Question

Consider the following statements regarding the 104th and 106th Constitutional Amendments.

1. The 104th Amendment abolished reservations for Anglo-Indian representatives in the Lok Sabha and State Legislatures.

2. The 106th Amendment, also known as the Nari Shakti Vandana Adhiniyam, ensures 33% reservation for women in legislative bodies.

3. The 104th Amendment extended reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes until January 2025.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. All of the above

Answer 1

Answer:

A. 1 and 2 only

104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019

• This amendment extended the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies for another ten years, up to January 25, 2030.
• It also provided for the discontinuation of the nomination of members from the Anglo-Indian community in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. Prior to this amendment, two members from the Anglo-Indian community could be nominated to the Lok Sabha, and one member to each State Legislative Assembly if the President or the Governor, respectively, felt that the community was not adequately represented.
• The 104th Amendment effectively ended the reservation for the Anglo-Indian community.

106th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023

• This landmark amendment is also known as the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam'.
• It provides for 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha, the State Legislative Assemblies, and the Delhi Legislative Assembly.
• This reservation will come into effect after the completion of delimitation (redrawing of boundaries of electoral constituencies) based on subsequent censuses.
• The Act mandates that one-third of the seats reserved for SCs and STs in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies will also be reserved for women belonging to these categories.
• The reservation for women will be implemented for a period of 15 years from the commencement of this Act, subject to review by Parliament.
• The 106th Amendment does not create new seats but reorganizes existing ones.
• This amendment aims to increase women's representation in the law-making bodies of India, promoting gender equality in politics.