Civil Services Prep

Prelims 2023 · Polity and Constitution · Question 20

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The Supreme Court of India has held in some judgements that the reservation policies made under Article 16(4) of the Constitution of India would be limited by Article 335 for maintenance of efficiency of the administration. Statement-II: Article 335 of the Constitution of India defines the term 'efficiency of administration'. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
  2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
  3. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
  4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Answer

Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

Statement-I: Correct. The Supreme Court has held in cases such as M. Nagaraj that reservation in services under Article 16(4)/16(4A) is subject to constitutional limitations, and Article 335 is one such limit because it requires consideration of the efficiency of administration.

Statement-II: Incorrect. Article 335 does not define the term "efficiency of administration"; it only states that the claims of SCs/STs shall be taken into consideration consistently with the maintenance of efficiency of administration.

Answer: Since Statement-I is correct and Statement-II is incorrect, the correct option is (c).

  1. Mr. X, a senior officer, was overseeing a critical vaccination programme during a pandemic. He found that a…
  2. Ms. X is a mid-level civil service official working in the urban development department of a major city.…
  3. X' was addressing a seminar on the meaning of the term 'law' as provided under Article 13, Part III of the…
  4. Consider the following statements with reference to the Constitution of India : 1. There is no Article in the…
  5. Consider the following statements about the provisions pertaining to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled…
  6. Consider the following statements in respect of questions asked by the Members in the Parliament of India : 1.…