Reserved political positions in India - Revision history

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			{{Short description\|Aspect of apportionment of political offices and university posts in India}}
	{{about\|the reservation in political offices\|the reservation in education and employment\|Reservation in India}}		{{about\|the reservation in political offices\|the reservation in education and employment\|Reservation in India}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2019}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2019}}

	In [[India]], a number of [[~~Political spectrum~~\|political positions]] and university posts are held for specific groups of the [[Demographics of India\|population]], including [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes]], and women in some cases.		In [[India]], a number of [[Public administration\|political positions]] and university posts are held for specific groups of the [[Demographics of India\|population]], including [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes]], and women in some cases.

	There are reserved constituencies in both Parliamentary and State Assembly elections. Scheduled Castes (usually abbreviated as SC), and Scheduled Tribes (usually abbreviated as ST) are ~~Castes~~ and Tribes included in the schedules published by ~~Govt~~ to indicate these castes' and tribes' backward status. All voters, including Non-SC, Non-ST community voters have the right to vote for these candidates belonging to SC or ST candidate, if contesting from their constituency. About 25% of Indian population belongs to SC/ST communities. About the same ratio of seats are reserved for them in the Parliament. In each ~~State~~ that number will depend on the percentage of population and percentage of SC/ST amongst them. In local body ~~Elections~~, like ~~Municipal~~ polls, in addition to SC ST , ~~Other~~ Backward Class candidates also have reserved seats. The constituencies are allotted by lottery system. In the case of municipal and other [[~~Local~~ election]]s, the constituencies are known as wards. Thus, there may be as many wards or constituencies as the number of elected seats in the elected body. Reserved constituencies are constituencies in which seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes and Tribes based on the size of their population.		There are reserved constituencies in both [[Elections in India#Parliamentary_General_Elections_(Lok_Sabha)\|Parliamentary]] and [[Elections in India#State_Assembly_(Vidhan_Sabha)_Elections\|State Assembly elections]]. Scheduled Castes (usually abbreviated as SC), and Scheduled Tribes (usually abbreviated as ST) are [[Caste system in India\|castes]] and [[List of Scheduled Tribes in India\|tribes]] included in the schedules published by the government to indicate these castes' and tribes' backward status. All voters, including Non-SC, Non-ST community voters, have the right to vote for these candidates belonging to SC or ST candidate, if contesting from their [[constituency]]. About 25% of Indian population belongs to SC/ST communities. About the same ratio of seats are reserved for them in the [[Parliament of India\|Parliament]]. In each [[States and union territories of India\|state]], that number will depend on the percentage of population and percentage of SC/ST amongst them. In [[Local government in India\|local body elections]], like municipal polls, in addition to SC/ST, other Backward Class candidates also have reserved seats. The constituencies are allotted by lottery system. In the case of municipal and other [[local election]]s, the constituencies are known as wards. Thus, there may be as many wards or constituencies as the number of elected seats in the elected body. Reserved constituencies are constituencies in which seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes and Tribes based on the size of their population.

	In the earlier history of India under [[British Raj\|British rule]], a separate electorate meant that not only were the seats reserved for a specific group, but voting for the reserved constituency was allowed for only members of that specific community. For example, only Muslims could vote for ~~[[Muslims\|~~Muslim]] candidates in Muslim reserved constituencies.		In the earlier history of India under [[British Raj\|British rule]], a separate electorate meant that not only were the seats reserved for a specific group, but voting for the reserved constituency was allowed for only members of that specific community. For example, only Muslims could vote for Muslim candidates in Muslim reserved constituencies.

	== Definition ==		== Definition ==
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	In India's pre-independence era, in 1906, [[Muslims]] demanded fair representation to share power with the [[British government]] along with the Hindus; the British government provided for a separate electorate system to the Muslims in the [[Indian Councils Act 1909\|Indian Councils Act of 1909]]. As a result, of the total 250 seats of the [[Bengal Legislative Assembly]], 117 seats were reserved for Muslims. Accordingly, the general elections of 1937 were held based on the extended separate electorates, where only Muslims voted for the 117 seats, in [[Bengal]].		In India's pre-independence era, in 1906, [[Muslims]] demanded fair representation to share power with the [[British government]] along with the Hindus; the British government provided for a separate electorate system to the Muslims in the [[Indian Councils Act 1909\|Indian Councils Act of 1909]]. As a result, of the total 250 seats of the [[Bengal Legislative Assembly]], 117 seats were reserved for Muslims. Accordingly, the general elections of 1937 were held based on the extended separate electorates, where only Muslims voted for the 117 seats, in [[Bengal]].

