UPSC Prelims 2011 · Question 58 of 100
UPSC Prelims 2011 question on National Minority Status Benefits
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2011
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectPolity
- TopicFundamental Rights
- DifficultyMedium
- TypeStatement
In India, if a religious sect/community is given the status of a national minority, what special advantages is it entitled to?
1. It can establish and administer exclusive educational institutions.
2. The President of India automatically nominates a representative of the community to Lok Sabha.
3. It can derive benefits from the Prime Minister’s 15-Point Programme.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Answer: C. 1 and 3 only
Verdict
Correct Answer: 1 and 3 only
Analysis
Granting national minority status provides constitutional and welfare-based safeguards to protect the distinct identity of a community.
Statement by statement
1. Establish and administer educational institutions — Correct
Under Article 30 of the Constitution, religious and linguistic minorities have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
This helps minorities preserve their language, culture and identity through education.
2. Automatic nomination to Lok Sabha — Incorrect
There is no constitutional provision for automatic nomination of representatives of religious minorities to the Lok Sabha.
The earlier provision for nomination of Anglo-Indians under Article 331 was abolished by the 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019.
3. Benefits from the Prime Minister’s 15-Point Programme — Correct
The Prime Minister’s 15-Point Programme is meant for the welfare of notified minorities.
It aims to ensure an equitable share for minorities in schemes related to education, employment, credit support and infrastructure development.
Extra UPSC info
* Minorities are notified by the Central Government under Section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
* Six communities are notified as national minorities: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains.
* Jains were notified as a national minority in 2014.
* Article 29 protects the right of any section of citizens to conserve their language, script and culture.
* Article 30 gives minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions.
* In T.M.A. Pai Foundation case, the Supreme Court held that minority status may also be determined at the State level.
How to crack it
National minority status gives educational and welfare benefits, but it does not provide automatic political nomination to the Lok Sabha.