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Question No. 210Interactive Test Mode
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Q210. Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The Supreme Court of India has held in some judgments that the reservation policies made under Article 16(4) of the Constitution of India would be limited by Article 335 for the maintenance of efficiency of administration. Statement-II: Article 335 of the Constitution of India defines the term ‘efficiency of administration’. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The Supreme Court of India has held in some judgments that the reservation policies made under Article 16(4) of the Constitution of India would be limited by Article 335 for the maintenance of efficiency of administration. Statement-II: Article 335 of the Constitution of India defines the term ‘efficiency of administration’. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Select the correct option below (or cross out options to eliminate)

Official Answer Key & Detailed Solution

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Official UPSC Answer KeyUPSC Prelims 2023 • Polity

Correct Answer: Option (C) — Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect.

Concept & Option Breakdown

Standard Reference Verified

Statement-I is correct: In landmark cases including Indra Sawhney (1992) and M. Nagaraj (2006), the Supreme Court held that Article 335 operates as a limitation on affirmative action policies framed under Article 16(4), ensuring that the overall efficiency of administration is maintained.

Statement-II is incorrect: Article 335 states that the claims of SCs and STs shall be taken into consideration consistently with the maintenance of efficiency of administration, but it does NOT define what constitutes 'efficiency of administration'. Its meaning has been elaborated through judicial interpretation (e.g., B.K. Pavitra (II) v. Union of India, 2019).

Elimination Heuristic & Exam Approach

The Constitution avoids acting as a dictionary; terms like 'efficiency of administration', 'martial law', 'office of profit', or 'violation of Constitution' are not explicitly defined in the text of the Constitution.

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Question Specifications & Syllabus Mapping

Examination & YearUPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2023 (Q210)
Paper & Marking SchemeGS Paper I • 2 Marks (-0.66 Negative for incorrect response)
Syllabus Subject & TopicPolity → Judiciary
Official Answer KeyOption (C) — Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect.

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Frequently Asked Questions — UPSC Prelims 2023 Q210

What is the official answer for UPSC Prelims 2023 GS Paper I Question 210 (Polity)?

The official UPSC answer key for this 2023 Polity (Judiciary) question is Option (C): "Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect.". Correct attempts carry 2 Marks with -0.66 Negative penalty for wrong answers.

Which UPSC Prelims syllabus topic does this 2023 question belong to?

This question belongs to GS Paper I under the subject "Polity" and micro-topic "Judiciary". You can explore all repeated questions from Judiciary in Acme AI's 3D Prelims PYQ Realm or practice 50 full-length and sectional tests in the APT Prelims Test Series.

How can I solve this Judiciary UPSC Prelims question using option elimination?

The Constitution avoids acting as a dictionary; terms like 'efficiency of administration', 'martial law', 'office of profit', or 'violation of Constitution' are not explicitly defined in the text of the Constitution.

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