Q1. Article 15 of the Constitution of India prohibits discrimination by the State against any citizen on grounds only of:
Social Justice and Empowerment: RAS Prelims MCQs
48 RAS Prelims MCQs on social justice and empowerment cover the constitutional provisions, commissions and welfare schemes. Article 15, the Mandal Commission, the 103rd Amendment on EWS reservation, the Ujjwala Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, minority welfare schemes and the laws for senior citizens and Denotified Tribes are asked as facts, matches and statements.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 1–10 of 48 questions
Q2. Which of the following is the primary justification for the implementation of the reservation policy in India?
Explanation
The primary justification for India’s reservation policy is the pursuit of substantive equality and social justice. It aims to address centuries of historical disadvantages, systemic exclusion, and social discrimination faced by marginalized communities like Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. By providing quotas in education and employment, the State seeks to ensure level playing fields and equitable representation.
Q3. Match List I (Constitutional Article) with List II (Provision related to SC/ST) and select the correct option:
| Constitutional Article | Provision related to SC/ST |
|---|---|
| A. Article 330 | i. National Commission for Scheduled Tribes |
| B. Article 332 | ii. Reservation of seats for SC/ST in the House of the People |
| C. Article 338 | iii. National Commission for Scheduled Castes |
| D. Article 338A | iv. Reservation of seats for SC/ST in the Legislative Assemblies of the States |
Explanation
Article 330 mandates seat reservations for Scheduled Castes and Tribes in the Lok Sabha, while Article 332 provides similar reservations in State Legislative Assemblies. Article 338 established the National Commission for Scheduled Castes to safeguard their interests. Furthermore, Article 338A created a separate National Commission for Scheduled Tribes to address the unique needs and rights of tribal populations effectively.
Q4. The Mandal Commission, officially known as the Second Backward Classes Commission, was appointed under the chairmanship of B.P. Mandal in which year?
Explanation
The Second Backward Classes Commission, popularly known as the Mandal Commission, was established in 1979 under the chairmanship of B.P. Mandal. Its primary mandate was to identify socially or educationally backward classes and recommend steps for their advancement. The commission’s report eventually led to the implementation of 27 percent reservation for Other Backward Classes in central government employment.
Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) reservation:
I. It was introduced by the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act.
II. It provides a maximum of 10 percent reservation in higher education and public employment.
III. The Supreme Court of India declared it unconstitutional in the Janhit Abhiyan case.
Which of the combination of statements given above is correct?
I. It was introduced by the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act.
II. It provides a maximum of 10 percent reservation in higher education and public employment.
III. The Supreme Court of India declared it unconstitutional in the Janhit Abhiyan case.
Which of the combination of statements given above is correct?
Explanation
The 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act introduced a ten percent reservation for Economically Weaker Sections in public employment and higher education. This quota applies to individuals not covered under existing reservations for SCs, STs, or OBCs. In the Janhit Abhiyan case, the Supreme Court upheld the amendment’s validity, affirming that economic criteria can be a permissible basis for providing reservation.
Q6. Which of the following is not a welfare scheme primarily designed for the educational empowerment of Scheduled Castes in India?
Explanation
PM Kisan Samman Nidhi is a central sector scheme providing income support to landholding farmer families across India, regardless of their caste. In contrast, schemes like the Post Matric Scholarship, National Fellowship, and Shreyas specifically target the educational empowerment of Scheduled Castes. These initiatives provide financial aid and research opportunities to help marginalized students pursue higher education and skill development.
Q7. In the following question, a statement of
Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of
Reason (R). Choose the correct option:
Assertion (A): The Governor of a State having Scheduled Areas is required to submit a report to the President regarding the administration of such areas.
Reason (R): The executive power of the Union extends to giving directions to the State as to the administration of Scheduled Areas.
Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of
Reason (R). Choose the correct option:
Assertion (A): The Governor of a State having Scheduled Areas is required to submit a report to the President regarding the administration of such areas.
Reason (R): The executive power of the Union extends to giving directions to the State as to the administration of Scheduled Areas.
