Part XVI - Special Provisions relating to Certain Classes (Article 330 - 342A)

Part XVI of the Constitution contains special provisions for certain classes, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other Socially and Educationally Backward Classes. Article 330 to Article 334 defines the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes & Anglo-Indian Community in Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies. National Commission for Scheduled Castes (Article 338), National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (Article 338A) and National Commission for Backward Classes (Article 338B) were stated in Part XVI. Article 342A states about the Socially and educationally backward classes. 

National Commission for Scheduled Caste (SC)

The National Joint Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was established on 12 March 1992 under the 65th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1990. Shri Ramdhan was the first Chairperson of the Commission. Until the 89th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2003, there was a single common commission for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The 89th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2003 splited the Joint Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and provided for the formation of separate commissions for the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes. In 2004, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes came into existence. Both are constitutional bodies. They have five members including the Chairman. Their headquarters are in New Delhi.

National Commission for Scheduled Tribes

The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes came into existence in 2004. The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes is a constitutional body. It has five members including the Chairman. Its headquarters is in New Delhi.

National Commission for Backward Classes

The National Commission for Backward Classes was formed in 1993 following the Mandal judgment of the Supreme Court (1992). The National Commission for Backward Classes was a statutory body. It was given constitutional status by the 102nd Constitutional Amendment in 2018. It is responsible for examining and advising the government on the inclusion and exclusion of communities in the OBC (Other Backward Classes) list. The government is legally bound to implement the advice of the Commission. It has a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and three members. Its headquarters is in New Delhi.

Special Provisions Relating to Certain Classes (Article 330 - 342A)

Article 330: Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the House of the People

Article 331: Representation of the Anglo-Indian Community in the House of the People

Article 332: Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assemblies of the States

Article 333: Representation of the Anglo-Indian community in the Legislative Assemblies of the States

Article 334: Reservation of seats and special representation to cease after certain period

Article 335: Claims of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to services and posts

Article 336: Special provision for Anglo-Indian community in certain services

Article 337: Special provision with respect to educational grants for the benefit of Anglo-Indian community

Article 338: National Commission for Scheduled Castes

Article 338A: National Commission for Scheduled Tribes

Article 338B: National Commission for Backward Classes

Article 339: Control of the Union over the administration of Scheduled Areas and the welfare of Scheduled Tribes

Article 340: Appointment of a Commission to investigate the conditions of backward classes

Article 341: Scheduled Castes

Article 342: Scheduled Tribes

Article 342A: Socially and educationally backward classes