Mains GS Paper IISocial JusticeHigh-yield

Mechanisms for Vulnerable Sections — Tribals, Senior Citizens, LGBTQ+, PwDs

कमजोर वर्गों के लिए तंत्र — जनजाति, वरिष्ठ नागरिक, दिव्यांग

Mechanisms for Vulnerable Sections — Tribals, Senior Citizens, LGBTQ+, PwDs is part of the UPSC Mains GS Paper II syllabus, under Social Justice. It appeared in Mains GS Paper II question papers in 3 of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 (2017, 2020, 2023). It is marked high-yield: a topic worth revising more than once.

What should you study in Mechanisms for Vulnerable Sections?

  • PESA 1996 — scheduled tribe gram sabha powers (forest, land, minor minerals)
  • Forest Rights Act 2006 — individual (IFR) vs community (CFR) rights
  • LGBTQ+ rights — Navtej Singh Johar (2018) Section 377; no marriage right
  • PwD — Accessible India Campaign, Sugamya Bharat, 4% reservation in government

How often is Mechanisms for Vulnerable Sections asked in UPSC Mains?

Asked in 3 of 10 years, including 1 of the last 5. Highlighted years below are the ones it appeared in.

  1. 2016: not asked
  2. 2017: asked
  3. 2018: not asked
  4. 2019: not asked
  5. 2020: asked
  6. 2021: not asked
  7. 2022: not asked
  8. 2023: asked
  9. 2024: not asked
  10. 2025: not asked

About the Mains GS Paper II paper

GS Paper II is a 250-mark descriptive Mains paper covering governance, the Constitution, polity, social justice and international relations. See all 40 Mains GS Paper II topics.

Related topics to study next

Syllabus: UPSC Civil Services notification. Topic breakdown, subtopics and PYQ years: GS Score UPSC Syllabus 2026-27 booklet. Sources & credits

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