Part XVI - Special Provisions • Article

Article 330 Simplified: Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the House of the People

Article 330 ensures that the Lok Sabha reflects all of India. It reserves specific seats for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) based on their population. This is to make sure that communities that were historically left behind have a guaranteed voice in the room where India's big laws are made.

Official Text

(1) Seats shall be reserved in the House of the People for - (a) the Scheduled Castes; [(b) the Scheduled Tribes except the Scheduled Tribes in the autonomous districts of Assam; and] (c) the Scheduled Tribes in the autonomous districts of Assam. (2) The number of seats reserved in any State [or Union territory] for the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes under clause (1) shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of seats allotted to that State [or Union territory] in the House of the People as the population of the Scheduled Castes in the State [or Union territory] or of the Scheduled Tribes in the State [or Union territory] or part of the State [or Union territory], as the case may be, in respect of which seats are so reserved, bears to the total population of the State [or Union territory]. [(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (2), the number of seats reserved in the House of the People for the Scheduled Tribes in the autonomous districts of Assam shall bear to the total number of seats allotted to that State a proportion not less than the population of the Scheduled Tribes in the said autonomous districts bears to the total population of the State.] [Explanation.-In this article and in article 332, the expression “population” means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published: Provided that the reference in this Explanation to the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published shall, until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year [2026] have been published, be construed as a reference to the [2001] census.]

Simple Meaning

Explain Like Ten

To make sure that people from Scheduled Castes and Tribes have a voice in leading the country, this rule saves a certain number of seats in Parliament just for them, based on how many of them live in each state.

Student Mode

Provides for the reservation of seats in the Lok Sabha (House of the People) for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (except STs in autonomous districts of Assam, which have separate reservations under clause 1c). Clause (2) mandates that the number of reserved seats in a state must be proportional to the SC/ST population share in that state. Currently, these proportions are locked to the 2001 census figures under the 84th and 87th Amendments, until the census after 2026 is published.

Example

Out of the 543 seats in the Lok Sabha, 84 are saved specifically for SC candidates and 47 for ST candidates to ensure their communities are always represented.

Key Takeaway

Article 330 guarantees a voice for SC and ST communities in Parliament.

FAQs

Are the voters in a reserved constituency also limited to SC/ST categories?

No. In a reserved constituency, only candidates belonging to the reserved category (SC or ST) can stand for election. However, all registered voters in that constituency, regardless of their caste, cast their votes to elect the representative.

How is the number of reserved seats determined in a state?

It is proportional. The ratio of reserved seats to the total Lok Sabha seats in a state must be approximately equal to the ratio of the SC/ST population to the total population of that state.

Which census is currently used to determine SC/ST seat reservation?

Under the Explanation to Article 330, the census of 2001 is used. This will remain the standard until the figures of the first census taken after the year 2026 are officially published.

Quiz

Article 330 reserves seats in the Lok Sabha for:

Answer: Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes

Under Article 330, the reservation of seats in the Lok Sabha for a state is based on:

Answer: The proportion of SC/ST population in the state