Question 1

The new ST seats in the Goa Assembly will be demarcated based on the latest 2011 or upcoming census data.

Accepted Answer

The Readjustment Act specifically mandates the Census Commissioner to estimate the ST population based on the 2001 census figures, retroactively accounting for the communities added in 2003.

Question 2

State Legislative Assemblies can pass their own laws to alter SC/ST seat reservations within their state.

Accepted Answer

The readjustment of reserved constituencies based on population requires an Act of Parliament invoking powers under the Delimitation Act, and execution by the Election Commission or Delimitation Commission.

Question 3

Consider the following statements regarding the 'Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill':
1. It mandates the Election Commission of India to utilize the 2011 census data to demarcate the new ST constituencies.
2. The total number of seats in the Goa Legislative Assembly will be temporarily increased to accommodate the newly reserved ST seats.
3. The Gawda, Kunbi, and Velip communities were recognized as Scheduled Tribes in Goa after the completion of the 2001 census.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

(a) Only one — Only statement 3 is correct. The Gawda, Kunbi, and Velip were officially notified as STs in January 2003, which was after the 2001 census. Statement 1 is incorrect because the Act requires the Census Commissioner to estimate the ST population based on the 2001 census (retroactively), not 2011. Statement 2 is incorrect because the total strength of the Goa Assembly remains fixed at 40 seats; the new ST seats will be carved out by reserving existing general constituencies.

Question 4

Match the Constitutional Articles and Entities (List I) with their role in the context of the Goa ST representation readjustment (List II):

List I:
A. Article 332
B. Article 324
C. Census Commissioner
D. Delimitation Commission Act, 2002

List II:
1. Empowered by the new Bill to amend the 2008 Delimitation Order for Goa
2. Mandates the reservation of seats for STs in the Legislative Assemblies of the States in proportion to their population
3. Tasked with estimating the ST population of Goa as of the 2001 census
4. Originally established the territorial constituencies for Goa based on the 2001 census without ST reservations

Select the correct code:

Accepted Answer

(a) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4 — Article 332 (A) mandates reservation of seats for SCs/STs in State Assemblies (2). Article 324 (B) establishes the Election Commission of India, which is specifically empowered by this new Bill to amend the Delimitation Order (1). The Census Commissioner (C) is tasked with retrospectively estimating the 2001 ST population (3). The Delimitation Commission Act, 2002 (D) led to the 2008 Order that originally set the general constituencies (4).

Question 5

Assertion (A): The 2008 Delimitation Order did not reserve any seats for Scheduled Tribes in the Goa Legislative Assembly despite their population constituting over 10% of the state by 2011.

Reason (R): The 2008 Delimitation Order was strictly based on the 2001 census, during which the major tribal communities of Goa were classified as Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and not as Scheduled Tribes.

Select the correct answer:

Accepted Answer

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. — Both statements are factually correct. Goa's ST population was recorded as a negligible 566 in the 2001 census. It was only in 2003 that the Gawda, Kunbi, and Velip communities were recognized as STs, leading to the 10%+ figure in the 2011 census. Because the 2008 delimitation was legally bound to use the 2001 census data, it could not account for the 2003 additions, resulting in zero ST seats. Thus, R perfectly explains A.

Goa ST Assembly Representation Bill Passed

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