Correct Option
The correct option is 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
The Sachar Committee (Prime Minister’s High-Level Committee) was constituted in March 2005 under the chairmanship of Justice Rajindar Sachar. It was a landmark inquiry initiated to assess the developmental deficits faced by the Muslim community in India using authentic data.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: The Terms of Reference for the committee specifically mandated it to examine and prepare a report on the social, economic, and educational status of the Muslim community in India. It analyzed issues such as literacy rates, employment representation, and access to banking and credit.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: The committee explicitly analyzed demographic trends and debunked the notion that the Muslim population would overtake other communities. It observed that the fertility rates among Muslims were declining and converging with the national average, indicating a demographic transition rather than an explosion.
- Statement 3 is Correct: Based on demographic projections, the committee estimated that the proportion of the Muslim population would rise only marginally in the coming decades. It projected that the population share would stabilize between 18% and 21% by the year 2101, refuting claims of drastic demographic shifts.
Key Takeaway: The Sachar Committee Report (2006) is a critical document that highlighted the socio-economic backwardness of Indian Muslims, placing them below Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in several development indicators, while scientifically dismissing myths regarding population dominance.