🧾 Article 330 of the Indian Constitution
Title: Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the House of the People (Lok Sabha)
📘 Purpose:
Article 330 provides political representation to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Lok Sabha by reserving seats in proportion to their population.
🔍 Key Provisions of Article 330:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Applies To | House of the People (Lok Sabha) |
| Reservation For | - Scheduled Castes (SCs) |
-
Scheduled Tribes (STs) |
| Basis of Reservation | Proportion of their population in each state or union territory |
| STs in autonomous districts | Separate reservation for STs in autonomous districts of Assam |
| No reservation for Anglo-Indians | 🔴 Removed by 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019 |
| Time Limit | Originally for 10 years, but extended repeatedly by Constitutional Amendments (now till 2030 via 104th Amendment) |
📊 Summary Chart: Article 330 – Lok Sabha SC/ST Reservation
| Category | Reserved in Lok Sabha? | Basis | Special Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Castes (SCs) | ✅ Yes | Population proportion in State/UT | Seats reserved only in general electoral roll |
| Scheduled Tribes (STs) | ✅ Yes | Population in State/UT + Assam districts | Assam’s autonomous districts get special treatment |
| Anglo-Indians | ❌ No | Removed via 104th Amendment, 2019 | Nominated seats discontinued from Jan 2020 |
🧠 Why Article 330 Matters:
-
Provides political empowerment to historically marginalized communities
-
Promotes inclusive democracy
-
Ensures adequate voice in law-making for SC/ST communities
✅ Example:
| State | SC Population (%) | ST Population (%) | Seats Reserved in Lok Sabha |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | ~21% | <1% | SC – 17 seats, ST – 0 |
| Madhya Pradesh | ~15% | ~21% | SC – 6 seats, ST – 6 seats |
| Rajasthan | ~17.8% | ~13.5% | SC – 4 seats, ST – 3 seats |
Here is a 📊 Comparative Chart of Articles 330 to 334 of the Indian Constitution — which deal with political reservations in the Parliament and State Legislatures for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and previously, Anglo-Indians.
🏛️ Articles 330 to 334 – Political Reservations
| Article | Title | Key Provisions | Applies To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 330 | Reservation of seats for SCs and STs in Lok Sabha | - Reservation in proportion to population |
-
Includes STs in Assam autonomous districts | House of the People (Lok Sabha) |
| 331 | Representation of Anglo-Indians in Lok Sabha (Repealed)| - President could nominate 2 Anglo-Indians (Now repealed by 104th Amendment Act, 2019) | Lok Sabha (till 2020) |
| 332 | Reservation of seats for SCs and STs in State Assemblies | - Reservation in State Vidhan Sabhas -
Based on population
-
Includes STs in Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Assam | State Legislative Assemblies |
| 333 | Representation of Anglo-Indians in State Assemblies (Repealed) | - Governor could nominate 1 Anglo-Indian (Repealed in 2020) | State Assemblies (till 2020) |
| 334 | Time limit on SC/ST & Anglo-Indian reservation | - Initially 10 years from Constitution commencement (1950) -
Extended multiple times
-
Anglo-Indian quota ended in 2020
-
SC/ST reservation now till 2030 (via 104th Amendment) | All above provisions |
🧠 Quick Summary Table
| Community | Lok Sabha | State Assemblies | Reservation Valid Till |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCs/STs | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | 2030 (as per Article 334) |
| Anglo-Indians | ❌ No (Ended) | ❌ No (Ended) | Ended in 2020 (104th Amendment) |
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