RAS question
The Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities is appointed under:
Correct answer: (B) Article 350B.
Article 350B of the Constitution of India provides for a Special Officer for linguistic minorities, appointed by the President.
Explanation
Article 350B is the specific constitutional provision for the Special Officer for linguistic minorities. The Constitution of India provides that there shall be such a Special Officer and that the appointment is made by the President. It also defines the office's function: the Special Officer must investigate all matters relating to safeguards provided for linguistic minorities under the Constitution and report to the President at intervals directed by the President. Those reports are then laid before each House of Parliament and sent to the Governments of the States concerned. Article 350B was inserted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, so Article 350B, rather than a nearby language-related article, is the relevant provision.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Article 344 is not the provision that creates or appoints the Special Officer for linguistic minorities; that office falls under Article 350B.
- (C) Article 338 is not the language-minority provision; Article 350B deals with the Special Officer for linguistic minorities.
- (D) Article 350A concerns facilities for instruction in the mother tongue at the primary stage, whereas Article 350B separately provides for the Special Officer for linguistic minorities.
Concept
Constitutional safeguards for linguistic minorities fall within the language provisions of the Constitution. RAS frequently tests nearby Articles 350A and 350B because they are easily confused but cover different institutional and educational safeguards.