UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Untouchability and the idea of ‘purity’

Q1. The Union-level administration of the law enacted to give effect to the abolition of untouchability, including the centrally sponsored scheme funding its enforcement machinery in the States, rests with which one of the following?

  • A. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes, a body established under Article 338 of the Constitution
  • B. The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment
  • C. The Centre-State Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs
  • D. The Department of Justice under the Ministry of Law and Justice

Q2. In Part III of the Constitution of India, the group of Articles carrying the sub-heading under which the abolition of untouchability is placed consists of how many Articles?

  • A. Three
  • B. Four
  • C. Five
  • D. Six

Q3. Under the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, refusal on the ground of 'untouchability' to sell goods or render services to a person on the same terms as to others is punishable with imprisonment of not less than one month and not more than what maximum term?

  • A. Six months
  • B. Three months
  • C. Twelve months
  • D. Twenty-four months

Q4. The statute originally enacted in 1955 to give effect to the abolition of untouchability acquired its present title by virtue of which one of the following?

  • A. The Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, which recast Part III and Part IV of the Constitution
  • B. The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
  • C. The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013
  • D. The Untouchability (Offences) Amendment Act, 1976

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: 1. The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 was originally enacted as the Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955. 2. The Act of 1989 provides for Exclusive Special Courts, which may be established for one or more districts. 3. Under the Act of 1989, Special Courts are specified by the State Government with the concurrence of the Chief Justice of the High Court. 4. Under the centrally sponsored scheme for implementation of the two Acts, the entire expenditure of the States on enforcement machinery is borne by the Central Government. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 was originally enacted as the Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955.
  2. The Act of 1989 provides for Exclusive Special Courts, which may be established for one or more districts.
  3. Under the Act of 1989, Special Courts are specified by the State Government with the concurrence of the Chief Justice of the High Court.
  4. Under the centrally sponsored scheme for implementation of the two Acts, the entire expenditure of the States on enforcement machinery is borne by the Central Government.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 4 only

Q6. At the Central level, the committee constituted to review the implementation status of both the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 in the States and Union Territories is headed by whom?

  • A. The Union Home Minister, in whose ministry the internal security and law-and-order coordination function vests
  • B. The Chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, appointed by the President
  • C. The Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment
  • D. The Cabinet Secretary, as the senior-most officer of the Government of India