National Commission for Backward Castes MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for National Commission for Backward Castes - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is 1993.

Key Points

• Uttar Pradesh State Backward Classes Commission was established in March 1993. 
• It consists of a chairman, two vice presidents, and 17 members. 
• The Speaker gets the status of Minister of State.

Additional Information

• The majority of the population in the state is that of backward class people.
• Prior to 1985, the welfare programs of this class were administered by the Social Welfare Department.
• On 2 August 1995, a separate department called Uttar Pradesh Backward Classes Welfare Department was established for their welfare.

The correct answer is 1993.

Key Points

• The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) was established in 1993 by an act of Parliament under the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993.
• The NCBC was formed to examine and recommend the inclusion or exclusion of communities in the Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
• The commission was set up as a statutory body to ensure the welfare and rights of backward classes in India.
• It replaced the Mandal Commission, which had earlier suggested the reservation for OBCs in jobs and education.
• In 2018, the NCBC was granted constitutional status through the 102nd Constitutional Amendment Act.

Additional Information

• Purpose of NCBC: The commission aims to protect the rights of backward classes and ensure their representation in education, employment, and public life.
• Mandal Commission: Formed in 1979, it recommended 27% reservation for OBCs in jobs and education, leading to the eventual establishment of NCBC.
• 102nd Constitutional Amendment: This amendment granted NCBC constitutional status, empowering it to investigate and monitor safeguards provided for backward classes under the Constitution.
• Functions of NCBC: It advises the government on matters related to the inclusion or exclusion of communities in the OBC list, monitors the implementation of welfare measures, and addresses grievances of backward classes.
• Difference from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) Commissions: NCBC specifically focuses on OBCs, whereas the SC and ST commissions handle issues related to their respective communities.

The correct answer is 1993.

Key Points

• The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) was established on 14th August 1993 under the provisions of the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993.
• It was created to address the grievances and welfare of socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs) in India.
• The NCBC replaced the earlier Backward Classes Commission, which was set up under Article 340 of the Indian Constitution.
• The commission examines requests for inclusion or exclusion of communities in the Central List of Backward Classes and provides recommendations to the government.
• In 2018, NCBC was given constitutional status through the 123rd Constitutional Amendment Act, making it a more robust body.

Additional Information

• Article 340 of the Indian Constitution:
  • Empowers the President to appoint a commission to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs).
  • Recommendations are made for improving their welfare and implementing measures for their advancement.
• 123rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2018:
  • Granted constitutional status to the NCBC, making it a statutory body under Article 338B.
  • It enables the NCBC to function at par with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and Scheduled Tribes (NCST).
• Key Functions of NCBC:
  • Examines and recommends the inclusion or exclusion of communities in the Central List of OBCs.
  • Addresses grievances related to the implementation of reservation policies for backward classes.
  • Monitors safeguards provided to SEBCs under the Indian Constitution.
• Difference Between NCBC and NCSC:
  • NCBC focuses on the welfare of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), while NCSC is dedicated to Scheduled Castes.
  • Both commissions play a critical role in promoting equality and addressing discrimination against marginalized communities.

Key Points

• Children belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), or Socially and Educationally Backward Classes are categorized as Disadvantaged Group under various government initiatives and legal frameworks.
• This classification is based on the principles of social justice and equity, aimed at addressing historical disadvantages faced by these communities.
• Under the Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009, children from disadvantaged groups are entitled to free and compulsory education in private and public schools.
• Reservation policies for disadvantaged groups aim to ensure equal access to education, employment, and social welfare programs.
• Government schemes such as Scholarships for SC/ST and Backward Classes are implemented to enhance educational opportunities for children belonging to disadvantaged groups.

