Home The Constitution Part XVI Article 334

Art. 334 Part XVI: Special Provisions Relating to Certain Classes

Reservation of Seats and Special Representation to Cease After a Specified Period

Exact text — Constitution of India

Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Part, the provisions of this Constitution relating to—(a) the reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in the House of the People and in the Legislative Assemblies of the States; ... shall cease to have effect on the expiration of a period of [eighty years] from the commencement of this Constitution: Provided that nothing in this article shall affect any representation in the House of the People or in the Legislative Assembly of a State until the dissolution of the then existing House or Assembly.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

Somewhat surprisingly, SC/ST political reservation was never meant to be permanent — it was designed with a specific sunset clause requiring periodic renewal by constitutional amendment. Originally set for just 10 years from 1950, it has been extended repeatedly (roughly every decade) ever since, with the current extension running to 2030 (80 years from commencement) following the 104th Amendment, 2019, which also formally ended the separate Anglo-Indian nomination scheme.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why you'll periodically hear about Parliament passing an amendment to 'extend SC/ST reservation' — it's not a one-time permanent guarantee but a continually renewed constitutional commitment, requiring active legislative action roughly every 10 years to continue.

Read alongside this one

Art. 330 — Reservation of Seats for SCs and STs in the Lok Sabha

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 334

Could SC/ST political reservation actually be allowed to lapse someday?

In principle yes, if Parliament chose not to extend it again — but every extension deadline since 1950 has in fact been renewed, reflecting sustained political consensus on its continued necessity.

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The text above reproduces Article 334 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.