Consider the following statements regarding 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' : 1. Provisions will come into effect from the 18th Lok Sabha. 2. This will be in force for 15 years after becoming an Act. 3. There are provisions for the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes Women within the quota reserved for the Scheduled Castes. Which of the statements given above are correct ?
- (a) 1, 2 and 3
- (b) 1 and 2 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (d) 1 and 3 only
Why the answer is (c)
• The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam — the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023 — reserves one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha, State Assemblies and the Delhi Assembly for women.
• Statement 1 is wrong: the reservation takes effect only after a delimitation exercise based on the first census conducted after the Act's commencement, so it could not apply to the 18th Lok Sabha elected in 2024.
• Statement 2 is correct: the reservation is to continue for 15 years from commencement, extendable by Parliament.
• Statement 3 is correct: within the seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, one-third are reserved for women of those communities (new Articles 330A and 332A).
• Hence 2 and 3 only, option (c).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1, 2 and 3
- Statement 1 is wrong: the reservation awaits census and delimitation.
- (b) 1 and 2 only
- Statement 1 is wrong; statement 3 on SC women's sub-quota is correct.
- (d) 1 and 3 only
- Statement 1 is wrong; statement 2 on the 15-year period is correct.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2024, held on 16 June 2024. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.