Tamil Nadu Economy Textbook Questions – Reservation: Concept and Rationale · Constitutional Provisions and Amendments · Commissions and Landmark Judgments · History of Reservation in Tamil Nadu · Present Reservation System: Tamil Nadu and the Union · Access to Social Resources · Debates: Creamy Layer, 50% Ceiling, Internal Reservation, Caste Enumeration · Tamil Nadu and India: A Comparison (Part 2) | Online Quiz

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Tamil Nadu Economy Textbook Questions – Reservation: Concept and Rationale · Constitutional Provisions and Amendments · Commissions and Landmark Judgments · History of Reservation in Tamil Nadu · Present Reservation System: Tamil Nadu and the Union · Access to Social Resources · Debates: Creamy Layer, 50% Ceiling, Internal Reservation, Caste Enumeration · Tamil Nadu and India: A Comparison (Part 2) – 20 questions, subject: Tamil Nadu Economy. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

Which of the following statements on reservation as published by TNPSC are correct?

Persons studied in Tamil medium have 20% reservation on a preferential basis.
The 5% reservation for ex-servicemen applies to posts of all groups.
The 10% for destitute widows is within the 30% of vacancies set apart for women.

Correct Answer: D [1, 3 only]

Explanation:

1, 3 correct: 20% preference for Tamil-medium students; 10% for destitute widows within women's 30%. 2 is wrong: ex-servicemen 5% is only for Group C posts.

Assertion (A): In Tamil Nadu, the reservation for Arunthathiyars is an additional 3% given outside the 69%.

Reason (R): The Tamil Nadu Arunthathiyars Act 4 of 2009 gives 16% of the seats reserved for Scheduled Castes to Arunthathiyars on a preferential basis.

Correct Answer: D []

Explanation:

A is false: the Arunthathiyar share is within the SC 18% (TNPSC: SC 15 + Arunthathiyar 3). R is true: Act 4 of 2009, 16% of SC seats.

Match the Article with the opportunity it provides:

a. 16(4A)	1. Reservation for SC, ST and women in Panchayats
b. 16(4B)	2. Reservation in promotion for SC/ST
c. 330	3. Unfilled reserved vacancies as a separate class in later years
d. 243D	4. Seats for SC, ST in the Lok Sabha

Correct Answer: A [2 3 4 1]

Explanation:

16(4A) - SC/ST promotion; 16(4B) - unfilled vacancies carried to later years; 330 - Lok Sabha reserved seats; 243D - Panchayat reservation.

Which of the following statements on access to social resources are correct?

In AISHE 2023-24 the higher-education GER of Scheduled Castes (27.8) was below the overall GER (30.0).
Of the 234 Tamil Nadu Assembly constituencies, 44 are reserved for SC and 2 for ST.
As on 1.1.2016, OBC representation in Central Government services exceeded 27%.

Correct Answer: C [1, 2 only]

Explanation:

1 and 2 are correct. 3 is wrong: on 1.1.2016 OBC share in central government services was 21.57%, below 27%.

Which of the following statements about the 50% ceiling on reservation are correct?

The M.R. Balaji judgment (1962) held that a special provision should generally be less than 50%.
Under Article 16(4B), unfilled reserved vacancies of earlier years are not counted towards the 50% ceiling of that year.
The Janhit Abhiyan judgment (2022) held the EWS quota invalid because it breached the 50% ceiling.

Correct Answer: D [1, 2 only]

Explanation:

1, 2 correct: Balaji (1962) said below 50%; 16(4B) (2000) keeps unfilled vacancies out of 50%. 3 is wrong: Janhit Abhiyan (2022) held 50% not inviolable.

Assertion (A): Tamil Nadu's 69% reservation law (Act 45 of 1994) enjoys the protection of Article 31B.

Reason (R): The Act was placed in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution by the 76th Amendment.

Correct Answer: A []

Explanation:

Both are true; Article 31B protects Ninth Schedule laws, and Act 45 of 1994 gets it because the 76th Amendment placed it there, so R explains A.

Match the commission with the year of its appointment:

a. Kaka Kalelkar Commission	1. 1979
b. Sattanathan Commission	2. 1953
c. Mandal Commission	3. 1982
d. Ambasankar Commission	4. 1969

Correct Answer: B [2 4 1 3]

Explanation:

Kaka Kalelkar 29.1.1953, Sattanathan 13.11.1969, Mandal 1.1.1979, Ambasankar 13.12.1982.

Which of the following statements comparing reservation in Tamil Nadu and the Centre are correct?

The total of SC, ST and OBC reservation of the Central Government is 49.5%.
In both Tamil Nadu and the Centre, the total share for backward classes is 27%.
Tamil Nadu's 69% reservation Act has been placed in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.

Correct Answer: A [1, 3 only]

Explanation:

1 and 3 are correct. 2 is wrong: the Centre has one OBC share of 27%; Tamil Nadu gives BC 26.5 + BC Muslim 3.5 + MBC/DNC 20 = 50%.

