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Source- This post is based on the article “National Commission for Scheduled Castes directs States to grant Scheduled Caste status to rehabilitated Bengali people” published in “PIB” on 19th December 2023.
Why in the News?
National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) directs States to grant Scheduled Caste status to the Namashudra, Paundra and Rajvanshi sub-castes of rehabilitated Bengali society.
What is the Status of these Sub-Castes of Rehabilitated Bengali people in India?
1) The people who came from East Pakistan in 1947 were rehabilitated in 18 States by the Government of India since 1960.
2) In 8 states, Namashudra, Paundra and Rajvanshi sub-castes of Bengali society have been given the status of Scheduled Caste.
3) However, in the remaining 10 states i.e Delhi, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, and Karnataka, they remain without Scheduled Caste status.
4) NCSC will take action under Article 338 of the Constitution of India to grant them Scheduled Caste status.
Note- Under Article 338, the NCSC monitor safeguards for these groups as per the Constitution and other laws.
What is the Criteria for SC Status in India?
1) Article 341(1) of the Indian Constitution empowers the president to designate castes in the country and specific states as Scheduled Castes.
2) Inclusion in the SC list is based on significant social, educational, and economic backwardness resulting from historical untouchability, though not explicitly mentioned in the constitution.
3) The concerned State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations make proposal for inclusion in the SC list. Such a proposal must be approved by the Registrar General of India (RGI) and the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC).
4) As per Article 341(2), Parliament may by law make further amendments to the list of Scheduled Castes as notified by the President.
| For more information on criteria for SC status Click Here to read |
What is National Commission for Scheduled Castes?
UPSC Syllabus- Polity and Nation
