Daily Current Affairs โ 21 August 2026
Daily Current Affairs ยท 21 August 2026
10 fully-analysed topics ยท 30 bilingual MCQs ยท 3 embedded videos ยท built for UPSC Prelims & Mains
๐ฏ 30 MCQs
๐ฌ 3 Videos
๐ฎ๐ณ Hindi + English
UPSC Current Affairs MCQ โ 21 August 2026
10 UPSC-standard bilingual MCQs covering today's top stories ยท 10-sec timer per question
Score yourself as you go. Get a feel for how UPSC-level questions are framed around the day's news.
Polity
Centreโs Opposition to Creamy Layer for SC/STs
The Union Government opposed extending the "creamy layer" principle to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) before the Supreme Court.
- The judgment also suggested considering a creamy layer mechanism to prevent "elite capture" of reservation benefits
- The Centre has opposed extending the creamy layer principle to SCs/STs
- Sub-categorisation may ensure equitable distribution of reservation benefits among the most marginalised groups
- Definition: The creamy layer refers to a legal and administrative threshold used to identify and exclude the socially
Show 6 more facts
- Origin: The concept was formally established by the Supreme Court in the landmark Indra Sawhney vs
- Other Backward Classes (OBCs): The creamy layer principle is strictly applied to the OBC category
- Sub-categorisation: It divides an existing reservation quota into smaller shares for specific groups within the same category to ensure equitableโฆ
- The Centre currently uses sub-categorisation nationally for STs specifically in Eklavya Model Residential School admissions to ensure minimumโฆ
- In contrast, creamy layer exclusion identifies relatively socially, economically or constitutionally advanced individuals within a reserved categoryโฆ
- Thus, sub-categorisation redistributes the quota among groups, while creamy layer exclusion excludes certain individuals from the quota altogether.
Which statement correctly describes Centreโs Opposition to Creamy Layer for SC/STs?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Polity
SC Allows for Sub-Classification of SCs and STs
The Supreme Court of India in review judgement of Punjab and Haryana High Court
- This 6-1 majority decision overturns the 2004 ruling in E.V. Chinnaiah vs
- Sub-Classifications Permitted: The Court ruled that states are constitutionally allowed to sub-classify SCs and STs based on varying levels ofโฆ
- Chief Justice of India emphasised the difference between "sub-classification" and "sub-categorisation," cautioning against using theseโฆ
- This means states must identify and exclude the creamy layer within SCs and STs from reservation benefits
Show 6 more facts
- If any generation in the family has taken advantage of the reservation and achieved a higher status
- This approach allows states to tailor reservation policies to more effectively support the most disadvantaged within these groups.
- The issue of sub-classification of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and its referral to a seven-judge bench was initiated by a five-judge bench in the case ofโฆ
- The primary factors leading to this reference were: Reconsideration of EV Chinniah Judgment: The five-judge bench found it necessary to reconsiderโฆ
- This provision mandated that 50% of vacancies reserved for SCs in direct recruitment be offered to Balmikis and Mazhabi Sikhs
- The High Court ruled that all castes in the Presidential Order under Article 341(1) formed one homogeneous group and could not be subdivided further.
Which statement correctly describes SC Allows for Sub-Classification of SCs and STs?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Economy
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups – Dristhi IAS
Ministry of Tribal Affairs has implemented the scheme of "Development of PVTGs" which covers 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) for their comprehensive socio-economic development.
- Under the scheme, State Governments submits Conservation-cum-Development (CCD) plans on the basis of their requirement.
- 100% grants-in-aid are made available to States as per the provisions of the scheme.
- In India, tribal population makes up for 8.6% of the total population.
- PVTGs are more vulnerable among the tribal groups
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- In 1973, the Dhebar Commission created Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a separate category, who are less developed among the tribal groups
- In this context, in 1975, the Government of India initiated to identify the most vulnerable tribal groups as a separate category called PVTGs andโฆ
- PVTGs have some basic characteristics – they are mostly homogenous
- Among the 75 listed PVTG's the highest number are found in Odisha.
Which statement correctly describes Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups -โฆ?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Polity
Creamy Layer in SC/ST Reservation
The Supreme Court is examining fresh petitions seeking to apply the "creamy layer" principle to SC/ST reservations, a move that misinterprets the State of Punjab v.
