← 16 October 2026's Current Affairs · Polity GA Prelims ★★★☆☆ Mains ★★★☆☆
Supreme Court: conversion to Islam alone does not qualify a person for BC reservation
খবরে কেন?
Conversion alone earns no BC quota: the Article 16(4) test every reservation answer must apply
The Supreme Court has held that conversion to Islam, by itself, does not entitle a person to the benefit of reservation as a backward class.
Why it matters: general awareness
What you need to know
2 মিনিট
The Supreme Court has held that conversion to Islam, by itself, does not entitle a person to the benefit of reservation as a backward class.
Reservation in public employment rests on Article 16(4), which covers backward classes not adequately represented in State services.
সূত্র: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
মূল তথ্য
Remember these
- Supreme Court: conversion to Islam, by itself, does not entitle a person to reservation as a backward class
- Article 16(4) lets the State reserve posts for backward classes not adequately represented in State services
- Article 16(6), inserted by the 103rd Amendment (2019), provides reservation in appointments for economically weaker sections
- Indra Sawhney v. Union of India (1992) upheld OBC reservation, set the 50% ceiling and excluded the creamy layer
- Backward class status turns on social and educational backwardness and inadequate representation, not on religion alone
প্রিলিমস · মেইনস
How the exam will ask it
প্রিলিমস
- Article 16(4) enables reservation in appointments for any backward class of citizens not adequately represented in State services.
- Article 16(6), inserted by the 103rd Constitutional Amendment, enables reservation in appointments for economically weaker sections.
- Change of religion does not, by itself, confer entitlement to reservation as a backward class.
- Indra Sawhney (1992) held that reservation under Article 16(4) is subject to a 50% ceiling and the exclusion of the creamy layer.
মেইনস
GS-II (Polity): reservation is a question of backwardness and inadequate State representation, not of religious identity alone. Article 16(4) and the Indra Sawhney tests of social and educational backwardness govern who qualifies, so a change of faith is not an automatic ticket in or out. The way forward is transparent, evidence-based identification of backward classes by commissions, with periodic review.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
Consider the following statements:
- Article 16(4) enables the State to reserve appointments in favour of any backward class of citizens not adequately represented in State services.
- Article 16(6) enables reservation in appointments for economically weaker sections of citizens, introduced by the 103rd Constitutional Amendment.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
উত্তর দেখুন
উত্তর: C — The correct answer is Both 1 and 2. Both are correct. Article 16(4) covers backward classes not adequately represented in State services, and clause (6), inserted by the 103rd Amendment, covers economically weaker sections.
Convert this topic into marks
Today's 10-MCQ test · instant analysis · Powered by AdaptIQ