Equality of Status and Opportunity
The Preamble of the Indian Constitution emphasizes two aspects of equality: equality of status and equality of opportunity. While equality of opportunity ensures that all individuals have equal access to opportunities, societal inequalities necessitate special measures to uplift marginalized sections.
Article 16(4) of the Constitution allows for affirmative action policies like reservations in jobs and admissions to address historical injustices and ensure equality of opportunity.
Class 11 Polity Chapter 1: Right to Equality
Consider two scenarios: one where a tea shop serves different cups to individuals based on their caste, and another where female newsreaders are barred from presenting news due to their age while their male counterparts face no such restriction.
These instances highlight clear cases of discrimination based on caste and gender, respectively. Such discrimination violates the fundamental right to equality enshrined in the Indian Constitution.