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

Q1: Statement 1: The 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, 2018, granted constitutional status to the NCBC.
Statement 2: The NCBC was previously a statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
(a) Both statements are true.
(b) Both statements are false.
(c) Statement 1 is true, and Statement 2 is false.
(d) Statement 1 is false, and Statement 2 is true.
Ans: (a)
The 102nd Constitution Amendment Act did provide constitutional status to the NCBC, and prior to this, NCBC was a statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Q2: What did the Supreme Court direct in the Indra Sawhney case of 1992?
(a) To abolish all existing backward class commissions.
(b) To create a permanent body for backward classes.
(c) To include more castes in the backward classes list.
(d) To remove reservation for backward classes.
Ans: (b)
The Supreme Court in the Indra Sawhney case directed the government to create a permanent body to entertain, examine, and recommend the inclusion and exclusion of various Backward Classes.

Q3: Which Articles were inserted by the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act?
(a) Article 338A and 342B
(b) Article 340 and 342A
(c) Article 338B and 342A
(d) Article 338 and 342
Ans: (c)
The 102nd Constitution Amendment Act inserted new Articles 338B, which provides authority to the NCBC, and 342A, which empowers the President to specify backward classes.

Q4: Match the following Articles with their respective provisions:
1. Article 338B
2. Article 342A
3. Article 340
A. Empowers President to specify backward classes.
B. Deals with identification and recommendations for backward classes.
C. Authority to examine complaints and welfare of backward classes.
(a) 1-C, 2-A, 3-B
(b) 1-A, 2-B, 3-C
(c) 1-B, 2-C, 3-A
(d) 1-A, 2-C, 3-B
Ans: (a)
Article 338B provides authority to NCBC, Article 342A empowers the President regarding backward classes, and Article 340 deals with the identification and recommendation process.

Q5: What is the new function assigned to the NCBC as per the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act?
(a) To define what constitutes backwardness.
(b) To solely focus on reservation policies.
(c) To engage in grievance redress of backward classes.
(d) To abolish all existing backward class commissions.
Ans: (c)
The new NCBC, as per the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, is entrusted with the additional function of grievance redress of backward classes.

Q6: Assertion (A): The recommendations of the new NCBC are not binding on the government.
Reasoning (R): The NCBC has no responsibility to define backwardness.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
Ans: (b)
While it's true that the NCBC's recommendations are not binding and that it doesn’t define backwardness, the latter is not the reason for the former.

Q7: What change does Article 342(A) introduce in terms of transparency?
(a) Mandatory parliamentary approval for backward class lists.
(b) Mandatory judicial review of backward class lists.
(c) The President's sole discretion in specifying backward classes.
(d) Automatic inclusion of all castes in the backward list.
Ans: (a)
Article 342(A) introduces greater transparency by making it mandatory to take the concurrence of Parliament for adding or deleting any community in the backward list.

Q8: Which of the following statements accurately reflect the critique and suggestions regarding the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) as outlined in the provided text?
Statement 1: The recommendations of the new NCBC are not binding on the government, which limits its effectiveness in addressing demands for caste inclusion as Backward Classes (BCs).
Statement 2: The composition of the new NCBC does not adhere to the Supreme Court's directive for an expert body, affecting its capability to define backwardness accurately.
Statement 3: Transparency is advised through the public disclosure of the caste census findings and the commission's recommendations to ensure that reservation benefits reach the genuinely backward sections of society.

(A) Statements 1 and 2 are correct.
(B) Statements 1 and 3 are correct.
(C) Statements 2 and 3 are correct.
(D) All statements are correct.
Ans: (D) All statements are correct.
Explanation:
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.

Q9: What is a key issue with the new NCBC as per the provided information?
(a) It is solely responsible for defining backwardness.
(b) Its recommendations are binding on the government.
(c) It lacks the features of an expert body as directed by the Supreme Court.
(d) It has reduced the powers of the President.
Ans: (c)
One of the key issues with the new NCBC is that its composition does not reflect the features of an expert body, as was directed by the Supreme Court.

