Article 46 of the Constitution of India refers to the promotion of educational and economic interests of
- (a)religious minorities.
- (b)Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections.
- (c)displaced persons from large irrigation projects.
- (d)the economically deprived.
Correct — B, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections. Article 46, a Directive Principle of State Policy, directs the State to promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and in particular of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and to protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation. Its named beneficiaries are the SCs, STs and other weaker sections — not religious minorities, displaced persons or a generic 'economically deprived' category.
- (a)religious minorities. — The rights of minorities are dealt with under Articles 29–30 (protection of their culture and educational institutions), not Article 46.
- (c)displaced persons from large irrigation projects. — No such group is named in Article 46; this is an invented category with no basis in the text.
- (d)the economically deprived. — Too vague — Article 46 names the weaker sections and specifically the SCs and STs, not the 'economically deprived' in general.
Article 46 is a Directive Principle of State Policy in Part IV, obliging the State to advance the education and economy of the weaker sections, especially the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and to shield them from social injustice and exploitation. Directive Principles are non-justiciable but are declared fundamental to the governance of the country.
Match the article to its named group. The distractors each swap in a different vulnerable group (minorities, project oustees, the poor). Article 46's hallmark is its explicit mention of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
- Article 46 is a Directive Principle of State Policy in Part IV of the Constitution.
- It promotes the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections, especially SCs and STs.
- It also directs the State to protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.
- Minority cultural and educational rights are separate — Articles 29 and 30.
Article 46's named beneficiaries are the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and weaker sections.
- Confusing Article 46 (weaker sections, SC/ST) with the minority-rights articles 29–30.
- Reading 'weaker sections' as merely 'the economically deprived'.
Match a constitutional article to the group it protects — Article 46 keys on SCs, STs and weaker sections.
Which of the following is/are included in the Directive Principles of State Policy? 1. Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour 2. Prohibition of consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of other drugs which are injurious to health. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer(b) 2 only
Same concept — what the Directive Principles (Part IV) actually contain. UPSC tests which provisions are DPSPs; this NDA item tests the beneficiaries named in one such Directive Principle, Article 46.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which Article of the Constitution directs the State to promote the educational and economic interests of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes?
- (a)Article 44
- (b)Article 46
- (c)Article 48
- (d)Article 51
Answer(b) Article 46 — a Directive Principle for the weaker sections.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Article 46 of the Constitution is a
- (a)Fundamental Right
- (b)Fundamental Duty
- (c)Directive Principle of State Policy
- (d)Preambular ideal
Answer(c) Directive Principle of State Policy — in Part IV.