UPSC Prelims 2020 Question:

In India, Legal Services Authorities provide free legal services to which of the following type of citizens?

1. Person with an annual income of less than Rs 1,00,000
2. Transgender with an annual income of less than Rs 2,00,000
3. Member of Other Backward Classes (OBC) with an annual income of less than ₹ 3,00,000
4. All Senior Citizens
   
   

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Explanation:

• As per the section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, the persons eligible for getting free legal services include:

• A member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe;
• A victim of trafficking in human beings or begar;
• A woman or a child;
• A mentally ill or otherwise disabled person;
• Victim of a mass disaster, ethnic violence, caste atrocity, flood, drought, earthquake or industrial disaster;
• An industrial workman;
• Persons in custody,
• Persons whose annual income does not exceed ₹1 lakh (or any other higher amount as may be prescribed by the State Government). So, point 1 is correct.

• Under the Act, the Income Ceiling Limit for Transgenders for availing free legal services is ₹2 lakh. So, point 2 is correct.
• Other Backward Classes (OBC) are not provided free legal services under the Act. So, point 3 is not correct.
• Under the Act, senior citizens are eligible for free legal aid depending on the Rules framed by the respective State Governments in this regard. In Delhi for example, senior citizens are eligible for free legal aid subject to prescribed ceiling of annual income. It means only some senior citizens are included. So, point 4 is not correct.
  
  

Therefore, option (1) is the correct answer.

Subject: Polity | Government Schemes and Policies(pol)