Which of the following statements about the National Commission for Scheduled Castes is/are true?

1. It investigates and monitors all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Castes.

2. It participates and advises on the planning process of socio-economic development of the Scheduled Castes.

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

RRB NTPC CBT 2 (Level-5) Official Paper (Held On: 15 June 2022 Shift 3)

Answer 1

The correct answer is Both 1 and 2.

Key Points

National Commission for Scheduled Castes
- In order to provide safeguards against the exploitation of Scheduled Castes and Anglo Indian communities and to protect and advance their economic, social, cultural, and educational interests, special provisions were made in the Constitution.
- राष्ट्रीय अनुसूचित जाति आयोग एक भारतीय संवैधानिक निकाय है जो सामाजिक न्याय और अधिकारिता मंत्रालय को रिपोर्ट करता है।
- In India, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes is governed by Article 338.
- In Article 338 of the Constitution, clauses (5), (8), and (9) specify the Commission's responsibilities, duties and powers such as in clauses (5) it is mentioned that it will be the commission's duty
  - to investigates and monitors all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Castes.
  - to participates and advises on the planning process of socio-economic development of the Scheduled Castes.
- The Constitution (89th Amendment) Act of 2003,modified the Article 338 and added a new Article 338A, establishing the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST).

Additional Information

Suraj Bhan served as the chairman of the first National Commission for Scheduled Castes, which was established in 2004.
The other functions and duties of this commission in clause (5) is to inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the Scheduled Castes.
In clause (8) it is stated that the Commission shall have all the powers of a civil court trying a case while looking into any matter mentioned in sub-clause (a) or looking into any complaint mentioned in sub-clause (b) of clause (5).
And in clause (9) it is mentioned that the Union and every State Government shall contact the Commission on all significant policy issues affecting the Scheduled Castes.