Which of the following is/are true regarding National Commission for Scheduled Castes?

1) Originally the Constitution just had a Special officer for SCs and STs.

2) National Commission for SCs came into existence in 2001.

3) 88th Amendment bifurcated the National Commission for SCs and STs in to two.

a. 1

b. 1, 3

c. 2, 3

d. All of the above

ANSWER: 1

Explanation:

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (SCs) is a constitutional body.

Article 338 of the Constitution says that There shall be a commission for the Scheduled Castes to be known as the National Commission for the Scheduled Castes.

Other national commissions are statutory bodies as they are established by acts of the Parliament and have no explicit mention in the Constitution.

Evolution of The Commission -

Originally, Article 338 of the Constitution provided for the appointment of a Special Officer for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

It was to investigate all matters relating to the constitutional safeguards for the SCs and STs and to report to the President on their working.

He was called the commissioner for SCs and STs.

In 1978, the Government through a Resolution set up a non-statutory multi-member commission for SCs and STs.

This was along with the office of commissioner for SCs and STs.

In 1987, the Government through another Resolution modified the functions of the commission and renamed it as the National Commission for SCs and STs.

65th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1990 provided for the establishment of a high levelmulti-member National Commission for SCs and STs in the place of a single Special Officer.

This constitutional body replaced the commissioner for SCs and STs and the commission set up under the Resolution of 1987.

The 89th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2003 bifurcated the commission into two distinct bodies - National Commission for Scheduled Castes (Article 338) and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (Article 338-A).

The separate National Commission for SCs came into existence in 2004.

It consists of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and three other members.

They are appointed by the President.

Their conditions of service and tenure of office are determined by the President.