UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — After many extensions, panel’s report on SC status for Dalit converts ready
Q1. Who chairs the Commission of Inquiry constituted by the Union Government in 2022 to examine the question of granting Scheduled Caste status to Dalits who have converted to religions other than Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism?
- A. Justice Rajinder Sachar
- B. Justice Ranganath Misra
- C. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan
- D. Justice G. Rohini
Q2. The Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice K.G. Balakrishnan (retd.) examining Scheduled Caste status for Dalit converts was constituted by which of the following Union Ministries?
- A. Ministry of Minority Affairs
- B. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
- C. Ministry of Home Affairs
- D. Ministry of Law and Justice
Q3. With reference to the Justice K.G. Balakrishnan Commission (2022) and the Justice Ranganath Misra Commission (2004–07), consider the following statements:
1. Both commissions were constituted to examine, inter alia, the question of extending Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims.
2. Unlike the Ranganath Misra Commission, which was a National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities with a broader mandate, the Balakrishnan Commission is a Commission of Inquiry under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952.
3. The Ranganath Misra Commission had recommended granting Scheduled Caste status to Dalits who had converted to Christianity and Islam.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- Both commissions were constituted to examine, inter alia, the question of extending Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims.
- Unlike the Ranganath Misra Commission, which was a National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities with a broader mandate, the Balakrishnan Commission is a Commission of Inquiry under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952.
- The Ranganath Misra Commission had recommended granting Scheduled Caste status to Dalits who had converted to Christianity and Islam.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q4. The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 — whose religion-based eligibility criterion is being re-examined by the Balakrishnan Commission — was issued by the President under which Article of the Constitution of India?
- A. Article 340
- B. Article 341
- C. Article 342
- D. Article 338