Question

The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2024 intends to modify the list of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in which of the following Indian states?

• A. Rajasthan
• B. Uttar Pradesh
• C. Maharashtra
• D. Odisha

Answer 1

Answer:

D. Odisha

Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2024

• The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to make modifications to the existing lists of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) within the state of Odisha.
• This legislative proposal seeks to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, specifically concerning their application to Odisha.
• Such amendments are typically brought about to include or exclude certain communities from the SC and ST lists based on ethnographic studies, representations from state governments, and recommendations from the Registrar General of India and the National Commission for SCs/STs.
• The primary objective of these orders is to ensure that the benefits and protections provided under the Constitution to SCs and STs reach the intended communities.
• Historical Context: The original lists of SCs and STs were notified by the President of India under Articles 341 and 342 of the Constitution, respectively. These lists have been modified by Parliament through subsequent legislation over the years.
• Process of Inclusion/Exclusion: Any proposal for modification of the SC/ST lists must be initiated by the concerned state government and then approved by the central government through the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, followed by parliamentary assent.
• Significance for Competitive Exams: Understanding such amendment bills is crucial as they often appear in the "Miscellaneous" section of Indian Polity for various competitive examinations. Questions may revolve around the states affected, the purpose of the amendment, or the constitutional articles involved.