Q10: What suggestion has been proposed to enhance the effectiveness of NCBC?
(a) To provide it with legislative powers.
(b) To include more members from political backgrounds.
(c) To reflect the feature of an expert body in its composition.
(d)To make its recommendations binding on the government.
Ans: (c)
To enhance the effectiveness of NCBC, it has been suggested that its composition should reflect the feature of an expert body, as mandated by the Supreme Court.

Q11: Statement 1 - The 123rd Constitution Amendment Bill was introduced to replace the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.
Statement 2 - The 102nd Constitution Amendment Act provides for the establishment of a National Commission for Backward Classes as a Constitutional Body.
(a) Both statements are true.
(b) Both statements are false.
(c) Statement 1 is true, and Statement 2 is false.
(d) Statement 1 is false, and Statement 2 is true.
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.

Q12: What does Article 340 of the Indian Constitution deal with?
(a) Reservation policies for Scheduled Castes and Tribes.
(b) Identification and improvement of the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes.
(c) Empowering the President to specify backward classes.
(d) Establishing guidelines for the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.
Ans: (b)
Article 340 deals with the identification of socially and educationally backward classes and making recommendations to improve their conditions.

Q13: Which of the following is not a power or function of the NCBC?
(a) Investigating and monitoring matters related to the safeguards for backward classes.
(b) Advising on socio-economic development of the backward classes.
(c) Providing binding recommendations to the government.
(d) Presenting annual reports to the President.
Ans: (c)
The NCBC's recommendations are not binding on the government, which is a key issue with the commission.

Q14: Assertion (A): The NCBC is a constitutional body.
Reasoning (R): It was established by the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
Ans: (a)
The NCBC is a constitutional body as it was established by the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act.

Q15: Which Article of the Indian Constitution empowers the President to specify socially and educationally backward classes in various states and union territories?
(a) Article 338B
(b) Article 340
(c) Article 342A
(d) Article 366
Ans: (c)
Article 342A empowers the President to specify socially and educationally backward classes in different states and union territories.

Q16: What major change did the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act bring about in the role of NCBC?
(a) It made the commission responsible for defining backwardness.
(b) It removed the commission's power to advise on socio-economic development.
(c) It added the function of grievance redress for backward classes.
(d) It limited the commission's power to only report to the President.
Ans: (c)
One of the significant changes brought by the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act is the addition of the function of grievance redress for backward classes to the NCBC.

Q17: According to the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, who appoints the members of the NCBC?
(a) The Prime Minister
(b) The President of India
(c) The Parliament
(d) The Supreme Court
Ans: (b)
The members of the NCBC, including the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and three other Members, are appointed by the President of India.

Q18: Which of the following is not a feature of the newly reconstituted NCBC?
(a) Constitutional status
(b) Binding recommendations
(c) Grievance redressal mechanism
(d) Annual reporting to the President
Ans: (b)
The recommendations of the NCBC are not binding on the government, which is a significant limitation of its powers.

Q19: What was the primary reason for the introduction of the 123rd Constitution Amendment Bill?
(a) To abolish the NCBC
(b) To grant constitutional status to the NCBC
(c) To merge NCBC with other commissions
(d) To reduce the powers of the NCBC
Ans: (b)
The 123rd Constitution Amendment Bill was introduced as a precursor to the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, aiming to provide constitutional status to the NCBC, enhancing its powers and functions.

Q20: Which of the following best describes a challenge faced by the NCBC after the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act?
(a) The NCBC has full authority to define and specify backward classes.
(b) The recommendations of the NCBC are legally binding on the central and state governments.
(c) The NCBC lacks the expert composition as mandated by the Supreme Court.
(d) The NCBC's role is limited to the assessment of socio-economic conditions without addressing educational aspects.
Ans: (c)
A significant challenge faced by the NCBC is that its composition does not fully reflect the expert nature as directed by the Supreme Court. This is seen as a limitation in effectively addressing the complex issues of backward classes.