Union Cabinet cleared the Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, 2017

Cabinet gives approval for introduction of Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-third Amendment) Bill 2017 and (ii) National Commission for Backward Classes (Repeal) Bill, 2017 in the Parliament

Question: Recently, the Union Cabinet approved for Presentation OF the Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, 2017 and the National Backward Classes Commission (Repeal) Bill, 2017 in the Parliament. Under which Article of the Constitution through the Constitution (123th Amendment) Bill, 2017, National Backward Classes Commission will be constituted?
(a) Article 335 B
(b) Article 338 B
(c) Article 336 B
(d) Article 337b
Ans: (b)
Related facts:-

  • On April 19, 2017, the Union Cabinet approved the Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, 2017 and National Backward Classes Commission (Repeal) Bill, 2017 to be presented in Parliament.
  • The following proposals were approved for constitutional amendment through the Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, 2017-
    (I) For the social and educationally backward classes, under Article 338 B of the Indian Constitution, to constitute a commission under the name of National Backward Classes Commission and
    (II) To include section 26 (c) under Article 336 with revised definition. ‘Socially and educationally backward classes’ is meant for the backward classes who have been kept under Article 342A in the Constitution for this purpose.
  • Purpose of bill
    (I) The cancellation of the National Backward Classes Commission Act, 1993, along with the National Backward Classes Commission (Repeal) Bill, 2017 for the Savings Clause (Vocational Section).
    (II) To effectively dissolve the National Backward Classes Commission from this date, in lieu of this, the Central Government may constitute a new National Backward Class Commission under Section 3 Sub-section 1 of this Act.
  • Apart from this, the Cabinet also approved the posts and office premises (New Delhi) for the proposed new National Backward Classes Commission.
  • The above decision will lead to the overall welfare of socially and educationally backward sections.
  • It is to be noted that in the Article 338 of Indian Constitution there is a provision of ‘National Scheduled Castes Commission’ and in Article 338-A devoted to the ‘National Scheduled Tribes Commission’.

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