Additional Information

• Terminology:
  • Scheduled Castes (SC): Communities historically subjected to social discrimination and exclusion under India's caste system.
  • Scheduled Tribes (ST): Indigenous communities recognized for their distinct culture and often living in geographically isolated areas.
  • Socially and Educationally Backward Classes: Groups identified as lagging behind in social and educational development.
• Right to Education Act (RTE):
  • Enacted in 2009, it mandates free and compulsory education for children aged 6-14 years.
  • Includes provisions for reserving seats for disadvantaged groups in private schools.
• Reservation Policies:
  • A percentage of seats in education, government jobs, and legislatures are reserved for SC, ST, and OBC (Other Backward Classes).
  • Aimed at reducing inequality and promoting social inclusion.
• Social Welfare Programs:
  • Scholarships, midday meals, and free coaching for disadvantaged groups are key initiatives.
  • These programs help bridge educational and social gaps.

The correct answer is 2004.

Key Points

• The National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector (NCEUS) was constituted in September 2004 by the Government of India.
• The primary objective of NCEUS was to address issues faced by workers and enterprises in the unorganised sector.
• NCEUS was set up under the Chairmanship of Dr. Arjun Sengupta, an eminent economist.
• The commission focused on formulating policies for improving the livelihood conditions of unorganised workers.
• NCEUS also aimed to provide comprehensive recommendations for social security and employment generation in the informal sector.

Additional Information

• Unorganised Sector:
  • The unorganised sector in India comprises a large portion of the workforce, including daily wage workers, agricultural laborers, and informal enterprises.
  • It is characterized by low wages, lack of social security, and poor working conditions.
  • Workers often lack access to formal training or legal protections.
• Social Security Recommendations:
  • NCEUS recommended the establishment of a National Social Security Fund for unorganised workers.
  • It suggested the implementation of health insurance schemes and pension plans to protect workers in old age.
• Key Reports Published:
  • NCEUS published several detailed reports, including the "Report on Social Security for Unorganised Workers" and "Report on Conditions of Work."
  • These reports highlighted the challenges faced by informal workers and proposed actionable solutions.
• Impact:
  • The recommendations of NCEUS paved the way for schemes like the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) and other social welfare initiatives.
  • Its work contributed significantly to policy discussions on labor welfare in India.

The correct answer is Mandal Commission.

• In the year 1990, the then Prime Minister VP Singh accepted the Mandal Commission report, which recommended a 27% reservation for OBC candidates at all levels of its services.

Key Points

• The Mandal Commission, the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission (SEBC), was established in India in 1979 by the Janata Party government under Prime Minister Morarji Desai to "identify the socially or educationally backward classes" of India.
  • It was headed by B.P. Mandal, an Indian parliamentarian, used eleven social, economic, and educational indicators to consider the question of reservation for people to prevent caste discrimination, and to determine backwardness.

Additional Information

• Sarkaria Commission was established in 1983 by the Central Government of India.
  • The charter of the Sarkaria Commission was to examine center-state relations on various departments and suggest changes within the framework of the Constitution of India.
• The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee was originally a committee appointed by the Government of India on 16 January 1957 to examine the working of the Community Development Program and the National Extension Service and suggest measures for their better functioning.
  • Balwantrai G Mehta was the chairman of this committee.
• The Kothari Commission was appointed by the Government of India to reform the Indian education sector.
  • Its objectives and important recommendations.
  •  Kothari Commission was formed on 14 July 1964.

The correct answer is 89th Amendment Act, 2003.

Key Points 

• The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) was established by amending Article 338 and inserting a new Article 338A in the Constitution through the Constitution (89th Amendment) Act, 2003.
• By this amendment, the erstwhile National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was replaced by two separate Commissions namely-
  • The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC)
  • The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) w.e.f. 19 February 2004.

Important Points 

• The National Commission for Scheduled Castes is an Indian constitutional body under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India established with a view to providing safeguards against the exploitation of Scheduled Castes and Anglo Indian communities to promote and protect their social, educational, economic and cultural interests, special provisions were made in the Constitution.
  • Article 338 of the Indian constitution deals with National Commission for Scheduled Castes.
• Article 338 A deals with National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.

The correct answer is Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission.Key Points

• The Mandal commission was set up on 1st 1979 under the prime minister Morarji Desai.
• Criteria for Reservation based on Educational, Social and Economical.
• The report was submitted by the Mandal Commission to the President on 31st December 1980.
• In August 1990 V.P Singh announced the recommendation of the Mandal Commission in Parliament.
• The SC upheld the 27% reservation for OBCs in 1992.

The Correct Answer is socially and economically backward classes.

Important Points

• The B.P. Mandal commission was set up to study the reasons of backwardness of the socially and economically backward classes.
• The Mandal Commission or Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission (SEBC) was set up in India on 1 January 1979 by the government of the Janata Party under Prime Minister Morarji Desai with a mandate to "identify the socially or educationally backward classes".
• It was led by B.P. Mandal, in order to consider the problem of reservations for individuals to remedy caste discrimination, Mandal and Indian parliamentarians used eleven social, economic and educational metrics to assess backwardness.
• In 1980, on the basis of its reasoning that OBCs ('Other Backward Classes') defined on the basis of caste, economic and social indicators accounted for 52% of India's population, the Commission's report recommended that reservations be given to members of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) for 27% of jobs in central government and public sector enterprises, making the total number of reservations available to members of Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
• A provisional stay order was subsequently issued by the Supreme Court but enforced by the central government in 1992 for employment in public sector undertakings in the central government.

The correct answer is Kaka Kalelkar.

Key Points 

• The First Backward Classes Commission was set up by a presidential order on 29^th January 1953 under the chairmanship of Kaka Kalelkar.
• It is also known as the First Backward Classes Commission, 1955, or the Kaka Kalelkar Commission.
• Kaka Kalelkar Commission is a commission to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes within the territory of India and the difficulties under which they labour and to make recommendations as to the steps that should be taken by the Union.
• The 123^rd Constitutional Amendment bill 2017 and 102^nd Amendment Act, 2018, introduced Article 338B which provides for a Commission for the socially and educationally backward classes to be known as the National Commission for Backward Classes.
• The NCBC is a constitutional body set up under the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993.
• It has the power to examine complaints regarding the inclusion or exclusion of groups within the list of backward classes, and advise the central government in this regard. 
• The Bill seeks to establish the NCBC under the Constitution, and provide it the authority to examine complaints and welfare measures regarding socially and educationally backward classes
• Article 340 in the Indian Constitution 1949 -  Appointment of a Commission to investigate the conditions of backward classes by the President.

The correct answer is 1992.

Key Points

The National Commission for Women was set up in 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.

• This body was established to review the constitutional and legal safeguards for women. 
• It was formed with an intention to establish an equal and just livelihood for women by making legal and constitutional amendments for women in India. 
• It recommends remedial legislative measures, facilitates redressal of grievances and advises the government on all policy matters affecting women.
• It enjoys all the powers of a civil court.

Additional Information

The Commission must consist of a minimum number of members which includes a chairperson, a member secretary, and the other five members.

• Chairperson: The central government should nominate the chairperson.
• Five members: The five members are also to be nominated by the central government from amongst the person of ability, integrity, and standing. They should possess experience in various fields like law or legislation, trade unionism, management of industry potential of women, women’s voluntary organization, education, administration, economic development, and social good-being.
• Member Secretary: The Central Government also nominates a member secretary. He/ she should be either an expert in the field of management, an organization, or an officer who is a member.

The correct answer is Neither 1 nor 2.

Key Points

• National Commission for SC and ST was created by the 65th Amendment Act, 1990.
  • It replaced the single-member special officer for SC and ST.
  • It constituted a multimember body, the National Commission for SC and ST under Article 338.
• It was bifurcated into the National Commission of Scheduled Castes and National Commission of Scheduled Tribes by the 89th Amendment Act, 2003. Hence, Statement 1 is correct and Statement 2 is correct.
  • ​It added a new Article 338-A.
• Composition
  • Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and three other members.
  • All members are appointed by the President.
  • Their condition of service and tenure is determined by the President.
  • Tenure: three years.

