Question

Which of the following statements is/are correct about the 104th Constitutional Amendment?

(i) The 104th Amendment extended reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in legislatures until January 2030.

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

(iii) The 104th Amendment was passed in the Rajya Sabha on 9 December 2019.

• A. Only (i) and (ii)
• B. Only (i) and (iii)
• C. Only (ii) and (iii)
• D. All the above (i, ii, iii)

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Only (i) and (ii)

104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019

• Extension of Reservation for SCs and STs:

  • The amendment extended the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.

  • This extension is for a further period of ten years, i.e., until January 2030.

  • This provision was originally intended to lapse in 2020 but has been renewed.

• Abolition of Reservation for Anglo-Indians:

  • The 104th Amendment discontinued the nomination of members of the Anglo-Indian community in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.

  • Prior to this amendment, two members could be nominated to the Lok Sabha, and one member to each State Legislative Assembly, if the President/Governor felt that the community was not adequately represented.

  • This discontinuation of nomination came into effect from the general elections held after the amendment.

• Timeline of Passage:

  • The 104th Constitutional Amendment Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on December 10, 2019, and by the Rajya Sabha on December 12, 2019. (Note: The provided answer states the Rajya Sabha date as December 9, 2019, which is incorrect. The Lok Sabha passed it on Dec 10 and Rajya Sabha on Dec 12).

  • It received the President's assent on January 25, 2020.

• Constitutional Articles Affected:

  • Articles 334 of the Constitution has been amended by this Act. This article deals with the reservation of seats and special representation for a period of ten years at the time of the commencement of the Constitution.

• Significance for Competitive Exams:

  • Understanding the dates of passage and assent is crucial for exam questions.

  • The specific articles amended are important for detailed polity preparation.

  • The dual impact of extending SC/ST reservation while discontinuing Anglo-Indian nomination is a key distinction to remember.