Article 46 of Indian Constitution - Detailed Analysis

Article 46 of Indian Constitution states that “The State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and, in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.”

Article 46 guarantees the welfare of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections of society. It highlights the role of the State in promoting the educational and economic welfare of these communities. It also safeguards them from exploitation. Article 46 is a part of the DPSP and serves as a guideline for the State.

The case of State of Madras vs Smt. Champakaran Dorairajan (1951) involved reservation in medical and engineering colleges for weaker sections. The Supreme Court held that such reservations violated Article 15 and cannot not supersede fundamental rights.

The Indira Sawhney vs Union of India (1992) popularly known as the Mandal Commission case. The Supreme Court in this case upheld the reservation system for backward classes and set the upper limit for reservations at 50%.
The Court in T.M. Pai Foundation vs Union of India (2002) held that the State could not impose reservations on private educational institutions such as institutions that have the right to manage their affairs.
In P.A. Inamdar vs State of Maharashtra (2005) the Court held that the 93rd Amendment to the Constitution which allowed reservations in both public and private educational institutions, was constitutional.

Article 46 embodies the State's duty to advance the educational and economic well-being of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other marginalized communities. The article through various amendments and judicial rulings continues to play an important role in shaping policies for social justice and equality in India.