Additional Information

• The 102^nd Amendment Act, 2018 granted Constitutional status to the National Commission of Backward Classes.
• It added Article 338-B to the Indian Constitution.  

The correct answer is Hansraj Gangaram Ahir.Key Points

• Hansraj Gangaram Ahir was appointed as the chairman of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) in December 2022.
• He is a former Union Minister of State for Home Affairs.
• Ahir has been a prominent leader from Maharashtra and has served as a Member of Parliament.

National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)

• 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, 2018 granted constitutional status to the NCBC.
• Article 338B provides the NCBC with the authority to investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the socially and educationally backward classes under the Constitution or under any other law.
• Constitution (127th Amendment) bill, 2021: This amendment allows states and union territories to prepare and maintain their own lists of SEBCs.
• Article 342A: Initially, this article empowered only the President to specify SEBCs in consultation with the Governor of the concerned state. The 2021 amendment restored the states’ authority in this matter.
• Mandal Commission established in 1979, it recommended reservations for OBCs in government jobs and educational institutions, leading to the implementation of 27% reservation for OBCs in 1990.

Important Points Development Process of NCBC

• The first backward classes commission was established under the chairmanship of Kaka Kalelkar to identify the socially and educationally backward classes.
• The commission submitted its report in 1955, but its recommendations were not implemented.
• Second Backward Classes Commission (1979) (Mandal Commission):Headed by B.P. Mandal, this commission was tasked with identifying the criteria for defining socially and educationally backward classes.
• The Mandal Commission’s report, submitted in 1980, recommended a 27% reservation for OBCs in government jobs and educational institutions. These recommendations were implemented in 1990.
• The Supreme Court, in the landmark Indra Sawhney & Others v. Union of India case, directed the establishment of a permanent body to examine and recommend the inclusion and exclusion of various Backward Classes. This led to the creation of the NCBC.
• The NCBC was constituted as a statutory body under National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993 to address the issues of backward classes.

Structure of NCBC

• Chairperson: Appointed by the President
• Vice-Chairperson
• Three Other Members: These members are appointed by the President and include individuals with special knowledge or experience in matters related to backward classes.

The correct answer is BP Mandal.

• The Mandal Commission, the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission (SEBC), was established in India in 1979.
• By the Janata Party government under Prime Minister Morarji Desai's Tenure.

Important Points

1.  It was headed by B.P. Mandal, an Indian parliamentarian, considered the question of reservations for people to redress caste discrimination and used eleven social, economic, and educational indicators to determine backwardness.
2. In 1980, based on its rationale that OBCs identified based on caste, social, and economic indicators made up 52% of India's population.
3. The Commission's report recommended that members of Other Backward Classes (OBC) be granted reservations to 27% of jobs under the Central government and public sector undertakings, thus making the total number of reservations for SC, ST, and OBC 49%.

Hence, BP Mandal was the chairman of the Mandal Commission which was set up in 1979.

The correct answer is Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah.

• Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah is the former (25th) Chief Justice of India.
• The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution was set up by Government Resolution dated 22 February 2000 under the Chairmanship of Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah.
• The Commission submitted its report in two volumes to the Government on 31st March 2002.
• The Commission observed that where a treaty is entered into by the Union Government concerning a matter in the State List vitally affecting the interests of the States no prior consultation is made with them.

Important Points

• JusticeJ.S. Verma was the Chief Justice of India from 25 March 1997 to 18 January 1998.
  • He was the chairman of the National Human Rights Commission from 1999 to 2003.
  • He was the chairman of the Justice Verma Committee Report on Amendments to Criminal Law after the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case.
• Justice Ranganath Mishra is a former Chief Justice of India (21st).
  •  He was also the first chairman of the National Human Rights Commission of India.
• Justice Y.K. Sabharwal was the 36th Chief Justice of India.