (a).

Ans: (b)

The Indra Sawhney case of 1992, also known as the Mandal Commission case, was a landmark judgment by the Supreme Court of India. Key directives included:

1. The Court upheld the reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) but limited it to 50%, barring exceptional circumstances.
2. It directed the government to establish a permanent body for examining and recommending the inclusion or exclusion of groups in the list of backward classes. This led to the creation of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) in 1993.

Thus, the correct answer is (b) To create a permanent body for backward classes.

Ans: (c)
The 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, 2018, introduced two key Articles:

1. Article 338B: This established the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) as a constitutional body, detailing its composition, powers, and duties.
2. Article 342A: This provided for the President to notify the list of socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs) for any state or union territory, in consultation with the respective state governments.

These Articles were added to enhance the constitutional framework for backward classes' welfare.

Thus, the correct answer is (c) Article 338B and 342A.

Ans: (a)

• Article 338B: This article establishes the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) as a constitutional body. It is empowered to examine complaints and oversee the welfare of backward classes, making 1-C correct.
• Article 342A: This article empowers the President to notify the list of socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs) in consultation with the respective states, making 2-A correct.
• Article 340: This deals with the identification and recommendations for backward classes, empowering the government to appoint a commission for investigating the conditions of backward classes and making recommendations, making 3-B correct.

Thus, the correct matching is (a) 1-C, 2-A, 3-B.

Ans: (c)

The 102nd Constitution Amendment Act transformed the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) into a constitutional body under Article 338B. A significant new function assigned to the NCBC is the authority to:

1. Examine complaints and provide redressal for grievances of socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs).
2. Ensure the implementation of welfare measures for SEBCs.

This function aligns the NCBC’s role with other constitutional commissions like the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST).

Thus, the correct answer is (c) To engage in grievance redress of backward classes.

Ans: (b)

• Assertion (A): True. The recommendations of the NCBC are not binding on the government, similar to the recommendations made by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST). The government may choose to act or not act on these recommendations.
• Reasoning (R): True. The NCBC does not have the responsibility to define backwardness; instead, this is a function of the legislature and executive, as guided by constitutional provisions like Article 342A.

However, the reason (R) does not directly explain the assertion (A), as the non-binding nature of recommendations is unrelated to the responsibility of defining backwardness.

Thus, the correct answer is (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.

Ans: (a)

Article 342A, introduced by the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, enhances transparency by requiring the approval of Parliament for changes to the list of socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs). The key changes are:

1. The President specifies the SEBCs for a state or union territory in consultation with the state government.
2. Any subsequent inclusion or exclusion from the backward class list must be approved by Parliament, ensuring accountability and transparency in the process.

• Option (b): Judicial review is not mandated under Article 342A.
• Option (c): The President acts in consultation with the state, not solely at their discretion.
• Option (d): There is no provision for automatic inclusion of all castes.

Thus, the correct answer is (a) Mandatory parliamentary approval for backward class lists.

Ans: All statements are correct.
Statement 1 is correct as it reflects the issue that the NCBC's recommendations are not mandatory for the government to follow, which hampers the commission's influence over caste inclusion in the BC list.
Statement 2 accurately points out a problem with the NCBC's structure, noting it doesn't meet the Supreme Court's expectations for an expert body composition, which is essential for addressing complex issues of backwardness.
Statement 3 is true to the text's suggestions for enhancing the effectiveness of caste-based reservations by advocating for the transparency of the caste census and the commission's findings. This is aimed at ensuring that reservation policies are data-driven and benefit the intended groups.

Ans: (c)

The Indra Sawhney case of 1992 directed the creation of a permanent body to handle backward class matters. However, the new NCBC established under Article 338B has been criticized for lacking the features of an expert body, as:

1. It is primarily focused on grievance redressal and welfare monitoring rather than conducting in-depth research or making authoritative recommendations on backwardness.
2. Its role is similar to constitutional commissions like the NCSC or NCST, rather than the expert functions envisioned by the Supreme Court.

• Option (a): The NCBC does not define backwardness; this function remains with the legislature and executive.
• Option (b): Its recommendations are not binding on the government.
• Option (d): The powers of the President have not been reduced; the President still specifies the backward class lists under Article 342A.

Thus, the correct answer is (c) It lacks the features of an expert body as directed by the Supreme Court.

Ans: (c)

The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) has been criticized for not having the features of an expert body, as directed by the Supreme Court in the Indra Sawhney case. To enhance its effectiveness, the following suggestion has been proposed:

1. Inclusion of domain experts such as sociologists, anthropologists, and statisticians in its composition to strengthen its research and advisory capabilities.
2. Shifting its focus beyond grievance redressal to in-depth analysis, identification, and categorization of backward classes.

• Option (a): Providing legislative powers is not feasible, as the NCBC is a constitutional body.
• Option (b): Including members from political backgrounds may compromise its impartiality.
• Option (d): While making its recommendations binding may increase its impact, the primary issue lies in its lack of expertise and analytical capacity.

Thus, the correct answer is (c) To reflect the feature of an expert body in its composition.

Ans: (d)
The 123rd Constitution Amendment Bill was introduced to strengthen the NCBC, not to replace the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. The 102nd Constitution Amendment Act does provide for the establishment of a National Commission for Backward Classes as Constitutional body.

Ans: (b)

Article 340 of the Indian Constitution empowers the President of India to:

1. Appoint a commission to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs).
2. The commission is tasked with making recommendations for improving their conditions, such as measures for their welfare, inclusion in reservation policies, and other socioeconomic benefits.
3. It focuses specifically on identifying backward classes and suggesting policy measures for their upliftment.

