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Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) with answers on “Social Justice in India: The Reservation Debate” for the Civil Services Examination
1. What is the primary purpose of the reservation system in India?
- a) To promote industrial growth
- b) To ensure social justice and equitable representation for historically disadvantaged groups
- c) To enhance agricultural productivity
- d) To support technological innovation
Answer: b) To ensure social justice and equitable representation for historically disadvantaged groups
2. Which article of the Indian Constitution provides for the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in legislatures?
- a) Article 15
- b) Article 16
- c) Article 46
- d) Article 330
Answer: d) Article 330
3. The reservation system in India was first introduced through which amendment?
- a) 73rd Amendment
- b) 74th Amendment
- c) 76th Amendment
- d) 81st Amendment
Answer: d) 81st Amendment
4. Which constitutional body is responsible for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of reservation policies?
- a) National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC)
- b) National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
- c) National Commission for Minorities (NCM)
- d) National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)
Answer: a) National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC)
5. What is the maximum percentage of reservation allowed in educational institutions under the Indian Constitution as per the Supreme Court’s ruling?
- a) 40%
- b) 50%
- c) 60%
- d) 70%
Answer: b) 50%
6. Which Supreme Court case established the “creamy layer” concept in the reservation policy?
- a) Indra Sawhney v. Union of India
- b) Minerva Mills v. Union of India
- c) Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala
- d) Golaknath v. State of Punjab
Answer: a) Indra Sawhney v. Union of India
7. The reservation of seats for women in local bodies was introduced by which amendment?
- a) 73rd Amendment
- b) 74th Amendment
- c) 76th Amendment
- d) 81st Amendment
Answer: a) 73rd Amendment
8. The Mandal Commission report, which recommended reservations for OBCs in central government jobs, was submitted in which year?
- a) 1979
- b) 1981
- c) 1983
- d) 1985
Answer: a) 1979
9. The “Right to Reservation” for economically weaker sections (EWS) in general category was introduced through which amendment?
- a) 103rd Amendment
- b) 104th Amendment
- c) 105th Amendment
- d) 106th Amendment
Answer: a) 103rd Amendment
10. In which year did the Indian government introduce the reservation for women in higher education institutions?
- a) 2006
- b) 2009
- c) 2014
- d) 2019
Answer: d) 2019
11. Which Indian state was the first to implement reservations for the economically weaker sections (EWS) before the national policy was introduced?
- a) Tamil Nadu
- b) Maharashtra
- c) Uttar Pradesh
- d) Karnataka
Answer: a) Tamil Nadu
12. The reservation policy in India is aimed primarily at which of the following?
- a) Economic upliftment
- b) Social upliftment
- c) Technological advancement
- d) Environmental conservation
Answer: b) Social upliftment
13. How are reservations for Scheduled Tribes (STs) determined?
- a) Based on caste
- b) Based on religion
- c) Based on ethnicity and geographical location
- d) Based on income
Answer: c) Based on ethnicity and geographical location
14. The concept of “Backward Classes” was first recognized by which commission?
- a) Kaka Kalelkar Commission
- b) Mandal Commission
- c) Sachar Committee
- d) Ranganath Mishra Commission
Answer: a) Kaka Kalelkar Commission
15. Which of the following is NOT a criterion for eligibility under the reservation for OBCs?
- a) Social and educational backwardness
- b) Annual income
- c) Age
- d) Caste-based classification
Answer: c) Age
16. The reservation policy for SCs and STs is applicable to which of the following sectors?
- a) Private sector only
- b) Public sector only
- c) Both private and public sectors
- d) None of the above
Answer: b) Public sector only
17. What is the primary focus of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)?
- a) Protection of rights of SCs and STs
- b) Monitoring reservation in educational institutions
- c) Protection of rights and welfare of backward classes
- d) Implementation of reservation in political representation
Answer: c) Protection of rights and welfare of backward classes
18. In which case did the Supreme Court rule that reservations should not exceed 50% of total seats in educational institutions?
- a) Indra Sawhney v. Union of India
- b) M. Nagaraj v. Union of India
- c) Vikas v. Union of India
- d) State of Karnataka v. C. Krishna Murthy
Answer: a) Indra Sawhney v. Union of India
19. What percentage of reservation is provided for Scheduled Castes (SCs) in the central government jobs and educational institutions?
- a) 15%
- b) 20%
- c) 25%
- d) 30%
Answer: a) 15%
20. The implementation of reservations in private educational institutions was ruled unconstitutional by which Supreme Court judgment?
- a) TMA Pai Foundation v. State of Karnataka
- b) Pramati Educational and Cultural Trust v. Union of India
- c) Unnikrishnan J.P. v. State of Andhra Pradesh
- d) P.A. Inamdar v. State of Maharashtra
Answer: a) TMA Pai Foundation v. State of Karnataka
21. The concept of “reservation in promotion” was upheld by the Supreme Court in which case?
- a) M. Nagaraj v. Union of India
- b) Indra Sawhney v. Union of India
- c) Ashoka Kumar Thakur v. Union of India
- d) Jarnail Singh v. Lachhmi Narain Gupta
Answer: a) M. Nagaraj v. Union of India
22. Which of the following states has the highest reservation quota for SCs and STs?
- a) Uttar Pradesh
- b) Tamil Nadu
- c) Maharashtra
- d) West Bengal
Answer: b) Tamil Nadu
23. What is the main objective of the Social Justice Committee appointed by various state governments?
- a) To examine the implementation of reservation policies
- b) To promote industrial growth
- c) To develop new educational curricula
- d) To support technological advancements
Answer: a) To examine the implementation of reservation policies
24. The principle of “equal opportunities” in public employment is enshrined in which Article of the Indian Constitution?
- a) Article 14
- b) Article 15
- c) Article 16
- d) Article 17
Answer: c) Article 16
25. In which of the following areas is the reservation policy NOT applicable?
- a) Private sector employment
- b) Public sector employment
- c) Educational institutions
- d) Government services
Answer: a) Private sector employment
26. The “creamy layer” concept refers to:
- a) Excluding the economically better-off among OBCs from the reservation benefits
- b) Including all SCs and STs for reservation benefits
- c) Providing extra benefits to the economically weaker sections within the SCs
- d) Ensuring that reservations do not exceed 50%
Answer: a) Excluding the economically better-off among OBCs from the reservation benefits
27. Which body was established by the Indian government to review the implementation of reservation policies and suggest improvements?
- a) National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
- b) National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC)
- c) National Commission for Minorities (NCM)
- d) National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)
Answer: b) National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC)
28. The reservation of seats for women in Panchayats and Municipalities was introduced by which amendment?
- a) 73rd Amendment
- b) 74th Amendment
- c) 76th Amendment
- d) 81st Amendment
Answer: a) 73rd Amendment
29. The reservation policy for SCs, STs, and OBCs is primarily aimed at which of the following goals?
- a) Economic growth
- b) Industrial development
- c) Social equality and justice
- d) Technological advancement
Answer: c) Social equality and justice
30. The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) was established under which Act?
- a) National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993
- b) National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992
- c) National Commission for SCs Act, 1955
- d) National Commission for STs Act, 1955
Answer: a) National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993
These questions cover various aspects of social justice and the reservation debate in India, including constitutional provisions, landmark judgments, and implementation issues.
