UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC rejects A.P. plea to restore 34% BC quota in local bodies
Q1. With reference to reservation of seats in rural and urban local bodies under Parts IX and IXA of the Constitution of India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- In every Panchayat, the seats reserved for Scheduled Castes must bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total directly elected seats as their population bears to the population of that Panchayat area.
- Every State Legislature is constitutionally obliged to reserve seats in Municipalities for backward classes of citizens.
- The Constitution permits a State Legislature to reserve offices of Chairpersons of Panchayats at any level for backward classes of citizens.
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 1 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q2. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- A State that provides no reservation of seats for backward classes of citizens in its Panchayats does not, for that reason alone, violate Part IX of the Constitution.
- The provision in Part IX on backward-class reservation in Panchayats is framed as an enabling clause that leaves such reservation to the State Legislature.
- A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
- B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
- C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
- D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
Q3. With reference to the kind of backwardness that justifies reservation for backward classes in elected local bodies, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Data showing that a community is socially and educationally backward for admissions and public employment is, by itself, sufficient to fix its share of seats in local bodies.
- The inquiry required for local-body reservation must examine the nature and implications of backwardness specifically with respect to local bodies.
- A community's existing level of representation in elected local bodies is a relevant consideration in deciding its reservation in those bodies.
- A. 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1, 2 and 3
- D. 1 and 2 only
Q4. The five-year term of a State's Panchayats is about to expire, and the State has not completed the 'triple test' for backward-class reservation. Which of the following courses is most consistent with the constitutional scheme and the Supreme Court's approach?
- A. Postpone the elections until the commission inquiring into backwardness submits its report
- B. Hold the elections on time, continuing the previous term's backward-class quota provisionally
- C. Hold the elections on time, treating seats meant for backward classes as general seats
- D. Hold the elections on time, with the backward-class quota fixed by the State Election Commission
Q5. Consider the following assertion: A general-purpose household survey conducted by a State for targeting welfare benefits may not, by itself, justify enhancing a backward-class quota in local bodies. Which of the statements given below support the above assertion?
- The relevant inquiry is into backwardness in the context of local bodies, including a community's representation in them.
- A welfare database records population and household attributes but does not measure under-representation in elected bodies.
- The data must come from a dedicated commission's contemporaneous inquiry into backwardness with respect to local bodies.
- The Constitution permits States to fix backward-class quotas in local bodies only on the basis of decennial Census data.
- A. 1, 2, 3 and 4
- B. 3 and 4 only
- C. 1 and 2 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3 only
Q6. A State sought to restore an enhanced backward-class quota in its local bodies on the basis of a household survey, local-body data and a dedicated commission's findings. The High Court struck it down for lack of empirical data justifying a breach of the 50% ceiling. Dismissing the State's appeal, the Supreme Court found the survey figures insufficient and asked under what law the survey had been carried out. Which of the following inferences can validly be drawn from the above?
- The legal basis and purpose of a data-collection exercise can bear on whether it may support a reservation decision.
- States are now barred from providing any reservation for backward classes in local bodies.
- Setting up a dedicated commission is not, on its own, enough to sustain a backward-class quota that breaches the 50% ceiling.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1 and 3 only
Q7. With reference to elections to Panchayats, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for Panchayat elections vests in a body distinct from the Election Commission of India.
- The State Election Commissioner can be removed from office only in the manner and on the grounds applicable to a Judge of a High Court.
- Subject to the Constitution, a State Legislature may by law make provision for all matters connected with elections to Panchayats.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 only
- C. 1, 2 and 3
- D. 2 and 3 only
Q8. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- Pending litigation over backward-class reservation does not, by itself, justify putting off elections to Panchayats beyond the expiry of their five-year term.
- Part IX of the Constitution permits a State Legislature to extend the term of Panchayats by up to one year when a dispute over reservation of seats is pending.
- A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
- B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
- C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
- D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct