Excluding the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, what is the total number of members of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

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.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) Understates the count — Article 338A(2) fixes 3 other Members besides the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson.  (b) Understates the count — the correct figure fixed by Article 338A(2) is 3 other Members.  (d) Overstates the count — Article 338A(2) fixes exactly 3 other Members (making 5 in total with the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson).

Concept: 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.

State PCS 2023 Q27 — Indian Polity PYQ with Answer

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