1) Getting rid of the minimum education criteria for contesting panchayat polls is a welcome decision, especially in India which is home to 35% of the world’s illiterate population. Critically analyze.(250 words)

Topic – Indian polity : issues

1) Getting rid of the minimum education criteria for contesting panchayat polls is a welcome decision, especially in India which is home to 35% of the world’s illiterate population. Critically analyze.(250 words)

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Why this question

The article discusses the recent decision of Rajasthan government to do away with educational qualification as a criteria for contesting local polls. When this decision came out, there was huge debate over the constitutional as well as the functionality of the decision, including a verdict by court in rajbala vs state of Haryana 2015. It is expected of aspirants to form a perspective on this issue.

Key demand of the question

Th question expects us to explain the recent decision of the government with regards to minimum educational qualification and discuss the pros and cons of the decision including the judicial verdict on the issue. Finally we need to provide a fair and balanced opinion and discuss way forward.

Directive word

Critically analyze –

Structure of the answer

Introduction – explain about the recent decision of Rajasthan government to do away with educational qualification as a criteria for contesting local elections.

Body

• Highlight the fact that such preconditions have been prescribed by several governments including Rajasthan and Haryana. Discuss the rationale behind such legislations. Explain that the idea behind such educational qualification criteria, two child policy etc is to ensure that people who come into governance are socially and ethically aware of their duties and responsibilities.Explain the verdict of SC in rajbala vs state of Haryana India regarding constitutionality of such preconditions.
• Discuss the impact of such judgments – Highlight that it acts as exclusionary as a sizable section of population who are illiterate because of the ineffectiveness of state in imparting education to all are being penalized.
• Discuss the cons of having such preconditions. Explain that While the Constitution states the eligibility criteria for becoming MLAs and MPs in India in terms of, say, the age of a person, there are no required minimum educational qualifications for them or even the ministers. Etc

Conclusion – Give your view on this issue and discuss way forward.