Explanation
Under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, the Governor of a state with Scheduled Areas must submit annual reports to the President regarding their administration. Simultaneously, the executive power of the Union extends to directing states on how these areas should be managed. This mechanism ensures central oversight and accountability, prioritizing the welfare and protection of tribal communities within those regions.
Q8. Under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, which of the following is considered an offence of atrocity?
Explanation
The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989, identifies specific acts of humiliation as criminal offences. Forcing a member of these communities to consume inedible or obnoxious substances is explicitly listed as an atrocity.
Q9. Consider the following statements regarding the constitutional framework for women empowerment:
Statement I: Article 39(d) of the Constitution directs the State to ensure equal pay for equal work for both men and women.
Statement II: The Maternity Benefit Act was enacted solely to fulfill the fundamental duties outlined in Article 51A.
Which of the following is correct?
Statement I: Article 39(d) of the Constitution directs the State to ensure equal pay for equal work for both men and women.
Statement II: The Maternity Benefit Act was enacted solely to fulfill the fundamental duties outlined in Article 51A.
Which of the following is correct?
Explanation
Article 39(d) of the Constitution is a Directive Principle of State Policy that mandates equal pay for equal work for both genders. The Maternity Benefit Act was enacted to fulfill the objectives of Article 42, which requires the State to ensure just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief. It is not derived from fundamental duties under Article 51A.
Q10. Consider the following statements regarding the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme:
I. The scheme was launched in 2015 from Panipat, Haryana.
II. Enforcement of the Pre-Conception and Pre- Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) Act is a core component.
III. The scheme has no provision for individual direct cash transfers.
IV. The scheme exclusively focuses on rural areas and completely excludes urban centers.
Which of the combination of statements given above is correct?
I. The scheme was launched in 2015 from Panipat, Haryana.
II. Enforcement of the Pre-Conception and Pre- Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) Act is a core component.
III. The scheme has no provision for individual direct cash transfers.
IV. The scheme exclusively focuses on rural areas and completely excludes urban centers.
Which of the combination of statements given above is correct?
Explanation
Launched in 2015 from Panipat, the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme addresses the declining child sex ratio through multi-sectoral action. It emphasizes the strict enforcement of the Pre- Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act to prevent sex-selective elimination. Notably, the scheme focuses on behavioral change and institutional reforms rather than providing direct cash transfers to individuals, ensuring survival and education for girls.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | (b) Religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth |
| 2 | (a) To address historical disadvantages and ensure equity for marginalized communities |
| 3 | (c) A-ii, B-iv, C-iii, D-i |
| 4 | (d) 1979 |
| 5 | (c) I and II only |
| 6 | (b) PM Kisan Samman Nidhi |
| 7 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 8 | (a) A non-SC/ST individual forcing an SC/ST member to consume any inedible substance |
| 9 | (c) Statement I is true but Statement II is false |
| 10 | (a) I, II and III |
Key facts from Social Justice and Empowerment
- Article 15 prohibits discrimination only on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.
- The Mandal Commission, the Second Backward Classes Commission, was appointed in 1979.
- The 103rd Amendment, which introduced EWS reservation, amended Articles 15 and 16.
- Under PMUY, beneficiaries are identified through the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 and the support is Rs 1,600 per connection.
- Ayushman Bharat PMJAY covers 3 days of pre-hospitalisation and 15 days of post-hospitalisation costs.
- Padho Pardesh gives an interest subsidy on loans for overseas studies; Denotified Tribes were those notified under the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Social Justice and Empowerment?
This page has 48 practice MCQs on Social Justice and Empowerment (Indian Economy). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
When was the Mandal Commission appointed?
In 1979, as the Second Backward Classes Commission under B. P. Mandal. Its recommendation of 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes in central posts was implemented in 1990.
Which Amendment introduced EWS reservation?
The 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 2019, which amended Articles 15 and 16 to allow reservation for economically weaker sections in education and public employment, up to 10 per cent.
What does PM Ujjwala Yojana provide?
Free LPG connections to women from poor households, identified through the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011, with a financial support of Rs 1,600 per connection to meet the cost of the connection.