	Again, in the [[Round Table Conferences]] in 1930–32, the concept of separate electorates for the [[Untouchability\|Untouchables]] (SC~~/ST~~) was raised by [[B. R. Ambedkar]] as a way to ensure sufficient representation for the minority SC~~/ST~~ communities in the government. This provision was strongly opposed by [[Mahatma Gandhi\|Gandhi]] because he believed the move would disintegrate [[Hindu]] society. If the SC~~/ST~~ communities were given a separate electorate, then certain constituencies would have been reserved for them, and only the people belonging to SC~~/ST~~ communities would have been able to vote for candidates contesting those seats, thus alienating the rest of the Hindus. Eventually, a compromise was reached between [[B. R. Ambedkar\|Ambedkar]] and Gandhi with the [[Poona Pact]], in which the parties agreed that certain constituencies would be reserved for the SC~~/ST~~ communities, where the people belonging to SC~~/ST~~ communities could elect 4 candidates per [[constituency]] who would then be candidates for election by the joint electorate.		Again, in the [[Round Table Conferences]] in 1930–32, the concept of separate electorates for the [[Untouchability\|Untouchables]] (SC) was raised by [[B. R. Ambedkar]] as a way to ensure sufficient representation for the minority SC communities in the government. This provision was strongly opposed by [[Mahatma Gandhi\|Gandhi]] because he believed the move would disintegrate [[Hindu]] society. If the SC communities were given a separate electorate, then certain constituencies would have been reserved for them, and only the people belonging to SC communities would have been able to vote for candidates contesting those seats,{{Citation needed\|date=February 2022}} thus alienating the rest of the Hindus. Eventually, a compromise was reached between [[B. R. Ambedkar\|Ambedkar]] and Gandhi with the [[Poona Pact]], in which the parties agreed that certain constituencies would be reserved for the SC communities, where the people belonging to SC communities could elect four candidates per [[constituency]] who would then be candidates for election by the joint electorate.

	== Groups with reserved seats ==		== Groups with reserved seats ==

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{{about|the reservation in political offices|the reservation in education and employment|Reservation in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}

In [[India]], a number of [[Political spectrum|political positions]] and university posts are held for specific groups of the [[Demographics of India|population]], including [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes]], and women in some cases.

There are reserved constituencies in both Parliamentary and State Assembly elections. Scheduled Castes (usually abbreviated as SC), and Scheduled Tribes (usually abbreviated as ST) are Castes and Tribes included in the schedules published by Govt to indicate these castes' and tribes' backward status. All voters, including Non-SC, Non-ST community voters have the right to vote for these candidates belonging to SC or ST candidate, if contesting from their constituency. About 25% of Indian population belongs to SC/ST communities. About the same ratio of seats are reserved for them in the Parliament. In each State that number will depend on the percentage of population and percentage of SC/ST amongst them. In local body Elections, like Municipal polls, in addition to SC ST , Other Backward Class candidates also have reserved seats. The constituencies are allotted by lottery system. In the case of municipal and other [[Local election]]s, the constituencies are known as wards. Thus, there may be as many wards or constituencies as the number of elected seats in the elected body. Reserved constituencies are constituencies in which seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes and Tribes based on the size of their population.

In the earlier history of India under [[British Raj|British rule]], a separate electorate meant that not only were the seats reserved for a specific group, but voting for the reserved constituency was allowed for only members of that specific community. For example, only Muslims could vote for [[Muslims|Muslim]] candidates in Muslim reserved constituencies.

== Definition ==
An electorate is a group of voters encompassing all the officially qualified voters within a particular country or area or for a particular election. A joint electorate is one where the entire voting population of a country or region is part of a single electorate and the entire electorate votes for the candidates who contest in the elections.

In the case of separate electorates, the voting population of a country or region is divided into different electorates, based on certain factors such as [[religion]], [[caste]], [[gender]], and [[Employment|occupation]]. Here, members of each electorate vote only for elected representatives for their electorate. Separate electorates are usually demanded by [[minorities]] who feel it would otherwise be difficult for them to get fair representation in [[government]]. For example, a separate electorate for Muslims means that Muslims will choose their separate leader by separate elections for Muslims.<ref>pakistan studies by dr. M. Azam Chaudhary</ref> The [[Constitution of India]] entitles every citizen to elect representatives. The constitution-makers, however, were worried that open electoral competition would preclude less populous minority groups from election to the national and the state legislative assemblies.