- About: It is a landmark judgment that has fundamentally reshaped the legal landscape of reservations in India by addressing the internal diversityโฆ
- Core Ruling: In a 6:1 majority verdict, the Supreme Court held that state governments have the power to create sub-classifications within theโฆ
- Key Highlights of the Judgment: Overruled E.V. Chinnaiah (2004): The Court overruled its previous decision in E.V. Chinnaiah v
- Substantive Equality: The SC/ST categories are not uniform blocks
Show 6 more facts
- Empirical Data Requirement: The Court mandated that any sub-classification must be based on quantifiable and empirical data showing inadequateโฆ
- The "Creamy Layer" Debate: 4 of the 7 judges expressed the view that the "creamy layer" principle (excluding the relatively affluent/advanced membersโฆ
- Legislative Competence: The Court clarified that while only the President (under Article 341) can identify which castes belong in the SC list
- About: The Creamy Layer Principle is a legal concept used in India to identify and exclude the relatively wealthy and educated members of a backwardโฆ
- Origin: The principle was formally introduced by the Supreme Court in the landmark Indra Sawhney v. Union of India Case (1992)
- It is based on the idea of "Relative Equality"โtreating unequals as equals (a wealthy person vs
Which statement correctly describes Creamy Layer in SC/ST Reservation?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
History
SC Strike Down โCasteistโ Provisions in Indiaโs Prison Manuals
Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that caste-based division of labour in prisons is "unconstitutional," marking a key step towards eliminating institutional biases in India's correctional system.
- The SC invalidated several provisions in State prison manuals that upheld caste distinctions
- Colonial Stereotypes in Prisons: Colonial Legacy: The now-repealed Criminal Tribes Act
- Denotified Tribes: After the Act's repeal, these communities were reclassified as "denotified tribes." However, prison manuals continued toโฆ
- Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala Prison Manuals: These manuals define "habitual criminals" as those who, by "habit," engage in crimes likeโฆ
Show 6 more facts
- Restrictions on Labour: In Andhra Pradesh, members of "wandering or criminal tribes" are equated with individuals of "bad or dangerous character" orโฆ
- Tamil Nadu Prison: The segregation of Thevars
- Rajasthan Prison: The Rajasthan Prison Rules, 1951, assigned latrine duties to the "Mehtar" caste, a Scheduled Caste community, while Brahmins orโฆ
- They are also known as 'Vimukt Jatis. These communities are among the most vulnerable and disadvantaged.
- Denotified communities, once labelled as 'born criminals' during British rule under laws like the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871
- Nomadic and semi-nomadic communities are defined as those who move from one place to another rather than living in one place all the time.
Which statement correctly describes SC Strike Down โCasteistโ Provisions inโฆ?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
โ๏ธ Indian Polity MCQ Quiz ยท เคญเคพเคฐเคคเฅเคฏ เคฐเคพเคเคตเฅเคฏเคตเคธเฅเคฅเคพ
10 bilingual MCQs ยท Indian Polity ยท Members Only on YouTube
Today's rotation: Indian Polity. Take this break between news topics to sharpen the core concept.
Polity
Should the 50% Reservation Cap Be Raised?
Bihar's Opposition leader has proposed increasing quotas to 85% if voted to power, while the Supreme Court has sought the Centre's response on applying the 'creamy layer' concept to SCs and STs.
- These debates on reservation challenge the 50% constitutional cap and raise concerns about equitable distribution of benefits among marginalisedโฆ
- About: Reservation is a form of positive discrimination aimed at promoting equality for marginalized groups and addressing social and historicalโฆ
- Key Provisions: The Constitution of India incorporates various provisions to promote social justice and ensure adequate representation forโฆ
- Articles under Part III on Reservation: Article 15(3): Empowers the State to make special provisions for women and children.
Show 6 more facts
- Article 15(4): Enables the State to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes, including SCs and STs.
- Article 15(5): Allows for reservation in educational institutions (including private
- Article 15(6): Introduced via the 103rd Constitutional Amendment (2019)
- Article 16(4): Permits reservation in appointments/posts for any backward class of citizens not adequately represented in state services.
- Article 16(4A): Allows reservation in promotions for SCs and STs (77th Amendment Act
- Article 16(4B): Allows the State to carry forward unfilled reserved vacancies from previous years without breaching the 50% ceiling (81st Amendmentโฆ
Which statement correctly describes Should the 50% Reservation Cap Be Raised??
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
History
Eklavya Model Residential Schools
Several students from Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) have cracked medical & engineering entrance exams.
- About: EMRS is a flagship initiative launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) in 1998 to provide free
- Objective: To bridge the educational gap between tribal and non-tribal populations by offering CBSE-based instruction integrated with holisticโฆ
- Revamp & Expansion: The scheme was revamped in 2018โ19 to expand coverage
- Governance: EMRSs are implemented and managed by the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), an autonomous body under MoTA.
Show 6 more facts
- Key Features: Co-educational, fully residential schools modeled on Navodaya Vidyalayas with a tribal focus.
- Follow the CBSE curriculum and provide free education along with all basic amenities.
- Infrastructure includes classrooms, labs, hostels, staff quarters, playgrounds, and cultural activity spaces.
- Each school has a capacity of 480 students with gender parity.
- Up to 10% seats may be allotted to non-ST students.
- 20% reservation under sports quota for meritorious ST students in athletics and games.
Which statement correctly describes Eklavya Model Residential Schools?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Economy
Economically weaker Section (EWS) Quota
Recently, the Attorney-General of India articulated that the 10% quota for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of society does not erode the rights ofโฆ
- Doesn't Harm Quota of Other Classes: The EWS quota was given independently of the already existing 50% reservation granted for the backward classes
- Altogether 18.2% of the total population in the general category belonged to EWS and referred to the Multi-dimensional Poverty Index used by the Nitiโฆ
- The court had held that the 2009 Act seeks to remove all barriers
- The amendments run contrary to the constitutional scheme
Show 6 more facts
- The amendments also run contrary to the judgment pronounced in the Indra Sawhney V
- The amendments alter the 50% quota limit set up in Indra Sawhney V
- About: The 10% EWS quota was introduced under the 103rd Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2019 by amending Articles 15 and 16
- Addresses Inequality: The 10% quota is progressive and could address the issues of educational and income inequality in India since the economicallyโฆ
- There are many people or classes other than backward classes who are living under hunger and poverty-stricken conditions.
- The proposed reservation through a constitutional amendment would give constitutional recognition to the poor from the upper castes.
Which statement correctly describes Economically weaker Section (EWS) Quota?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Polity
Lack of Authority of States in Altering SC List
Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that states are not empowered to make changes to the Scheduled Caste (SC) list as published under Article 341 of the Constitution.
- This decision came as the Court quashed a 2015 Bihar government notification that sought to categorise the Tanti-Tantwa community as Scheduled Casteโฆ
- Tanti-Tantwa is a Hindu caste belonging to a weaving and cloth merchant community in India
- Background of Case: The Tanti-Tantwa community had been earlier categorised as an Extremely Backward Class (EBC) under the Bihar Reservation ofโฆ
- On 1st July 2015, the Bihar government issued a resolution to merge the Tanti-Tantwa community into the SC list based on a recommendation from theโฆ
Show 6 more facts
- This decision aimed to extend SC benefits to the Tanti-Tantwa community and was upheld by the Patna High Court in 2017
- The court held that the state government has no authority to change the SC list published under Article 341 of the Constitution
- Article 341(2) empowers Parliament to modify this list. Thus, any change in the SC list necessitates an amendment to the Constitution.
- The judgement reaffirms the constitutional scheme where only the Parliament can make changes to the SC list
- The judgement safeguards the interests of the genuine SC members by ensuring that the benefits meant for them are not diverted to other communities.
- The judgement upholds the separation of power by clearly delineating the powers of the Legislature and Executive with respect to the SC list.
Which statement correctly describes Lack of Authority of States in Altering SC List?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Polity
Doctrine of Separation of Powers
Recently, Vice-President of India has rekindled the debate over the doctrine of separation of powers by citing the Supreme Court's landmark 1973โฆ
- Separation of powers is the division of the legislative, executive, and judicial functions of government
- Legislature Control: On Judiciary: Impeachment and the removal of the judges
- On Executive: Through a no-confidence vote it can dissolve the Government
- On Judiciary: Making appointments to the office of Chief Justice and other judges.
Show 6 more facts
- On Legislature: Powers under delegated legislation
- On Executive: Judicial review i.e., the power to review executive action to determine if it violates the Constitution.
- On Legislature: Unamendability of the constitution under the basic structure doctrine pronounced by the Supreme Court in Kesavananda Bharati Caseโฆ
- Weakened Opposition in India: Democracy works on the principle of checks and balances
- However, the majority of a single party in the Lok Sabha has diminished the role of an effective opposition in the Parliament.
- The NJAC could guarantee the independence of the system from inappropriate politicization
Which statement correctly describes Doctrine of Separation of Powers?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Simple Current Affairs MCQ โ 21 August 2026
10 accessible MCQs covering the same topics ยท great for quick revision
End your study session with these simpler MCQs to lock in recall of today's current affairs.
