Article 330 of the Constitution of India: Reservation of SC and ST Seats in Lok Sabha
Article 330 provides the constitutional basis for reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the House of the People, commonly known as the Lok Sabha. The reservation is linked broadly to the proportion of the relevant SC or ST population in a State or Union territory.
Updated: 19 September 2026
What does Article 330 provide?
Article 330 is part of Part XVI of the Constitution, which contains special provisions relating to certain classes. It requires reservation of Lok Sabha seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and contains a specific rule for Scheduled Tribes in the autonomous districts of Assam.
Article 330 - constitutional text
330. Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the House of the People.
(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 thereof for which seats are reserved, bears to the total population of the State or Union territory.
(3) Notwithstanding clause (2), the number of seats reserved in the House of the People for Scheduled Tribes in the autonomous districts of Assam shall bear to the total number of seats allotted to Assam a proportion not less than the population of Scheduled Tribes in those autonomous districts bears to the total population of the State.
Explanation. For Article 330 and Article 332, "population" means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published. Under the presently operative constitutional proviso, until the relevant figures for the first census taken after 2026 have been published, the reference is construed as a reference to the 2001 census.
Note: The wording above is presented in clean reading form. For authoritative text, amendments and footnotes, refer to the official Constitution published by the Legislative Department.
Meaning and effect of Article 330
| Provision | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Clause (1) | Creates reservation of Lok Sabha seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, including a separate reference to Scheduled Tribes in the autonomous districts of Assam. |
| Clause (2) | Uses a population-proportion principle: reserved seats should, as nearly as may be, correspond to the relevant SC or ST share of the population of the State or Union territory. |
| Clause (3) | Provides a special minimum proportional safeguard for Scheduled Tribes in the autonomous districts of Assam. |
| Explanation | Defines the census population reference used for Articles 330 and 332 and applies the special constitutional census proviso currently in force. |
How are reserved Lok Sabha seats determined?
Article 330 supplies the constitutional principle. The electoral framework is supplemented by the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and delimitation law. The Election Commission of India states that allocation of Lok Sabha seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is based on their proportion in the State population, with Article 330 read with the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
For the 2024 Lok Sabha configuration, the Election Commission's election atlas records 543 parliamentary constituencies, comprising 412 general seats, 84 seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and 47 seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes.
Article 330 and the census rule
The older text previously displayed on this page referred to the first census after the year 2000 and the 1971 census. That wording is outdated. The Constitution, as amended, now provides that the relevant reference remains the 2001 census until figures from the first census taken after 2026 have been published. This rule should be read with the constitutional provisions governing readjustment and delimitation.
Related constitutional provisions
Article 332 deals with reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in State Legislative Assemblies. Article 334 deals with the duration of reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and certain special representation. Articles 341 and 342 concern specification of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes respectively.
Official legal resources
For verification and further reading, see the Legislative Department - Constitution of India, the Election Commission of India - Constitutional Provisions, and the Election Commission of India - Delimitation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the purpose of Article 330?
Its purpose is to constitutionally reserve representation in the Lok Sabha for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes according to the framework stated in Article 330.
Does Article 330 apply to State Legislative Assemblies?
No. Article 330 concerns the House of the People. Reservation of SC and ST seats in State Legislative Assemblies is principally dealt with by Article 332.
Does Article 330 reserve a fixed percentage of Lok Sabha seats?
Article 330 does not state one uniform nationwide percentage. Clause (2) uses a State or Union-territory population-proportion formula, subject to the constitutional provisions applicable to the particular category and area.
How many Lok Sabha seats were reserved for SCs and STs in the 2024 configuration?
The Election Commission's 2024 election atlas records 84 seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and 47 seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes.