UPSC Prelims 2020 · Question 34 of 100
UPSC Prelims 2020 question on Untouchability Right to Equality
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2020
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectPolity
- TopicFundamental Rights
- DifficultyEasy
- TypeDirect
Which one of the following categories of Fundamental Rights incorporate protection against untouchability as a form of discrimination?
Show answer
Answer: D. Right to Equality
Verdict
Correct answer: Right to Equality → Option (d).
Analysis
Right to Equality (Articles 14–18) protects citizens against any discrimination by the State on the basis of religion, caste, race, sex, or place of birth.
Article 14 — Equality before law: all citizens enjoy equal privileges and opportunities.
Article 15 — Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.
Article 16 — Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment; no citizen shall be ineligible for employment under the State on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth or residence.
Article 17 — Abolishes 'untouchability' and forbids its practice in any form. This is the specific provision in the question.
Article 18 — Abolishes all titles, national or foreign, which create artificial distinctions in social status.
Extra UPSC info
Article 17 is enforced through the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 (originally Untouchability Offences Act, 1955) and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Article 17 is one of the Fundamental Rights available even against private individuals.