Match the Supreme Court judgment with what it said on backwardness:

a. M.R. Balaji (1962)	1. An economic criterion may be an indicium of social advancement
b. Indra Sawhney (1992)	2. Directive Principles are subsidiary to Fundamental Rights
c. Pattali Makkal Katchi case (2022)	3. Caste cannot be the sole or dominant test
d. Champakam Dorairajan (1951)	4. Decisions must rest on contemporaneous data

Correct Answer: D [3 1 4 2]

Explanation:

Balaji: caste not sole test; Indra Sawhney: economic criterion an indicium of advancement; PMK (2022): current data needed; Champakam: DPSPs below FRs.

10.

Assertion (A): Article 31B provides that Acts in the Ninth Schedule shall not be deemed void on the ground of inconsistency with the rights in Part III.

Reason (R): Article 31B and the Ninth Schedule were inserted by the Constitution (Twenty-fifth Amendment) Act, 1971.

Correct Answer: C []

Explanation:

A is true. R is false: Article 31B was added by the First Amendment, 1951 (Section 5); the 25th Amendment (1971) added Article 31C.

11.

Arrange in chronological order of coming into force: (1) Article 15(5) (2) Article 16(4A) (3) Article 15(6) (4) Article 16(4B)

Correct Answer: C [2 4 1 3]

Explanation:

16(4A) 17.6.1995, 16(4B) 9.6.2000, 15(5) 20.1.2006, 15(6) 14.1.2019.

12.

Match the judgment with what it held:

a. P. Rajendran (1968)	1. The requirement of quantifiable data on backwardness of SCs/STs is invalid
b. M. Nagaraj (2006)	2. A caste wholly socially and educationally backward is a class under Art. 15(4)
c. Jarnail Singh (2018)	3. Scheduled Castes may be sub-classified for reservation
d. Davinder Singh (2024)	4. Promotion amendments valid; 50% ceiling and creamy layer requirements remain

Correct Answer: B [2 4 1 3]

Explanation:

Rajendran: backward caste = class; Nagaraj: amendments upheld; Jarnail Singh: SC/ST quantifiable data not needed; Davinder Singh: SC sub-classification valid.

13.

Assertion (A): On 31.3.2022 the Supreme Court held the 2021 Act giving 10.5% internal reservation to Vanniakula Kshatriyas violative of Articles 14, 15 and 16.

Reason (R): The Court found no substantial basis for separating that community from the other MBC/DNC communities, population being cited as the sole factor.

Correct Answer: A []

Explanation:

Both are true; R is the basis of the judgment (para 74). The Court also said the State has the power to legislate.

14.

Arrange in chronological order: (1) Constitution of the Ambasankar Commission (2) G.O. 695 (BC 31%) (3) Permanent Backward Classes Commission (4) Separate 20% for MBC/DNC

Correct Answer: D [2 1 4 3]

Explanation:

G.O. 695 on 7.6.1971, Ambasankar Commission 13.12.1982, MBC/DNC 20% on 28.3.1989, Permanent Commission 15.3.1993.

15.

Which of the following is NOT in force in Tamil Nadu as of 2026?

Correct Answer: A [10.5% for Vanniakula Kshatriyas within the MBC/DNC 20%]

Explanation:

The Supreme Court struck down the 2021 Act's 10.5% on 31.3.2022 under Articles 14, 15, 16; BC-M 3.5%, the 7.5% and the 4% for disabled are in force.

16.

Assertion (A): As on 1.1.2016, the representation of Scheduled Castes in Central Government services was 17.49%.

Reason (R): In all-India direct recruitment to Central Government services, the reservation for Scheduled Castes is 18%.

Correct Answer: C []

Explanation:

A is true (PIB 17.7.2019). R is false: central direct recruitment gives SC 15%, ST 7.5%, OBC 27%; 18% is Tamil Nadu's SC quota.

17.

Reservation for women in local bodies: what are the Article 243D requirement and the present Tamil Nadu level, respectively?

Correct Answer: C [Not less than one-third; 50%]

Explanation:

243D requires not less than one-third (PIB: minimum 33%); Tamil Nadu has 50% since 2016 (Act 5 of 2016). The textbook's 'not more than' is wrong.

18.

Which of the following is correct as on 6.10.2026?

Correct Answer: B [The Davinder Singh judgment (2024) held that SCs may be sub-classified and overruled E.V. Chinnaiah]

Explanation:

Davinder Singh (1.8.2024, 7 judges, 6:1) allowed SC sub-classification, overruling Chinnaiah; 10.5% struck down, Rohini Commission under Art. 340.

19.

Assertion (A): In 2021-22 Tamil Nadu's Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education was 47, while India's GER in the same year was 28.4.

Reason (R): The 103rd Constitutional Amendment provides reservation of up to 10% for the economically weaker sections.

Correct Answer: B []

Explanation:

Both are true (AISHE 2021-22; Articles 15(6), 16(6)), but EWS reservation does not explain Tamil Nadu's high GER.

20.

In 1962, the Supreme Court held the 68% reservation of which State to be inconsistent with Article 15(4)?

Correct Answer: A [Mysore (M.R. Balaji case)]

Explanation:

M.R. Balaji v. State of Mysore (28.9.1962): special provision should generally be below 50%. Champakam 1951, Davinder Singh 2024, PMK case 2022.

? Full lessons and explanations – Tamil Nadu Economy PDF textbook (₹299): www.shanmugamiasacademy.in/study-materials/tnpsc-gs-unit-5-tamil-nadu-economy

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