Correct option is A
Article 15(4) of the Constitution of India permits the State to make special provisions for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens, including the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). This clause provides the constitutional basis for reservations in educational institutions for SCs and STs.
Information Booster: The introduction of Article 15(4) by the First Amendment to the Constitution in 1951 was a response to the Supreme Court's judgment in the State of Madras v. Champakam Dorairajan case, which had struck down caste-based reservations in educational institutions. This amendment allowed the State to address social inequalities by providing for reservation in education.
Additional Knowledge:
· (b) Article 16(4): Pertains to reservation in public employment, not educational institutions.
· (c) Article 29(2): Ensures that no citizen is denied admission to educational institutions on grounds only of religion, race, caste, or language.
· (d) Article 14: Guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the laws but does not specifically address reservations.
