Excluding the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, what is the total number of members of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes?
- (a)1 member
- (b)2 members
- (c)3 members
- (d)4 members
Correct — C, 3 members. Article 338A of the Constitution (inserted by the Constitution (89th Amendment) Act, 2003, which split the earlier joint National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes into two separate bodies) provides that the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) consists of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and three other Members, all appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal. So, excluding the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, exactly 3 other Members remain — 5 in total.
- (a)1 member — Understates the count — Article 338A(2) fixes 3 other Members besides the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson.
- (b)2 members — Understates the count — the correct figure fixed by Article 338A(2) is 3 other Members.
- (d)4 members — Overstates the count — Article 338A(2) fixes exactly 3 other Members (making 5 in total with the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson).
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) is a constitutional body under Article 338A, created in 2003 when the 89th Constitutional Amendment Act split the earlier joint National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes into two separate commissions — the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (Article 338) and the NCST (Article 338A). Both share a parallel composition: a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and three other Members, all appointed by the President.
The exam trap is in how the question is phrased: 'total members' usually means 5 (including the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson), while 'members other than the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson' means 3 — read the stem carefully. Also avoid confusing NCST's Article 338A with NCSC's Article 338 or the later National Commission for Backward Classes under Article 338B (102nd Amendment, 2018).
- NCST was constituted under Article 338A, inserted by the 89th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003.
- Composition: 1 Chairperson + 1 Vice-Chairperson + 3 other Members = 5 total.
- All members are appointed by the President of India by warrant under his hand and seal.
- The President causes the Commission's annual and special reports to be laid before Parliament.
Excluding the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, NCST has 3 other Members (Article 338A(2)).
- Confusing 'total members' (5) with 'members other than the Chairperson/Vice-Chairperson' (3) — read the question stem carefully
- Mixing up NCST (Article 338A) with NCSC (Article 338) or NCBC (Article 338B)
MPPSC/UPSC frequently test the exact composition number of these Article 338-family commissions and the amendment that created each — expect 'how many members' phrased either inclusive or exclusive of the Chairperson/Vice-Chairperson.
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) was constituted under which Article of the Constitution of India?
- (a)Article 338
- (b)Article 338A
- (c)Article 338B
- (d)Article 339
Answer(b) Article 338A — inserted by the 89th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The 89th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003 primarily did which of the following?
- (a)Created the National Commission for Backward Classes
- (b)Split the joint National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes into two separate commissions
- (c)Reserved seats for Scheduled Tribes in local bodies
- (d)Abolished the office of Scheduled Areas Commissioner
Answer(b) It split the earlier joint National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes into two separate bodies — NCSC (Article 338) and NCST (Article 338A).