Question

Article 340 of the constitution of India provides for the appointment of a commission to investigate the conditions for the improvement of _________.
A: Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
B: Socially and educationally backward classes
C: Socially and economically backward classes
D: Educationally and economically backward classes

Answer 1

Hint: Article 340 was introduced in India in 1949 by the Kaka Kalelkar commission. Constitutional Assembly debates on $16^{th}$ June, 1949 on this Article.

Complete Answer:
Option A: Article 338 and 338(A) of the constitution of India provides for the appointment of a commission to investigate the conditions for the improvement of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Article 338 deals with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Article 338(A) deals with the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. This is an incorrect answer.

Option B: Article 340 of the constitution of India provides for the appointment of a commission to investigate the conditions for the improvement of Socially and educationally backward classes. The President may order to appoint a commission to investigate the conditions and background of backward classes of India. The government of India ensures their social and educational development. This is the correct answer.

Option C: There is no provision in the Constitution for the appointment of a commission to investigate the conditions for the improvement of Socially and economically backward classes.
Citizens with annual income less than 1 lakh INR and who do not belong to SCs, STs and other backward classes come under Economically Backward category. This is not the correct answer.

Option D: Article 340 of the constitution of India does not provide for the appointment of a commission to investigate the conditions for the improvement of Educationally and Economically Backward classes. Hence this is the incorrect answer.

Option b is the correct answer to this question because Article 340 of the constitution of India provides for the appointment of a commission to investigate the conditions for the improvement of Socially and educationally backward classes.

Note: Kaka Kalelkar commission was the first Backward Classes Commission. The chairman of this commission was Kaka Kalelkar.