Correct option is A
The Constitution (103rd Amendment) Act, 2019, introduced
Clause (6) to Article 16 of the Constitution of India. This clause enables the government to make provisions for the reservation of up to 10% of seats in public employment and education for economically weaker sections (EWS) of the citizens who are not covered under the existing reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.
Information Booster:
Article 16(6): This newly inserted clause in Article 16 allows the state to make special provisions for the reservation of appointments or posts in favor of any economically weaker sections of citizens, aside from those already mentioned under Articles 16(4) and 16(4-A), provided that such reservations do not exceed 10% of the posts in any category.
The introduction of Article 16(6) is significant because it marked a shift in India's reservation policy by introducing reservations based on economic criteria rather than social and educational backwardness. It was a step towards ensuring that economically disadvantaged individuals who are not covered by the existing reservation system also have access to opportunities in public employment and education.
Additional Knowledge:
1.
Article 16(4): Article 16(4) permits the state to make provisions for the reservation of appointments or posts in favor of any backward class of citizens which, in the opinion of the state, is not adequately represented in the services under the state. This is one of the key provisions under which reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes are made.
2.
Article 16(4-A): This clause, added by the 77th Amendment Act, 1995, allows the state to make provisions for reservations in matters of promotion to any class or classes of posts in the services under the state in favor of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, which in the opinion of the state, are not adequately represented.
3.
Article 16(4-B): Introduced by the 81st Amendment Act, 2000, this clause allows the state to consider unfilled vacancies of a previous year as a separate class of vacancies to be filled in the subsequent year, thus permitting the carry forward of reserved vacancies without affecting the ceiling limit of 50% for that particular year.
4.
Article 16(5): Article 16(5) provides that a law regulating the recruitment and conditions of service of persons appointed to public services and posts in connection with the affairs of any religious or denominational institution can specify that the incumbents of such offices must belong to a particular religion or denomination.
