Home The Constitution Part XVI Article 341

Art. 341 Part XVI: Special Provisions Relating to Certain Classes

Scheduled Castes

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) The President may with respect to any State or Union territory, and where it is a State, after consultation with the Governor thereof, by public notification, specify the castes, races or tribes or parts of or groups within castes, races or tribes which shall for the purposes of this Constitution be deemed to be Scheduled Castes in relation to that State or Union territory, as the case may be.

(2) Parliament may by law include in or exclude from the list of Scheduled Castes specified in a notification issued under clause (1) any caste, race or tribe or part of or group within any caste, race or tribe, but save as aforesaid a notification issued under the said clause shall not be varied by any subsequent notification.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article establishes exactly how a specific caste gets officially recognised as a 'Scheduled Caste' for constitutional purposes — through Presidential notification (after consulting the relevant state's Governor), with the list varying state by state (a caste 'Scheduled' in one state might not be in another). Crucially, once notified, ONLY Parliament — not the President alone, and not a State Legislature — can add to or remove from that list afterward.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why SC status is determined by an official, state-specific government list rather than social perception alone — and it's why changing that list (adding or removing a community) requires a specific Act of Parliament, not an executive decision, protecting the list's stability from arbitrary political change.

Read alongside this one

Art. 342 — Scheduled Tribes

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 341

Is a caste's SC status the same in every state?

No — the notification is state/UT specific, so a particular caste might be listed as a Scheduled Caste in one state but not in a neighbouring one, depending on the specific historical and social context assessed for each notification.

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The text above reproduces Article 341 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.