Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes — Prelims Questions

Which of the following Constitutional Amendments bifurcated the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes into two separate bodies?

Which of the following statements regarding the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) is/are correct? 1. It extends Part IX of the Constitution relating to Panchayats to the Fifth Schedule Areas. 2. It empowers the Gram Sabha to approve all development plans and control over minor forest produce. 3. It is applicable to all states with Scheduled Areas, including Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.

With reference to the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, consider the following statements: 1. It recognizes and vests forest rights in forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers who have resided for at least three generations. 2. It grants both Individual Forest Rights (IFR) and Community Forest Rights (CFR). 3. The Gram Sabha is the authority to initiate the process for determining the nature and extent of individual or community forest rights.

Which of the following Articles of the Indian Constitution deals with the claims of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to services and posts, while also considering the maintenance of efficiency of administration?

Consider the following statements regarding the 'creamy layer' concept: 1. The 'creamy layer' concept was first introduced by the Indra Sawhney judgment for Other Backward Classes (OBCs). 2. The Supreme Court, in the Jarnail Singh case, ruled that the 'creamy layer' principle is applicable to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for reservation in promotions. 3. The 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act introduced the 'creamy layer' for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) reservation.