Polity · 27 Aug 2026

caste enumeration mechanisms Article 342A

Match List-I (Mechanism/Exercise) with List-II (Defining Feature) and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
List-I
A. Articles 341 and 342
B. Article 342A
C. SECC 2011
D. Bihar and Telangana state caste surveys
List-II

  1. Fragmented list-making split between the Centre and states, with no single unified national list
  2. Standardised, drop-down list method that produced usable, published caste data
  3. Closed, Presidential-notified list used for enumeration
  4. Open-ended, self-reported format that generated over 46 lakh distinct, largely unusable caste entries
AA-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
BA-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
CA-3, B-1, C-2, D-4
DA-4, B-3, C-1, D-2
This question is based on: The List India Has for SC/ST - And Doesn't Have for Everyone Else
Take this in full test mode → Instructions for 27 Aug 2026
About this question

Why in news

Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi have written to PM Modi demanding that the open-ended caste question notified for Census 2027 be replaced with a standardised drop-down list modelled on the Bihar and Telangana surveys, warning it will otherwise repeat the SECC 2011 failure.

Why for UPSC

This tests the structural distinction UPSC loves to probe - why SC/ST enumeration under Articles 341/342 is procedurally simple while OBC enumeration under Article 342A is not and which real-world exercises succeeded or failed as a result.

Prelims summary

SC/ST enumeration rests on a closed, Presidential-notified list (Articles 341/342); OBC enumeration under Article 342A has no equivalent unified list. SECC 2011's open-ended format failed (46 lakh unusable entries); Bihar and Telangana's drop-down list method succeeded and produced usable data.

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