Previous Year Question
Which amendment to the Constitution of India ended the nomination of Anglo-Indians to both the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies?
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
The amendment associated with the end of the special representation of the Anglo-Indian community by nomination in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies was the Constitution (104th Amendment) Act, 2019. It came into force on 25 January 2020.
Article 334 of the Constitution dealt with the duration of reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and the special representation of the Anglo-Indian community by nomination. The 104th Amendment prescribed different time limits for these two arrangements.
Under the amended Article 334—
reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was continued for 80 years from the commencement of the Constitution;
representation of the Anglo-Indian community by nomination in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies was limited to 70 years from the commencement of the Constitution.
As the Constitution commenced on 26 January 1950, the 70-year period relating to Anglo-Indian nomination expired and this special representation was not extended further.
Important fact: The 104th Amendment did not discontinue political reservation for SCs and STs; that reservation was extended, while the special nominated representation of the Anglo-Indian community was not extended.