Checkbox caste: On the counting of caste, Census 2027

Consider the following statements about the provisions pertaining to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in India :

1. Provisions regarding the administration of the Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram are given in the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
2. Some tribes of India are entitled to exemption from paying Income Tax on certain incomes.
3. The Constitution of India provides for reservation of seats in Panchayats for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.

Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct ?

1. A. There are two correct statements, that include statement 2.
2. B. There are two correct statements, that are statements 1 and 3.
3. C. There is only one correct statement.
4. D. All three statements are correct.

Consider the following statements:

1. The India Sanitation Coalition is a platform to promote sustainable sanitation and is funded by the Government of India and the World Health Organization.
2. The National Institute of Urban Affairs is an apex body of the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs in Government
of India and provides innovative solutions to address the challenges of Urban India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A. 1 only
2. B. 2 only
3. C. Both 1 and 2
4. D. Neither 1 nor 2

Mr. X, a senior officer, was overseeing a critical vaccination programme during a pandemic. He found that a private service provider responsible for vaccine distribution was compromising on quality to make profits. Despite immense pressure to manage the issue due to vested interests, he raised his voice based on the principles of public administration which he learnt during various training programmes attended across his career. He reported the issue to the appropriate vigilance authority and halted the contract to ensure citizen welfare.

Which one among the following principles of public administration was most strongly demonstrated by Mr. X's actions?

1. A. Esprit de corps
2. B. Equity
3. C. Accountability
4. D. Delegation

Which of the following statements with respect to the Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) is/are correct ?

1. The period of its implementation is 1st April, 2021 to 31st March, 2026.
2. The key objective of the Revamped RGSA is to develop the governance capabilities of the Panchayati Raj Institutions to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals.
3. The share of the Central funding for the Revamped RGSA is 100% for all States and Union Territories.

Select the answer using the code given below :

1. A. 1 and 2
2. B. 2 only
3. C. 1 and 3
4. D. 2 and 3

In India, Legal Services Authorities provide free legal services to which of the following type of citizens?
1. Person with an annual income of less than Rs 1,00,000
2. Transgender with an annual income of less than Rs 2,00,000
3. Member of Other Backward Classes (OBC) with an annual income of less than Rs 3,00,000
4. All Senior Citizens

1. A. 1 and 2 only
2. B. 3 and 4 only
3. C. 2 and 3 only
4. D. 1 and 4 only

What is/are the purpose of ‘District Mineral Foundations” in India?
1. Promoting mineral explorative activities in mineral-rich districts
2. Protecting the interests of the persons affected by mining operations
3. Authorizing State Governments to issue licenses for mineral exploration

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. A. 1 and 2 only
2. B. 2 only
3. C. 1 and 3 only
4. D. 1, 2 and 3

With reference to the National Legal Services Authority, consider the following statements :
1. Its objective is to provide free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society on the basis of equal opportunity.
2. It issues guidelines for the State Legal Services Authorities to implement the legal programs and schemes throughout the country.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A. 1 only
2. B. 2 only
3. C. 1 and 2 only
4. D. None of the above

Consider the following statements:
1. National Development Council is an organ of the Planning Commission.
2. The Economic and Social Planning is kept in the Concurrent List in the Constitution of India.
3. The Constitution of India prescribes that Panchayats should be assigned the task of preparation of plans for economic development and social justice.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A. 1 only
2. B. 1 and 2 only
3. C. 2 and 3 only
4. D. 1, 2 and 3

Consider the following statements :
1. As per the Right to Education (RTE) Act, to be eligible for appointment as a teacher in a State, a person would be required to possess the minimum qualifications laid down by the concerned State Council of Teacher Education.
2. As per the RTE Act, for teaching primary classes, a candidate is required to pass a Teacher Eligibility Test conducted in accordance with the National Council of Teacher Education guidelines.
3. In India, more than 90% of teacher education institutions are directly under the State Governments.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A. 1 and 2
2. B. 2 only
3. C. 1 and 3
4. D. 3 only

The Government enacted the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act in 1996. Which one of the following is not identified as its objective?

1. A. To provide self-governance
2. B. To recognize traditional rights
3. C. To create autonomous regions in tribal areas
4. D. To free tribal people from exploitation

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has to address the challenges faced by children in the digital era. Examine the existing policies and suggest measures the Commission can initiate to tackle the issue.

Discuss the role of the Competition Commission of India in containing the abuse of dominant position by the Multi-National Corporations in India. Refer to the recent decisions.

Though the Human Rights Commissions have contributed immensely to the protection of human rights in India, yet they have failed to assert themselves against the mighty and powerful. Analyzing their structural and practical limitations, suggest remedial measures

Which steps are required for constitutionalisation of a commission? Do you think imparting constitutionality to the national commission for women would ensure greater gender justice and empowerment in India? Give reasons.

Recent amendments to the Right toInformation Act will have a profound impact on the autonomy and independence of the Information Commission”. Discuss.

The Central Administration Tribunal which was
established for the redressal of grievances and
complaints by or against the central government
employees, nowadays is exercising its powers as
an independent judicial authority.

Which of the following statements accurately describes a key difference between the caste data collection planned for Census 2027 and the 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC)?

1. A. Census 2027 will use a digital method for the first time, while 2011 SECC relied solely on paper forms.
2. B. The caste enumeration in Census 2027 will have statutory backing, unlike the 2011 SECC.
3. C. Census 2027 will only count Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, whereas 2011 SECC included all castes.
4. D. The 2011 SECC successfully provided usable caste data for policy formulation, which Census 2027 aims to replicate.

The 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) data on caste proved unusable primarily due to which of the following reasons?

1. A. Lack of public participation and low response rates across states.
2. B. The enumerators were not adequately trained to record caste data accurately.
3. C. Open-ended responses led to an unmanageably large number of inconsistent and incoherent caste names.
4. D. The data collection was halted midway due to significant political opposition and legal challenges.

According to the article, what is the primary rationale for counting caste in the Census, despite the constitutional stance against caste discrimination?

1. A. To re-establish and formalize the traditional caste hierarchy in society.
2. B. To provide empirical data for sharper targeting of welfare and social justice measures.
3. C. To identify and penalize individuals or groups practicing caste discrimination.
4. D. To determine the linguistic and religious diversity of the population more accurately.

"If caste is to be counted, it should be counted well." In light of this statement, discuss the rationale behind including caste enumeration in the Census and the challenges associated with collecting accurate and usable caste data in India.

Introduce the context of Census 2027 and the constitutional dilemma regarding caste. Elaborate on the rationale for counting caste, focusing on social justice and welfare. Detail the methodological challenges faced in past attempts like the 2011 SECC and suggest potential solutions for accurate data collection.

The article suggests a digital method with curated lists for caste enumeration in Census 2027, drawing lessons from the Bihar caste survey. Examine how this proposed methodology could address the shortcomings of past attempts and contribute to more effective social justice policies.

Begin by outlining the problems with previous open-ended caste enumeration methods. Describe the proposed digital methodology involving curated lists and its advantages. Analyze how this improved data collection can lead to better-targeted welfare schemes, inform policies on 'creamy layer' and sub-categorisation, and ultimately foster more effective social justice.