Tag: political science

Punjab accounts for 2.3% of the total population and 4.3% Scheduled Caste population of India. As per Census 2011, the State of Punjab, has the highest percentage of Scheduled Caste population amongst all the States of the Country. The Scheduled Caste population in Punjab is 88.60 lac which is 31.94% of the total population i.e. 277.43 lac of the State. The decennial growth rate of SC population in the State was 26.06% as compared to 13.89 % for the State as a whole. However, a sizeable number of SC families still live below the poverty line.

Article 342 provides that the President may with respect to the State and Union Territory and where it is stated, after consulting Governor may notify that a particular tribe, community, group, etc be for this constitution be considered as scheduled tribes. The protection is given to represent the interest of Scheduled Tribes by various reservations granted to them by the constitution itself.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is the nodal Ministry to oversee the interests of the Scheduled Castes. Though the primary responsibility for the promotion of interests of the Scheduled Castes rests with all the Central Ministries in the area of their operations and the State Governments, the Ministry complements their efforts by way of interventions in critical sectors through specifically tailored schemes. The Scheduled Castes Development (SCD) Bureau of the Ministry aims to promote the welfare of Scheduled Castes through their educational, economic and social empowerment. Efforts made by State Governments and Central Ministries for protecting and promoting the interests of Scheduled Castes are also monitored by the bureau.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs was set up in 1999 after the bifurcation of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment with the objective of providing more focused approach on the integrated socio-economic development of the Scheduled Tribes (STs), the most underprivileged of the Indian Society, in a coordinated and planned manner. It is the nodal Ministry for overall policy, planning and coordination of programmes for development of STs.

Option D is the correct answer. The Fifth Schedule of the Constitution deals with the administration and control of Scheduled Areas as well as of Scheduled Tribes in States other than Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura. These provisions of the Constitution relating to the administration of the Scheduled Areas and Tribes may be altered by Parliament or by ordinary legislation.

Option B or Punjab is not covered in Article 164 (1) with respect to the welfare of the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes. This becomes clear when we see the explanation under Article 164 (1).

Article 164 (1) explains the role of the Chief Minister of a state in the following way:
• The chief Minister shall be appointed by the Governor and the other Ministers shall be appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister
• The Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor
• In the states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa, there shall be a Minister in charge of tribal welfare who may in addition be in charge of the welfare of the Scheduled Castes and backward classes or any other work.

The Government of India Act, 1935 was important so far as it stipulates features that are currently the part of the Indian Constitution. Provincial autonomy, Dyarchy in the center, Presence of three lists, the establishment of Reserve Bank of India, establishment of Federal court, communal representation, etc. The Act had no preamble and was enacted as a result of the nationalist movement to cater to their objectives and demands.

Article 338 of the Indian Constitution has the provision regarding the scheduled caste commission. The silent features of this article are:-