• Option (a): This relates to Scheduled Castes and Tribes, which are addressed under separate provisions.
• Option (c): Article 342A, not Article 340, empowers the President to specify backward classes.
• Option (d): Guidelines for the National Commission for Scheduled Castes are provided under Article 338.

Thus, the correct answer is (b) Identification and improvement of the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes.

Ans: (c)

The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) does not have the power to provide binding recommendations to the government. Instead, it can make recommendations and advise the government on matters related to the socio-economic development and safeguards for backward classes, but these recommendations are not legally binding.

Here’s a brief overview of the functions of the NCBC:

• Investigating and Monitoring: The NCBC investigates and monitors matters related to the safeguards for backward classes.
• Advising: It advises the government on the socio-economic development of backward classes.
• Annual Reports: The NCBC presents annual reports to the President of India regarding its activities and findings.

Thus, option (c) is indeed the correct answer as it does not align with the functions of the NCBC.

Ans: (a)

The assertion (A) that the NCBC (National Commission for Backward Classes) is a constitutional body is true, and the reasoning (R) that it was established by the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act is also true. Furthermore, the reasoning correctly explains the assertion.

To summarize:

• Assertion (A): The NCBC is indeed a constitutional body.
• Reasoning (R): It was established by the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, which added Article 338B to the Constitution, thereby giving it constitutional status.

Thus, the correct answer is (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

Ans: (c)

Article 342A, inserted by the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, 2018, empowers the President to:

1. Specify socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs) for any state or union territory in consultation with the respective state government.
2. Ensure that any addition or removal of a caste or group from the SEBC list is subject to Parliamentary approval, thus enhancing transparency and accountability.

• Option (a): Article 338B establishes the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) and outlines its duties but does not specify backward classes.
• Option (b): Article 340 deals with the appointment of a commission to investigate the conditions of backward classes but does not empower the President to specify them.
• Option (d): Article 366 provides definitions for various terms used in the Constitution and does not relate to backward classes.

Thus, the correct answer is (c) Article 342A.

Ans: (c)

The 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, which was enacted in 2021, indeed brought about significant changes in the role of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC).
The major change was:
(c) It added the function of grievance redress for backward classes.

This amendment expanded the NCBC's role by allowing it to address grievances related to the rights and welfare of backward classes, thereby enhancing its effectiveness in protecting their interests.

The other options do not accurately reflect the changes brought about by the 102nd Amendment:

• (a) is incorrect because the commission does not have the sole responsibility for defining backwardness; this is a function that involves various stakeholders.
• (b) is incorrect as the commission still retains the power to advise on socio-economic development.
• (d) is incorrect because the commission's reporting structure was not limited to only reporting to the President; it continues to have a broader mandate.

Thus, option (c) is indeed the correct answer.

Ans: (b)

The 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, 2018, granted constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) under Article 338B. As a constitutional body, the members of the NCBC are appointed by the President of India. This includes:

1. One Chairperson
2. One Vice-Chairperson
3. Three other Members, including at least one woman.

The President’s appointment ensures accountability and aligns the process with other constitutional commissions like the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST).

• Option (a): The Prime Minister does not appoint members of the NCBC.
• Option (c): Parliament creates laws, but the appointment of members is a presidential responsibility.
• Option (d): The Supreme Court does not have a role in appointing NCBC members.

Thus, the correct answer is (b) The President of India.

Ans: (b)
The feature that is not associated with the newly reconstituted National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) is:
(b) Binding recommendations.
The NCBC, while it has constitutional status and a grievance redressal mechanism, does not have the authority to make binding recommendations to the government. Its recommendations are advisory in nature, meaning that the government can choose to accept or reject them.
To summarize the features of the newly reconstituted NCBC:
(a) Constitutional status: The NCBC was given constitutional status through the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act.
(c) Grievance redressal mechanism: The NCBC has the function of addressing grievances related to backward classes.
(d) Annual reporting to the President: The NCBC is required to present annual reports to the President of India.
Thus, option (b) is indeed the correct answer, as it does not reflect a feature of the NCBC.

Ans: (b)

The 123rd Constitution Amendment Bill, which later became the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, was introduced to:

1. Grant constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) by inserting Article 338B into the Constitution.
2. Strengthen the NCBC's authority to examine complaints, monitor welfare policies, and ensure the implementation of safeguards for socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs).
3. Align the NCBC's powers and functions with other constitutional commissions like the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST).

• Option (a): The bill aimed to enhance the NCBC, not abolish it.
• Option (c): The NCBC was not merged with other commissions; instead, it was made a standalone constitutional body.
• Option (d): The bill expanded the powers of the NCBC, not reduced them.

Thus, the correct answer is (b) To grant constitutional status to the NCBC.

Ans: (c)

The challenge faced by the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) after the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act is best described by:

(c) The NCBC lacks the expert composition as mandated by the Supreme Court.

This option highlights a significant concern regarding the composition of the NCBC, as the Supreme Court has emphasized the need for the commission to include members with expertise in various relevant fields to effectively address the issues concerning backward classes.

To clarify the other options:

• (a) is incorrect because, while the NCBC has a role in identifying backward classes, it does not have full authority to define and specify them without government input.
• (b) is incorrect as the recommendations of the NCBC are not legally binding on the central and state governments; they are advisory.
• (d) is also incorrect because the NCBC's role includes addressing both socio-economic and educational aspects of backward classes.

Thus, option (c) accurately reflects a challenge faced by the NCBC after the amendment.