Which Article of the Indian Constitution mentions about the ‘Promotion of educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections’?

Correct — D. Article 46 carries exactly that marginal heading: promotion of educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections.

Its text directs the State to promote their educational and economic interests with special care, and to protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.

It sits in Part IV, so it is a directive on policy rather than a right enforceable in court. The number the question wants is option (d).

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  Article 45 — Article 45, as it stands after the 86th Amendment, is about early childhood care and education for children below the age of six. A different beneficiary group entirely.
• (b)
  Article 47 — Article 47 is the public health directive: raising the level of nutrition and the standard of living, and improving public health, including action against intoxicating drinks and drugs injurious to health.
• (c)
  Article 48 — Article 48 deals with the organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines, and with preserving and improving breeds of cattle.

The Directive Principles of State Policy occupy Part IV, Articles 36 to 51. They are instructions to the State on the kind of society to build.

Article 37 settles their legal weight: they are not enforceable by any court, yet they are declared fundamental in the governance of the country and it is the State's duty to apply them in making laws.

The idea was borrowed from the Constitution of Ireland. Article 46 is the article of that Part that speaks specifically for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections.

Key facts

• Article 46 directs the State to promote the educational and economic interests of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections.
• The Directive Principles are contained in Part IV of the Constitution, Articles 36 to 51.
• Article 37 makes the Directive Principles non-justiciable while declaring them fundamental in the governance of the country.
• The Directive Principles were borrowed from the Constitution of Ireland.

Common traps

• Mixing up Article 46 with Article 45, which is about children below the age of six
• Expecting Article 46 to be enforceable, when it is a directive and not a fundamental right

No directly related past PYQ was found.