CSAT DAILY MISSION #37

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:

The Constitution has facilitated the political participation of SCs/STs (dalits and adivasis) through three measures: Fundamental Right to equality granted to citizens, abolition of discrimination including untouchability, and special provision for their representation in legislature. These rights and entitlements, however, have not resulted in effective political participation and removal of their sense of political marginalization. Though both groups face exclusionary practices, dalits and adivasis are differently placed in respect of their social situation. Dalits are exposed continuously to the domination of other castes hostile to them.
They are also socially and economically dependent upon these very castes in their day today life. They have, therefore, little autonomy to act on their own in any matter. Adivasis, by and large, are distanced from dominant non-tribal communities and have considerable space to act autonomously. The political equality in respect of dalits is compromised in various ways. The exercise of the right to vote without fear or favour is widely frustrated both by untouchability practices and exertion of dominance by ‘higher’ caste groups. The absence of public buildings to serve as a polling booth near the cluster of dalits prevents this option being exercised on a large scale, even where the local officials are motivated to provide such a booth. Dalit votes are frequently ‘captured’ en masse. Both discrimination and dominance affect the exercise of the right to contest elections, which severely circumscribes dalit freedom. Threatening dalit aspirants not to contest the election, forcing them to withdraw their candidature if they file their nomination, and assaulting them and their supporters if they persist in their political assertion, are quite common.

Which of the following is/are the specific provisions for the SCs and STs?

1. Fundamental Right to equality
2. Abolition of discrimination including untouchability
3. Special provision for their representation in legislature

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 and 3 only

(C) 1 and 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

According to the passage, dalits and adivasis are:

1) Differently placed in social order.
2) One and the same.
3) Dalits are dominant and adivasis are distanced from the society.

(A) 1 only

(B) 2 only

(C) 1 and 2 only

(D) 2 and 3 only

Which of the following observation suggests that the political equality of dalits is being compromised?

1) Untouchability practices.
2) Exertion of dominance by ‘higher’ caste groups.
3) Discrimination and authority.

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 and 3 only

(C) 1 and 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Which of the following are not the common ways of threatening Dalit contestants in elections?

1. Withdrawl of their candidature.
2. Assaulting them for filing nomination.
3. Dalit supporters are mugged for political assertion.

(A) All of the above

(B) 1 and 2 only

(C) None of the above

(D) 2 and 3 only

Why don’t the Dalits rise up as a mass and challenge the existing class divide?

(A) They are prevented access from possessing weapons of any kind.

(B) They are dependent on their oppressors for their subsistence.

(C) Past uprisings have not brought any rewards, and they have learnt the lessons.

(D) They wait for the Supreme Court to address the issue.