Subject: GS 1
Syllabus: Post-Independence consolidation and reorganisation within the country.
Questions
- Nehru called the Government of India Act, 1935 as "a machine with strong brakes but no engine". Still, the Government of India Act, 1935, lays the foundation for the Indian Constitution. Discuss. (150 Words, 10 Marks)
- In the background of ever increasing caste based reservation. Critically evaluate the need for caste based census. (150 Words, 10 Marks)
Model Structure
1. Nehru called the Government of India Act, 1935 as "a machine with strong brakes but no engine". Still, the Government of India Act, 1935, lays the foundation for the Indian Constitution. Discuss.
(150 Words, 10 Marks)
Model Structure
Introduction :
- The Government of India Act 1935 was an important act in the history of India. As a result of the Simon Commission and the result of various previous acts, the 1935 Act was laid.
Main Body:
It laid the foundation for the Indian Constitution in the following ways:
- It provided for the establishment of an All India federation consisting of provinces and princely states as units. Thus, resulting in today’s Union of India.
- It divided the powers between the centre and units in terms of three lists- Federal list, Provincial list and the Concurrent list. Residuary powers were given to the Viceroy. Today, the residuary powers lay with the centre. But the 3 lists continue.
- It abolished dyarchy in the provinces and introduced ‘provincial autonomy’ in its place. The states today are autonomous under the federal structure.
- The act introduced responsible government in provinces, that is, the governor was required to act with the advice of ministers responsible to the provincial legislature. The responsible government continued with a parliamentary form of government and a no-confidence motion.
- Bicameralism was introduced in six provinces- Bengal, Bombay, Madras, Bihar, Assam and the United Provinces. Which continues at the centre and a few states.
- Council of India which was established as per the 1858 Act, was abolished. The secretary of state was instead provided with a team of advisors.
- The act provided for setting up the Federal Public Service Commission, Provincial Public Service Commission, Joint Public Service Commission, Reserve Bank of India. Which are constitutional and statutory bodies today?
- Setting up a Federal court:
- A Federal court was also envisaged to be set up under this act so the provisions of the act could be interpreted in case of any disputes.
- The Supreme Court of India today functions as the federal court.
However, some of its provisions did not continue in the new constitution of independent India:
- It provided for the adoption of a dyarchy at the centre. But this provision did not come into effect at all.
- Separate electorates were further extended to depressed classes, women and labour.
- Preamble, Fundamental rights etc. were introduced later
Conclusion:
- The powers of the Legislature were confined and restricted. The Act protected British vested interests, discouraging the emergence of national unity, rather encouraging separation and communalism. All nationalists, including Nehru and Jinnah, condemned the Act.
2. In the background of ever increasing caste based reservation. Critically evaluate the need for caste based census.
(150 Words, 10 Marks)
Model Structure
Introduction:
- There have been growing demands for a caste census with the general census in 2022 since the Justice G Rohini-led commission submitted a draft proposal recommending a sub-categorisation of the reservation for the OBC.
Main body:
Rationale behind conducting a caste census:
- Rationalise reservation: Many have argued that an SECC would be the best way to rationalise reservation based on data. Around 2,633 castes are covered under the OBC reservation. (The states have the flexibility to add castes to the central list depending on local deprivation levels determined by local OBC commissions.)
- Since job and education quotas are based on caste, this will help in evidence-based policymaking.
- Rohini commission: 2018, the commission analysed the data of 13,00,00 central jobs and admissions to central higher education institutions under the OBC quota over the preceding five years.
- It found that 97% of all jobs and educational seats have gone to just 25% of all sub-castes classified. And 24.95% of these jobs and seats went to just 10 OBC communities.
- Further, this census can help the government in identifying the most benefited section and provide fair representation.
- Many studies show the OBC population to be above 40%. This is much greater than the current reservation, which stands at 27%. The caste census will provide the exact proportion of the OBC population.
- Better framing of Government welfare schemes and democratic policy making.
- Break the myths associated with castes: The caste census will reveal the actual data on castes and remove ambiguities associated with the caste. For instance,
- In Karnataka, there were claims that among the castes, the Lingayats are the most numerous. So the census can reveal the true information on that.
Challenges linked to conducting a caste census:
- Reservation tussles:
- Reservation is going to cater only to a small proportion of those who are entitled to it. Leading to the growth of elites among castes and communities. So, the caste census, along with reservation, might favour elites among castes.
- It could lead to demands for larger or separate quotas. For instance, Patels, Gujjars, Jats and other castes are demanding reservations. The caste census might induce more such demands in future.
- The caste census will give rise to caste division. As India seeks to eliminate and weaken the notion of caste, a caste census would only strengthen it.
- Collection of caste data is not easy: Some people believe that Caste is a very important source of privilege and advantage in our country. On the other hand, some feel disadvantaged by revealing caste-based information. For instance, the same caste is spelt in different ways in different states.
Conclusion:
If inclusive development is the constitutional priority of our country, then we must demand the socio-economic caste enumeration and make it publicly available so that our development policies and programmes can be accordingly shaped in a transparent manner.
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