The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 extends to

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — A, whole of India. Section 1(2) of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 states that it extends to the whole of India. The Act enforces Article 17 (abolition of untouchability), a fundamental right that applies throughout the country with no territorial exception — so, unlike several older central laws, this Act was never carved out for Jammu and Kashmir.

Why the other options are wrong — (b) This is the standard 'except J&K' formula found in many older central Acts, but it does not apply here — the PCR Act, 1955 extends to the whole of India, J&K included.  (c) The Act is not confined to Union Territories; it operates across all States and UTs, i.e. the whole of India.  (d) The reverse of the truth — the Act is nationwide, not limited to a single State.

Concept: 'Extent' is the territorial reach of a statute, stated in its Section 1. The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 extends to the whole of India because it enforces Article 17, under which untouchability is abolished everywhere in the country. That makes the 'except Jammu and Kashmir' qualifier — common in pre-2019 central legislation — inapplicable here.

State PCS 2018 Q90 — Indian Polity PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2018 Q90 — Indian Polity PYQ with Answer