UPSC | Prelims GS | 2026

Under the constitutional scheme concerning reservation, the Karnataka High Court's decision discussed in the newspaper was primarily linked to which precedent?

  1. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala
  2. Indra Sawhney v. Union of India
  3. S.R. Bommai v. Union of India
  4. Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India

Answer

Correct Answer

Indra Sawhney v. Union of India

Explanation

Reservation ceiling

  • Option B is correct: Indra Sawhney (1992) is the leading precedent associated with the ordinarily applicable 50% ceiling.
  • Option A concerns the basic-structure doctrine, not the principal reservation-ceiling precedent.
  • Option C concerns federalism and Article 356 review.
  • Option D principally concerns personal liberty and procedural fairness under Article 21.

Topics: indian polity, indra sawhney and 50-percent ceiling, reservation jurisprudence, social justice