UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — What did the Court rule on SCs and religion?

Q1. In its 2026 Chinthada Anand judgment, how did the Supreme Court interpret the word 'professes' as used in Clause 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950?

• A. A private, inward belief in a faith, irrespective of any outward conduct
• B. The open declaration and practice of a religion, not merely private belief
• C. Formal registration of one's religion in official or census records
• D. Mere birth into a family following a particular religion

Q2. The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 — central to the Supreme Court's 2026 ruling — was issued by the President under which Article of the Constitution?

• A. Article 330
• B. Article 338
• C. Article 341
• D. Article 342

Q3. The Supreme Court's 2026 ruling distinguished statutory protections from state welfare concessions for converts. Consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A person who converts to Christianity loses statutory protection under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
2. The Court held that welfare schemes some State governments extend to SC converts are statutory entitlements that survive conversion.
3. To reclaim SC status, the Court required bona fide reconversion to the original religion together with community acceptance.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3