To promote social justice and equality, the Indian Constitution provides special provisions for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). These provisions aim to uplift historically disadvantaged communities through reservations in education, employment, and legislatures.
👉 Part XVI (Articles 330 to 342) of the Indian Constitution deals with special provisions for SCs, STs, and OBCs.
👉 Ensures political, social, and economic empowerment of backward communities.
I. Constitutional Provisions for SCs, STs, and OBCs
| Article | Provision |
|---|---|
| Article 330 | Reservation of seats in Lok Sabha for SCs and STs. |
| Article 332 | Reservation of seats in State Legislative Assemblies for SCs and STs. |
| Article 334 | Reservation of seats shall continue for a fixed period (extended multiple times, now till 2030). |
| Article 335 | Relaxation in jobs and promotions for SCs and STs. |
| Article 338 | Establishment of the National Commission for SCs. |
| Article 338A | Establishment of the National Commission for STs. |
| Article 340 | Appointment of a commission to identify and define OBCs. |
| Article 341 | President can notify Scheduled Castes. |
| Article 342 | President can notify Scheduled Tribes. |
II. Reservation for SCs, STs, and OBCs
To ensure representation and equality, reservations are provided in: ✅ Education – Reserved seats in schools, colleges, IITs, IIMs, medical institutes.
✅ Employment – Reservation in government jobs (UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railways, PSUs, promotions in jobs).
✅ Legislatures – Reserved seats in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
1. Reservation in Elections
| Category | Reservation in Lok Sabha | Reservation in State Assemblies |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Castes (SCs) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Scheduled Tribes (STs) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Other Backward Classes (OBCs) | ❌ No | ❌ No |
🔹 Note: The 127th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2021 restored states’ power to maintain their own OBC lists.
2. Reservation in Education & Jobs
| Category | Reservation in Education | Reservation in Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| SCs | ✅ 15% | ✅ 15% |
| STs | ✅ 7.5% | ✅ 7.5% |
| OBCs | ✅ 27% | ✅ 27% (Since 1993) |
| EWS (General Category Poor) | ✅ 10% | ✅ 10% (103rd Amendment, 2019) |
🔹 Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category was introduced in 2019 for General Category poor.
III. National Commissions for SCs, STs, and OBCs
1. National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) – Article 338
✅ Monitors the implementation of SC welfare schemes.
✅ Recommends policies to the President.
2. National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) – Article 338A
✅ Works for the protection of ST rights.
✅ Ensures proper implementation of ST welfare programs.
3. National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) – Article 340
✅ Identifies OBC communities for reservation benefits.
✅ NCBC was granted constitutional status in 2018 (102nd Amendment).
IV. Special Schemes for SCs, STs & OBCs
🚀 SC, ST & OBC Scholarship Schemes – Financial aid for education.
🚀 Stand-Up India Scheme – Business loans for SC/ST entrepreneurs.
🚀 Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme – Helps SC/ST students in higher education.
🚀 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) – Schools for tribal students.
🚀 Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) – Ensures special budget allocation for tribal development.
V. Landmark Supreme Court Cases on Reservations
1. Indra Sawhney Case (1992)
✅ Upheld 27% OBC reservation in jobs.
✅ Introduced the “creamy layer” concept (OBCs with higher income are excluded from benefits).
2. M. Nagaraj Case (2006)
✅ Upheld reservation in promotions for SC/ST employees.
3. Janhit Abhiyan vs. Union of India (2022)
✅ Upheld the 10% EWS reservation for the General Category poor.
VI. Challenges in Reservation System
❌ Disputes over “creamy layer” – Many believe rich OBCs should not get reservations.
❌ Demand for ST status by new communities – Some communities want ST status for benefits.
❌ Backlog in SC/ST job promotions – Many SC/ST employees do not get timely promotions.
❌ Impact on Meritocracy – Critics argue that reservation affects merit-based selection.
VII. Recent Developments in Reservations
✔ 103rd Amendment Act (2019) – Introduced 10% EWS quota for General Category poor.
✔ 127th Amendment Act (2021) – Restored state governments’ power to define OBCs.
✔ Reservation in NEET & IITs – 27% OBC and 10% EWS reservation introduced in medical & IIT admissions.
VIII. MCQs on Special Provisions for SCs, STs & OBCs
1. Which Article provides reservation for SCs/STs in Lok Sabha?
A) Article 324
B) Article 330
C) Article 340
D) Article 350
Answer: B) Article 330
2. Which Article allows the President to notify Scheduled Castes?
A) Article 335
B) Article 338
C) Article 341
D) Article 342
Answer: C) Article 341
3. How much reservation is given to OBCs in jobs?
A) 15%
B) 7.5%
C) 27%
D) 10%
Answer: C) 27%
4. Which Constitutional Amendment introduced the EWS quota?
A) 73rd
B) 86th
C) 103rd
D) 127th
Answer: C) 103rd
5. Which Article created the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)?
A) Article 332
B) Article 334
C) Article 338A
D) Article 342
Answer: C) Article 338A
6. What is the total reservation for SCs, STs, and OBCs combined?
A) 40%
B) 49.5%
C) 55%
D) 60%
Answer: B) 49.5%
7. What is the purpose of the “creamy layer” rule?
A) Exclude poor SCs/STs from benefits
B) Exclude wealthy OBCs from reservation
C) Give more reservation to tribals
D) Increase General Category reservations
Answer: B) Exclude wealthy OBCs from reservation
8. Who decides which castes are included in OBC lists?
A) Supreme Court
B) President
C) National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)
D) Prime Minister
Answer: C) National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)
IX. Conclusion
✅ SCs, STs, and OBCs are given special provisions under Part XVI (Articles 330-342).
✅ Reservations exist in education, employment, and legislatures to promote equality.
✅ National Commissions for SCs, STs, and OBCs ensure policy implementation.
✅ Recent developments like EWS quota and NEET reservations continue to shape the system.
Would you like a mind map or more MCQs on this topic? 😊