Article 330

Article 330 of the Constitution of India provides for the reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the House of the People (Lok Sabha). This constitutional safeguard ensures adequate political representation for historically marginalised and underprivileged communities, thereby strengthening India’s commitment to social justice and inclusive democracy.
This Article reflects the vision of the framers of the Constitution to correct the deep-rooted inequalities of the past and promote the participation of disadvantaged groups in the political process.

Text of Article 330

“(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, 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 for the Scheduled Tribes in the autonomous districts of Assam shall bear to the total number of seats allotted to the State of Assam in the House of the People 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, the expression ‘population’ means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published.”

Purpose and Constitutional Objective

The primary objective of Article 330 is to ensure political empowerment and adequate representation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes—communities that had been historically excluded from political and social participation due to caste-based discrimination and social marginalisation.
The framers, led by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, believed that without constitutional guarantees of political representation, these communities would continue to remain underrepresented in legislative bodies. Article 330 thus operationalises the principle of equality in representation envisioned under the Preamble and Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution.

Key Provisions and Features

1. Reservation for SCs and STs

• Seats in the Lok Sabha are reserved for:
  • Scheduled Castes (SCs) across all States and Union Territories;
  • Scheduled Tribes (STs) across India, excluding those in the autonomous districts of Assam; and
  • Scheduled Tribes in the autonomous districts of Assam, under a special provision.

This ensures the representation of both SCs and STs in proportion to their population in each State or Union Territory.

2. Proportional Representation (Clause 2)

• The number of reserved seats for SCs and STs in a State or Union Territory must be proportional to their population in that region, as per the latest published census.
• The formula used is:

  Reserved SeatsTotal Seats in State≈SC/ST PopulationTotal Population of State\frac{\text{Reserved Seats}}{\text{Total Seats in State}} \approx \frac{\text{SC/ST Population}}{\text{Total Population of State}}Total Seats in StateReserved Seats​≈Total Population of StateSC/ST Population​

• This system ensures fair representation and reflects the demographic diversity of India.

3. Special Provision for Assam (Clause 3)

• Assam, with its unique tribal population and autonomous districts, has a special rule under Article 330(3).
• The reserved seats for Scheduled Tribes in Assam’s autonomous districts must bear a proportion to the State’s total Lok Sabha seats that is not less than the proportion of their population in those districts to the total population of the State.

This provision recognises the distinct identity and demographic distribution of Assam’s tribal communities.

4. Definition of Population

• The term “population” refers to figures from the last published census.
• For determining seat allocation, the 1971 Census figures continue to be used until the first census after the year 2000 is officially published, as per constitutional amendments freezing the readjustment of seats until 2026.

Implementation and Legal Framework

The reservation of seats under Article 330 is operationalised through:

1. The Representation of the People Act, 1950, which provides for:
   • Allocation of seats in the Lok Sabha;
   • Identification of reserved constituencies for SCs and STs.
2. The Delimitation Acts (1952, 1962, 1972, 2002), which periodically readjust constituency boundaries to reflect demographic changes.
3. The Election Commission of India (ECI), which ensures:
   • Proper enforcement of reservation provisions during elections;
   • Identification and rotation of reserved constituencies in accordance with delimitation exercises.

Historical Background

• Poona Pact, 1932: The idea of political representation for depressed classes originated with the Poona Pact between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, which replaced separate electorates with reserved seats in joint electorates.
• Constituent Assembly Debates (1948–1949): Dr. Ambedkar emphasised that political reservation was essential for ensuring voice and visibility to historically oppressed groups in national politics.
• The framers originally intended these provisions to last for ten years (as per Article 334), but they have since been extended multiple times by constitutional amendments, recognising the continuing need for affirmative political measures.

Constitutional Amendments and Duration

• Initially, the reservation of seats for SCs and STs was to cease after ten years from the commencement of the Constitution (i.e., by 1960).
• However, recognising the persistence of social and economic inequalities, successive constitutional amendments have extended this period.
• The most recent extension was made through the 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2020, which extended the provision until 2030.

Judicial Interpretation

Although Article 330 has not been directly challenged in court, the Supreme Court has interpreted related provisions to affirm the importance of political representation for disadvantaged communities.

• Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain (1975): The Court recognised that free and fair elections are part of the basic structure of the Constitution, which includes ensuring equitable representation.
• K. Krishna Murthy v. Union of India (2010): The Supreme Court upheld the principle of political reservation for SCs and STs in local bodies under Articles 243D and 243T, emphasising that such measures are an integral part of substantive equality.
• M. Nagaraj v. Union of India (2006): Although dealing with reservations in employment, the Court reiterated that affirmative measures like reservations are constitutionally justified to achieve equality in practice.

Relationship with Other Constitutional Provisions

Significance of Article 330

1. Political Empowerment:
   • Enables SCs and STs to participate in national policymaking.
   • Creates a platform for raising issues affecting marginalised communities.
2. Social Justice:
   • Aims to rectify historical exclusion and discrimination through inclusive representation.
3. Democratic Inclusiveness:
   • Strengthens India’s representative democracy by ensuring all communities have a voice in the Lok Sabha.
4. National Integration:
   • Promotes unity by ensuring that all sections of society are represented in governance.

Current Status and Continuing Debates

• The reservation of seats for SCs and STs in the Lok Sabha continues as per Article 334, currently extended till 2030.
• Periodic Delimitation Commissions are responsible for adjusting reserved constituencies based on population data, ensuring proportional representation.
• Debates continue regarding:
  • The effectiveness of reserved seats in achieving real empowerment;
  • The need for political reservation for other disadvantaged groups such as women and OBCs; and
  • Balancing representation with meritocracy and governance efficiency.