📚 UPSC Relevant
Article 331 of the Indian Constitution addresses the representation of the Anglo-Indian community in the Lok Sabha, which is the lower house of Parliament. This article allows the President of India to nominate up to two members from the Anglo-Indian community if he believes that they are not adequately represented there. The Anglo-Indian community is a small group of people in India with mixed Indian and British ancestry, and their representation ensures that their voices are included in the legislative process. This provision was made to safeguard their interests in a democratic setup where larger communities might overshadow them. The article serves as a mechanism for inclusion, acknowledging that certain communities may feel marginalized in a parliamentary system. It is particularly relevant because it provides a way for the Anglo-Indian community to have their concerns and issues brought to the forefront of national discussions. By allowing nominations, the government creates an opportunity for these individuals to contribute to policymaking and legislative debates, thereby impacting laws that affect their lives directly. However, it is necessary to note that the President’s power to nominate under Article 331 is discretionary and not mandatory. This means that the President can choose not to nominate anyone if they believe that representation is adequate. The provision was introduced to ensure that minorities have a voice in governance, but it has faced scrutiny over the years regarding its relevance in contemporary India. The representation of the Anglo-Indian community in Parliament has been debated, especially given the community’s decreasing population and influence over time. Thus, the article has both historical significance and contemporary implications for representation in Indian democracy.
Article 331 was introduced in the Indian Constitution in 1950, during the discussions of the Constituent Assembly. The assembly aimed to create a framework that ensured representation for various communities, including the Anglo-Indians, who were perceived to be at risk of marginalization. Over time, the 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, passed in January 2020, abolished the provision for the nomination of Anglo-Indians to the Lok Sabha. This change was prompted by the declining population of the community and their reduced relevance in contemporary politics. The Supreme Court has recognized the need for representation but also acknowledged that the community’s demographics are changing, which impacts their representation.
Which of the following statements regarding Article 331 of the Indian Constitution is accurate? A) It mandates the nomination of three members from the Anglo-Indian community to the Lok Sabha. B) It allows the President to nominate up to two members from the Anglo-Indian community if they are underrepresented. C) It is a mandatory requirement for all Lok Sabha elections, regardless of community representation. D) It was introduced in the 21st century and has been amended to increase representation. Choose the correct option and explain your reasoning.
B) It allows the President to nominate up to two members from the Anglo-Indian community. This reflects the article’s purpose to provide representation for communities that might be underrepresented. Options A and C are incorrect as they misstate the number of nominations and the mandatory nature of the article. Option D is also wrong since the provision was introduced in 1950, not the 21st century.
Article 331 of the Indian Constitution addresses the representation of the Anglo-Indian community in the Lok Sabha, which is the lower house of Parliament. This article allows the President of India to nominate up to two members from the Anglo-Indian community if he believes that they are not adequately represented there. The Anglo-Indian community is a small group of people in India with mixed Indian and British ancestry, and their representation ensures that their voices are included in.
By allowing nominations, the government creates an opportunity for these individuals to contribute to policymaking and legislative debates, thereby impacting laws that affect their lives directly. However, it is necessary to note that the President’s power to nominate under Article 331 is discretionary and not mandatory. This means that the President can choose not to nominate anyone if they believe that representation is adequate.
The provision was introduced to ensure that minorities have a voice in governance, but it has faced scrutiny over the years regarding its relevance in contemporary India. The representation of the Anglo-Indian community in Parliament has been debated, especially given the community’s decreasing population and influence over time. Thus, the article has both historical significance and contemporary implications for representation in Indian democracy.
Article 395: Repeals The Indian Independence Act, 1947, and the Government of India Act, 1935, together with all enactments amending or supplementing the
Article 394: Commencement This article and articles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 60, 324, 366, 367, 379, 380, 388, 391, 392 and 393 shall come into force at once, and the
Article 394A: Authoritative text in the Hindi language (1) The President shall cause to be published under his authority,— (a) the translation of this
Article 392: Power of the President to remove difficulties (1) The President may, for the purpose of removing any difficulties, particularly in relation to
Article 393: Short title This Constitution may be called the Constitution of India.
