Caste and Social Practices — Prelims Strategy

Prelims Strategy

Keep Article–function pairs precise. Article 17 concerns abolition of untouchability; Article 16 concerns equality of opportunity in public employment and related provisions. Article 46 is a Directive Principle, not a substitute citation for the enforceable fundamental-right provision. Familiar references to equality are not interchangeable.

For terminology, separate varna from jati and endogamy from occupational inheritance. A question can describe a change in occupation while leaving the marriage boundary intact. Identify which dimension the evidence addresses before accepting a claim about the entire social system.

On reform chronology, retain Phule–Satyashodhak Samaj–1873 and distinguish the 1901 colonial census classification from the origin of caste. Administrative recording can reshape identities without being their sole historical cause.

For amendment questions, read the exact constitutional change. The 77th Amendment introduced the enabling promotion-reservation provision in Article 16(4A); the 81st addressed specified carried-forward vacancies in 16(4B); the 85th added consequential seniority. Do not collapse three changes into one universal entitlement.