Which of the following statements is/are correct about National Commission Scheduled Tribes [NCST]?

(a) It is a constitutional body which came into existence in 2004.

(b) Its function is to inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of Scheduled Tribes.

(c) It works to improve the literacy rate of the Tribal community.

(d) Its function is to facilitate women empowerment of Tribal women.

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

MPSC Rajyaseva Prelims 2022 (Held on 21 Aug 2022) (GS) Paper-I Official Paper

Answer 1

The correct answer is All of the above.
Key Points

National Commission for Scheduled Tribes

The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (STs) is also a constitutional body in the sense that it is directly established by Article 338-A of the Constitution.
The National Commission for SCs and STs came into being consequent upon the passing of the 65th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1990.
Geographically and culturally, STs are different from the SCs and their problems are also different from those of SCs.
In 1999, a new Ministry of Tribal Affairs was created to provide focus on the welfare and development of the STs.
Specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights including works to improve the literacy rate of the Tribal community. Hence statement c is correct.
In order to safeguard the interests of the STs more effectively, it was proposed to set up a separate National Commission for STs by bifurcating the existing combined National Commission for SCs and STs. Hence statement b is correct.
The National Commission for SCs and STs are separated by passing the 89th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2003. The separate National Commission for STs came into existence in 2004. Hence statement a is correct.
Its function is to facilitate women empowerment of Tribal women. Hence statement d is correct.

Additional Information

The functions of the Commission are:

To investigate and monitor all matters relating to the constitutional and other legal safeguards for the STs and to evaluate their work;
To inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the STs;
To participate and advise on the planning process of socio-economic development of the STs and to evaluate the progress of their development under the Union or a state;
To present to the President, annually and at such other times as it may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguards;
To make recommendations as to the measures that should be taken by the Union or a state for the effective implementation of those safeguards and other measures for the protection, welfare, and socio-economic development of the STs; and
To discharge such other functions in relation to the protection, welfare and development and advancement of the STs as the President may specify.