Question map
Consider the following statements: I. There is no provision in the Constitution of India to encourage equal pay for equal work for both men and women. II. The Constitution of India does not define backward classes. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 2.
Statement I is incorrect: Contrary to the claim, the Constitution of India explicitly encourages equal pay for equal work. Under Article 39(d), part of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), the State is directed to ensure that there is equal pay for equal work for both men and women. This principle has been further reinforced by the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.
Statement II is correct: While the Constitution provides for the appointment of a commission to investigate the conditions of backward classes (Article 340) and allows for special provisions (Articles 15 and 16), it does not define who constitutes "backward classes." The identification is left to the executive based on criteria like social and educational backwardness, as seen in the Mandal Commission case.
Therefore, only Statement II is factually accurate according to the constitutional text.