Welfare of Vulnerable Sections: Schemes, Laws and Institutions · UPPCS (Uttar Pradesh)

What the official syllabus says

Main Examination, General Studies II:

Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes, mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

Topics in detail

Vulnerable sections

Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, religious and linguistic minorities
Women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, transgender persons
Unorganised workers, migrants, manual scavengers, bonded labourers, denotified and nomadic tribes

Constitutional safeguards

Equality and special provisions: Articles 15(4), 15(5), 15(6), 16(4), 16(4A), 16(6)
Abolition of untouchability (Article 17); prohibition of trafficking, forced labour and child labour (Articles 23 and 24)
Cultural and educational rights of minorities (Articles 29 and 30); promotion of the interests of weaker sections (Article 46)
Reservation in legislatures and local bodies (Articles 330, 332, 243D, 243T); Fifth and Sixth Schedules
Reservation case law: Indra Sawhney (1992), M. Nagaraj (2006), Janhit Abhiyan (2022), State of Punjab v Davinder Singh (2024) on sub-classification of Scheduled Castes

Laws

Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955; Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
Forest Rights Act, 2006; PESA, 1996
Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013; Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976
Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005; Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013; Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
POCSO Act, 2012; Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015; Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016; Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019; Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007
The four labour codes and social security for unorganised workers

Institutions and bodies

Constitutional commissions: National Commissions for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes
Statutory commissions: National Commission for Women, National Commission for Minorities, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, National Human Rights Commission
National Commission for Safai Karamcharis; Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities; state-level commissions

Welfare schemes (by type)

Education: pre-matric and post-matric scholarships, Eklavya Model Residential Schools for tribal students
Women and children: Integrated Child Development Services (1975), POSHAN Abhiyaan, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Mission Shakti
Social assistance: National Social Assistance Programme (old age, widow and disability pensions)
Livelihood and enterprise: Stand-Up India for SC, ST and women entrepreneurs; skill training for minorities
Persons with disabilities: Accessible India Campaign; support for the transgender community and beggars under SMILE
Unorganised workers: e-Shram registration; pension schemes for unorganised workers

Performance of these schemes

Evaluation by CAG audits, NITI Aayog and parliamentary committees
Problems: low awareness, delays in releasing scholarships, under-use of funds, weak enforcement of protective laws, low conviction rates under the Atrocities Act
Measures: Direct Benefit Transfer, social audit, grievance portals, convergence with local bodies

Overlaps

General Studies I: role of women, poverty and social empowerment.
General Studies IV: empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections.
General Studies V: central welfare schemes in Uttar Pradesh.