Part XVI - Special Provisions for Certain Classes • Article

Article 330A Simplified: Reservation of seats for women in the House of the People

Article 330A deals with reservation of seats for women in the house of the people. It shapes political representation by reserving or continuing seats and ensuring specified groups are represented in Parliament or State Legislatures as the Constitution provides.

Official Text

(1) Seats shall be reserved for women in the House of the People. (2) As nearly as may be, one-third of the total number of seats reserved under clause (2) of article 330 shall be reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes. (3) As nearly as may be, one-third (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election to the House of the People shall be reserved for women.]

Simple Meaning

Explain Like Ten

This new rule saves one out of every three seats in the national parliament just for women. It helps ensure that women have a strong voice in making laws for the country.

Student Mode

Introduced by the 106th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023 (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam). Reserves 33% of the directly elected seats in the Lok Sabha for women. Under Clause (2), one-third of the seats already reserved for SCs and STs under Article 330 are reserved specifically for women of those communities.

Example

If an election planner or student asks how reserved seats for women, Scheduled Castes, or Scheduled Tribes operate, Article 330A is one of the constitutional provisions to check.

Key Takeaway

Article 330A connects democratic representation with constitutional safeguards for inclusion.

FAQs

Which amendment introduced Article 330A?

Article 330A was introduced by the 106th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023, also known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.

What proportion of Lok Sabha seats is reserved for women under this article?

One-third (33%) of all seats filled by direct election in the Lok Sabha are reserved for women.

Is there a sub-quota for SC/ST women?

Yes. Under Article 330A(2), one-third of the seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under Article 330 are reserved specifically for women from those respective categories.

Quiz

Which Constitutional Amendment introduced Article 330A?

Answer: 106th Amendment

Under Article 330A, what percentage of seats in the Lok Sabha are reserved for women?

Answer: 33%