Question

What reserved policies are laid down by the makers of the constitution for the weaker sections?

Answer 1

The Constitution makers were worried that in an open electoral competition, certain weaker sections may not stand a good chance to get elected to the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies. They may not have the required resources, education and contacts to contest and win elections against others. Those who are influential and resourceful may prevent them from winning elections.

Therefore, the Constitution makers thought of a special system of reserved constituencies for the weaker sections. Some constituencies are reserved for people, who belong to the Scheduled Castes and Schedilled Tribes. Currently, in the Lok Sabha, 79 seats are reserved for the SCs and 41 for the STs. This number is in proportion to their share in the total population. Thus, the reserved seats of SCs and STs do not take away the legitimate share of any other social group.

Answer 2

Answer:

Reserved constituencies were created by the constitution makers because they were worried that in an open electoral competition, certain weaker sections do not stand a good chance to get elected to the Lok Sabha and the state Legislative Assemblies.

• Article 46 of the Constitution provides that the State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the society and in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.
• The Economic Weaker Section Reservation Bill Article 15(6) and Article 16(6) which ensures 10% reservations to the poor and lower-middle-class people in upper castes who were denied any kind of affirmative action previously, was cleared by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind.