Q. Consider the following statements with reference to the Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities:
1. In the Constitution, there is a provision for the post of Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities for every State.
2. A new Article 350 B was added by the 9th Constitution Amendment Act.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) Only 2
b) Neither 1 nor 2
c) Only 1
d) Both 1 and 2
Question from UPPSC Prelims 2024
Correct Answer: b) Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation:
1. Statement 1: In the Constitution, there is a provision for the post of Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities for every State.
– This statement is incorrect. The Constitution of India provides for a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities under Article 350B, but it is not for every state. Instead, the Special Officer is appointed at the central level to investigate matters relating to the safeguards provided for linguistic minorities under the Constitution and report to the President of India. The officer’s role is not state-specific but rather national in scope.
2. Statement 2: A new Article 350B was added by the 9th Constitution Amendment Act.
– This statement is also incorrect. Article 350B, which provides for the appointment of a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities, was added by the 7th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1956, not the 9th Amendment Act.
Additional Information:
– The Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities is tasked with ensuring the implementation of constitutional safeguards for linguistic minorities, such as the right to conserve their language, script, or culture (Article 29) and the right to education in their mother tongue (Article 30).
– The officer submits annual reports to the President, which are then laid before Parliament and sent to the concerned states.
Thus, both statements are incorrect, and the correct answer is b) Neither 1 nor 2.
