The `Schedules' listing the castes and tribes recognised as deserving of special treatment because of the massive discrimination practiced against them were drawn up in 1935, by the British Indian government. Post-independence, which was the most important initiative taken by the government to compensate for this discrimination? Write briefly about it.
The `Schedules' listing the castes and tribes recognised as deserving of special treatment because of the massive discrimination practiced against them were drawn up in 1935, by the British Indian government. Post-independence, which was the most important initiative taken by the government to compensate for this discrimination? Write briefly about it.
The most important post-independence initiative was the policy of reservation (affirmative action) written into the Indian Constitution.
- It reserves a proportion of seats in legislatures, government jobs, and educational institutions for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
- The goal is to compensate for centuries of caste-based discrimination by ensuring these groups gain representation and access to opportunities they had historically been denied.
Marking Scheme
- 11 mark: correctly identifies reservation/affirmative action as the post-independence initiative.
- 21 mark: briefly explains its purpose and scope (seats in legislature, government jobs, education for SC/ST).
Hint
Name the policy (reservation) and mention all three areas it covers — legislature, jobs, education.
Quick Oral Answer
Post-independence, the government introduced the constitutional policy of reservation, reserving seats in legislatures, jobs, and education for SCs and STs to compensate for historical caste-based discrimination.
Analysis & Explanation
This question tests continuity between the colonial 'Schedules' of 1935 and independent India's constitutional response.
Concept: The Constitution of India (1950) converted the colonial administrative category of 'Scheduled Castes/Tribes' into a basis for compensatory discrimination — reservation — recognising that formal legal equality alone cannot undo generations of structural disadvantage.
Exam trap: Students often just say 'reservation' without explaining its purpose (compensatory justice for past discrimination) or its scope (legislature, jobs, education), which limits the marks earned.
Real-world relevance: Reservation remains one of India's most debated policies — supporters see it as necessary redress for historical injustice, while critics debate its scope and duration, but it continues to shape politics and public employment today.
Common Mistakes
- 1Naming reservation without explaining its purpose (compensating for historical discrimination).
- 2Restricting the answer to only one domain (e.g., only jobs) instead of legislature, jobs, and education.
- 3Confusing the 1935 colonial Schedules with the post-independence policy instead of showing continuity.
Interesting Facts
Articles 341 and 342 of the Indian Constitution empower the President to specify which castes and tribes are recognised as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Reservation in India began with seats reserved in legislatures under colonial rule in 1935 but was constitutionally expanded after 1950 to include jobs and education.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the constitutional basis of reservation for SC/ST?
Articles 341 and 342 of the Indian Constitution allow specification of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and subsequent provisions reserve seats for them in legislatures, government jobs, and education.
Why is reservation called 'compensatory discrimination'?
Because it deliberately favours historically disadvantaged groups to compensate for generations of denial of opportunity, rather than treating all citizens with purely formal equality.