Article 390: Money received or raised or expenditure incurred between the commencement of the Constitution and the 31st day of March, 1950 Omitted by the
Article 391: Power of the President to amend the First and Fourth Schedules in certain contingencies Omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act,
Article 388: Provisions as to the filling of casual vacancies in the provisional Parliament and provisional Legislatures of the States Omitted by the
Article 389: Provision as to Bills pending in the Dominion Legislatures and in the Legislatures of Provinces and Indian States Omitted by the Constitution
Article 386: Council of Ministers for States in Part B of the First Schedule Omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch. (w.e.f.
Article 387: Special provision as to determination of population for the purposes of certain elections Omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act,
Article 384: Council of Ministers of the Governors Omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch. (w.e.f. 1-11-1956).
Article 385: Provision as to provisional Legislatures in States in Part B of the First Schedule Omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s.
Article 382:Provisions as to provisional Legislatures for States in Part A of the First Schedule Omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s.
Omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch. (w.e.f. 1-11-1956).
Article 381: Council of Ministers of the President Omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch. (w.e.f. 1-11-1956).
Article 380: Provision as to President Omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch. (w.e.f. 1-11-1956).
Article 378A: Special provision as to duration of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Notwithstanding anything contained in article 172, the Legislative
Article 379: Provisions as to provisional Parliament and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker thereof Omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s.
Article 377: Provisions as to Comptroller and Auditor-General of India The Auditor-General of India holding office immediately before the commencement of this
Article 378: Provisions as to Public Service Commissions (1) The members of the Public Service Commission for the Dominion of India holding office immediately
Article 375: Courts, authorities and officers to continue to function subject to the provisions of the Constitution All courts of civil, criminal and revenue
Article 376: Provisions as to Judges of High Courts (1) Notwithstanding anything in clause (2) of article 217, the Judges of a High Court in any Province
Article 373: Power of President to make order in respect of persons under preventive detention in certain cases Until provision is made by Parliament under
Article 374: Provisions as to Judges of the Federal Court and proceedings pending in the Federal Court or before His Majesty in Council (1) The Judges of the
Article 372: Continuance in force of existing laws and their adaptation (1) Notwithstanding the repeal by this Constitution of the enactments referred to in
Article 372A: Power of the President to adapt laws. (1) For the purposes of bringing the provisions of any law in force in India or in any part thereof,
Article 371I: Special provision with respect to the State of Goa Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa
Article 371J: Special provisions with respect to the State of Karnataka (1) The President may, by order made with respect to the State of Karnataka, provide
Article 371G: Special provision with respect to the State of Mizoram Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution,— (a) no Act of Parliament in respect of—
Article 371H: Special provision with respect to the State of Arunachal Pradesh Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution,— (a) the Governor of Arunachal
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Article 371E: Establishment of Central University in Andhra Pradesh Parliament may by law provide for the establishment of a University in the State of Andhra
Explanation.—In this article, the expression “Hill Areas” means such areas as the President may, by order, declare to be Hill areas.
Article 371D: Special provisions with respect to the State of Andhra Pradesh or the State of Telangana (1) The President may by order made with respect to the
Article 371A: Special provision with respect to the State of Nagaland (1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution,— (a) no Act of Parliament in respect
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Article 370: Temporary provisions with respect to the State of Jammu and Kashmir (1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution,— (a) the provisions of
Article 371: Special provision with respect to the States of Maharashtra and Gujarat (2) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the President may by
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Article 369: Temporary power to Parliament to make laws with respect to certain matters in the State List as if they were matters in the Concurrent List
Article 366: Definitions In this Constitution, unless the context otherwise requires, the followingexpressions have the meanings hereby respectively assigned
Article 367: Interpretation (1) Unless the context otherwise requires, the General Clauses Act, 1897, shall, subject to any adaptations and modifications that
Article 364: Special provisions as to major ports and aerodromes (1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the President may by public notification
Article 365: Effect of failure to comply with, or to give effect to, directions given by the Union Where any State has failed to comply with, or to give
Article 363: Bar to interference by courts in disputes arising out of certain treaties, agreements, etc. (1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution but
Article 363A: Recognition granted to Rulers of Indian States to cease and privy purses to be abolished Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution or in any
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