GS Paper II · Social Justice
SC, ST & Minorities Current Affairs for UPSC (GS Paper II)
From the syllabus: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections and their performance; laws and bodies for their protection; social sector services relating to health, education, human resources; poverty and hunger
Why it matters: Aspirants must examine the protective legislative framework and institutional safeguards designed to prevent discrimination against marginalized communities.
In the news
October 2026
12 Oct 2026Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Cabinet finalises BC quota using Mishra reportThe Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has finalised the reservation quotas for Backward Classes (BC) in the state. The decision is based on the recommendations of the RR Mishra panel report, which provided the framework for the socio-economic...
11 Oct 2026Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh Launches Adavi Thalli Baata 2.0 for Tribal ConnectivityThe Andhra Pradesh government launched the Adavi Thalli Baata 2.0 initiative with an allocation of 2,052 crore rupees to lay 1,976 km of roads across 1,341 tribal habitations. The project is focused on bridging infrastructure deficits...
09 Oct 2026
RBI Directs Bankers Committees to Track Scheduled Caste CreditState Level Bankers Committees (SLBCs) and Union Territory Level Bankers Committees (UTLBCs) have been directed to report credit and beneficiary data for Scheduled Castes under key livelihood and entrepreneurship schemes. The primary...
06 Oct 2026
Supreme Court refuses stay on Great Nicobar projectThe Supreme Court of India has declined to stay the ongoing legal proceedings against the multi-billion dollar Great Nicobar infrastructure project. Petitions in the Calcutta High Court argue that the diversion of over 130 square...
September 2026
30 Sep 2026
Vedanta Seeks敦 Revival of Niyamgiri Bauxite Mining ProjectVedanta has pitched a massive 1 lakh crore rupee investment in Odisha, aiming to revive bauxite mining in the Niyamgiri hills. In 2013, the mining project was shelved following a unanimous rejection by the Dongria Kondh tribe, a...
13 Sep 2026
Empowering Gram Sabhas to Protect Tribal Land RightsRecent policy debates on tribal governance highlight the vital necessity of respecting Gram Sabha authority in decisions concerning land acquisition and resource management. Strict adherence to consent requirements under statutory...
12 Sep 2026
Gauhati High Court Validates Talaq-e-Hassan Under Assam Registration ActThe Gauhati High Court ruled that Talaq-e-Hassan is a legally valid form of divorce under Islamic law. The court directed the petitioner to register the divorce in accordance with the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages...
11 Sep 2026
Supreme Court and Ministry Highlight Gram Sabha Consent Under Forest Rights ActRecent discussions surrounding the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, have brought attention back to the authority of local Gram Sabhas. Debates centered on whether Gram Sabha consent is mandatory before forest land...
08 Sep 2026
Kerala High Court Urges Restraint in SC/ST Caste VerificationThe Kerala High Court held that authorities must show leniency and procedural restraint when requiring individuals from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities to prove their caste status. The court ruled that denial of...
05 Sep 2026
Fast-Tracking Justice under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities ActState authorities have directed police administrations to expedite investigations and ensure timely charge-sheeting in cases registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The directive...
03 Sep 2026
India Reaffirms Commitments During UN CERD Human Rights ReviewDiscussions regarding India's compliance reporting under the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) have highlighted the country's international treaty commitments. The committee reviews legislative...
August 2026
26 Aug 2026
India rejects UN Committee remarks on law enforcement actionsIndia has strongly rejected references made by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (UNCERD) regarding alleged violations by law enforcement personnel against ethnic populations. The Ministry of External Affairs...
21 Aug 2026
Judicial Scrutiny Increases Over Forest Relocation and EncroachmentsThe Odisha government formed an inquiry committee following directives from the Odisha Human Rights Commission to investigate allegations of non-consensual tribal relocation from critical tiger habitats. Simultaneously, the Supreme...
20 Aug 2026
Odisha Inquires Into Tribal Relocation from Tiger Reserve HabitatsFollowing directions from the Odisha Human Rights Commission, the Odisha government has constituted an inquiry committee to examine allegations of forced relocation of villages from tiger habitat areas. Villagers alleged that their...
17 Aug 2026
Implementation Hurdles Impact Forest Rights Act in AgasthyamalaiRecent eviction notices issued in the Agasthyamalai region have sparked criticism over procedural misinterpretations of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. Authorities have reportedly demanded proof of three-generation occupancy prior to...
02 Aug 2026
Jammu and Kashmir Speeds Up Forest Rights Act ImplementationJammu and Kashmir has accelerated the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006. This comes after conflicts between the elected government and the forest department over eviction drives in tribal areas of Jammu. The...
July 2026
21 Jul 2026
Severe Anaemia and Stunting Alarm in Odisha's PVTGsA study by Utkal University has revealed that more than half of adult women among Odisha's Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) are anaemic. The study flags a critical public health emergency, noting that the Hill Kharia tribe...
12 Jul 2026
Persistent Tribal Land Disputes in JharkhandDespite strong historical protections like the Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act and the Santhal Parganas Tenancy (SPT) Act, land disputes continue to persist in Jharkhand's tribal belts. Experts point to incomplete land records, illegal...
06 Jul 2026
Beekeeping Initiative in Pichavaram for Irula TribalsA new beekeeping initiative has been launched in the Pichavaram mangroves of Tamil Nadu to support 100 Irula tribal households. Around 250 bee boxes will be installed, aimed at enhancing pollination for mangrove regeneration while...
Practise SC, ST & Minorities
10 of our latest questions on this topic (out of 21).
Question 1 of 10
Under the 'Adavi Thalli Baata 2.0' project launched in Andhra Pradesh, what is the primary development objective?
Mains practice
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India continue to suffer from extreme malnutrition, high levels of anaemia, and poor developmental outcomes despite decades of welfare programming. Analyze the structural challenges in delivering healthcare and nutrition to PVTGs and suggest corrective measures.
15 marks
Despite robust statutory safeguards like the Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act and the Santhal Parganas Tenancy (SPT) Act, tribal land alienation and land disputes persist in parts of central India. Critically analyze the structural and administrative bottlenecks that undermine the efficacy of these legal shields.
15 marks
Previous years' questions
Past exam questions sorted by topic are coming here. Until then, the full papers are in our previous papers library.