== Under British rule ==
In India's pre-independence era, in 1906, [[Muslims]] demanded fair representation to share power with the [[British government]] along with the Hindus; the British government provided for a separate electorate system to the Muslims in the [[Indian Councils Act 1909|Indian Councils Act of 1909]]. As a result, of the total 250 seats of the [[Bengal Legislative Assembly]], 117 seats were reserved for Muslims. Accordingly, the general elections of 1937 were held based on the extended separate electorates, where only Muslims voted for the 117 seats, in [[Bengal]].

Again, in the [[Round Table Conferences]] in 1930–32, the concept of separate electorates for the [[Untouchability|Untouchables]] (SC/ST) was raised by [[B. R. Ambedkar]] as a way to ensure sufficient representation for the minority SC/ST communities in the government. This provision was strongly opposed by [[Mahatma Gandhi|Gandhi]] because he believed the move would disintegrate [[Hindu]] society. If the SC/ST communities were given a separate electorate, then certain constituencies would have been reserved for them, and only the people belonging to SC/ST communities would have been able to vote for candidates contesting those seats, thus alienating the rest of the Hindus. Eventually, a compromise was reached between [[B. R. Ambedkar|Ambedkar]] and Gandhi with the [[Poona Pact]], in which the parties agreed that certain constituencies would be reserved for the SC/ST communities, where the people belonging to SC/ST communities could elect 4 candidates per [[constituency]] who would then be candidates for election by the joint electorate.

== Groups with reserved seats ==
===Anglo-Indians===
{{Main|Anglo-Indian reserved seats in the Lok Sabha}}
The [[Anglo-Indian]] community was the only community in India that had its representatives nominated to the [[Lok Sabha]] ([[lower house]]) in the [[Parliament of India]]. This right was secured from [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] by [[Frank Anthony]], the first and longtime president of the [[All India Anglo-Indian Association]]. The President can nominate two Anglo-Indian members to the Lok Sabha. Fourteen [[States and union territories of India|states]] ([[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Bihar]], [[Chhattisgarh]], [[Gujarat]], [[Jharkhand]], [[Karnataka]], [[Kerala]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Telangana]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Uttarakhand]] and [[West Bengal]]) also had a nominated member each in their respective [[State Legislative Assembly (India)|State Legislative Assemblies]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/anglo-indian-quota-history-mps-6164232/|title=Explained:Anglo-Indian quota,its history,MPs Constitution Amendment passed by Parliament effectively does away with reservation for Anglo-Indian members in LokSabha,Assemblies|author=Abantika Ghosh, Pradeep Kaushal|access-date=4 June 2020}}</ref>

Article 334 of the Indian Constitution gave reservation to the Anglo-Indian community. It was originally set to expire 20 years after the commencement of the Constitution, but was extended multiple times through constitutional amendments: to 1970 through the 5th Amendment, to 1980 through the 23rd Amendment, to 1990 through the 45th Amendment, to 2006 through the 62nd Amendment, to 2010 through the 79th Amendment, and to 2020 through the 95th Amendment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indialegallive.com/top-news-of-the-day/news/centre-notifies-constitutional-amendment-away-quota-anglo-india-84961|title=Centre notifies constitutional amendment doing away with a quota for Anglo Indian|access-date=3 June 2020}}</ref> In January 2020, the Anglo-Indian reserved seats in the Parliament and State Legislatures of India were abolished by the [[One Hundred and Fourth Amendment of the Constitution of India|104th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2019]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/constitution-104th-amendment-act-to-come-into-force-151919|title=Anglo Indian Representation To Lok Sabha, State Assemblies Done Away; SC-ST Reservation Extended For 10 Years: Constitution (104th Amendment) Act To Come Into Force On 25th Jan|website=www.livelaw.in|access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elections.in/government/anglo-indian-mps.html|title=Anglo Indian Members of Parliament (MPs) of India - Powers, Salary, Eligibility, Term|website=www.elections.in}}</ref> The reason cited by the [[Minister of Law and Justice|Union Law Minister]] [[Ravi Shankar Prasad]] who introduced the Bill in the Lok Sabha was that the Anglo-Indian population in India was just 296 in the [[2011 Census of India]], though the number is disputed.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/who-are-the-anglo-indians-and-why-do-they-have-a-quota-in-lok-sabha-and-some-state-legislatures/527529|title=Who are the Anglo-Indians and why do they have a quota in Lok Sabha and some state legislatures?|first=Sumeet|last=Kaul|access-date =2 June 2020}}</ref>

===Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes===
{{Main|Reservation in India}}
Several seats in the [[Parliament of India]], [[State Legislative Assembly (India)|State Assemblies]], [[Municipal governance in India|urban]] and [[Panchayati raj in India|rural]]-level institutions are reserved for [[Scheduled Castes]] (SC) and [[Scheduled Tribes]] (ST). These reserved seats are elected by all voters in a constituency, without a separate electorate. A member of an SC/ST is not debarred from contesting a general (i.e. non-reserved) seat. This system was introduced by the [[Constitution of India]] in 1950 and was supposed to be in place for the first 10 years, to ensure participation in politics by these groups which were deemed weak, marginalized, under-represented and needing special protection. Under the [[List of amendments of the Constitution of India|104th amendment to the Constitution of India]], this reservation is to last until 2030 and is subject to extension with another constitutional amendment.<ref>{{Cite web|last=NETWORK|first=LIVELAW NEWS|title=Anglo Indian Representation To Lok Sabha, State Assemblies Done Away; SC-ST Reservation Extended For 10 Years: Constitution (104th Amendment) Act To Come Into Force On 25th Jan|url=https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/constitution-104th-amendment-act-to-come-into-force-151919|access-date=2020-06-17|website=Live Law|language=en}}</ref>

The population figure of SCs in relation to the total population figure had increased from 14.6% in the 1971 census to 16.2% in the 2001 census. Similarly, the population figure of STs had increased from 6.9% in the 1971 census to 8.2% in the 2001 census. The overall increase in the population of SCs and STs in the 2001 census has led the [[Delimitation Commission]] to increase the seats for Scheduled castes in [[Lok Sabha]] from 79 to 84 and for Scheduled Tribes from 41 to 47 out of 543 constituencies, as per the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order of 2008.

Allocation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Lok Sabha are made based on the proportion of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the state based on the state's population, as per Article 330 of the Constitution of India read with Section 3 of the [[Representation of the People Act, 1951|Representation of the People Act of 1951]].{{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed for the whole sentence|date=January 2016}}

===Other Backward Classes===
{{Main|Mandal Commission}}
As per the enforcement of recommendations of the [[Mandal Commission]], the [[Other Backward Class]]es (OBCs) also receive reserved seats in the [[Panchayati raj in India|Rural]] and [[Municipal governance in India|Urban]] bodies election.

Allocation of seats for Other Backward Classes are made based on the proportion of Other Backward Classes relative to the total state population.

===Women===
{{Main|Women's Reservation Bill}}
Women get one-third reservation in [[Gram Panchayat]]s (meaning 'Village Council', which is a form of [[Panchayati raj in India|local rural government]]), [[Panchayat samiti|Block Panchayats]], [[District Councils of India|District Councils]] and [[Municipal governance in India|Municipal bodies]]. There is a long-term plan to extend this reservation to the [[Parliament of India|Parliament]] and [[State Legislature (India)|State Legislature]].

The [[Women's Reservation Bill]] proposed in 2008 reserves 33% of all seats in [[Lok Sabha]] and all [[State Legislative Assembly (India)|State Legislative assemblies]] for women. The [[Rajya Sabha]] passed the bill on 9 March 2010.<ref name=ra>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-03-09/india/28137030_1_unruly-scenes-women-s-reservation-bill-constitution-amendment-bill|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811071147/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-03-09/india/28137030_1_unruly-scenes-women-s-reservation-bill-constitution-amendment-bill|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 August 2011|title=Rajya Sabha passes Women's Reservation Bill|date=9 March 2010 |work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=4 June 2020}}</ref> The bill was never voted on in the [[Lok Sabha]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-09/india/37581570_1_international-women-s-day-women-s-reservation-bill-speaker-meira-kumar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130505090251/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-09/india/37581570_1_international-women-s-day-women-s-reservation-bill-speaker-meira-kumar |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 May 2013 |title=Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar calls for women’s empowerment |date=9 March 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=4 June 2020}}</ref>

Between 1957 and 2019, before the [[Revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir|abrogation of Article 370 and 35A of the Constitution of India]], the former 89-member [[Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly]] had 2 seats reserved for the nominated women members.

===Sangha and Bhutia-Lepcha seats in Sikkim===
{{Main|Sangha (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Bhutia-Lepcha}}
Sikkim was [[1975 Sikkimese monarchy referendum|merged with India]] in 1975. The 32-member [[Sikkim Legislative Assembly]] has one seat reserved for a [[Buddhist]] [[Sangha (Buddhism)|Sangha]] member. Only Buddhist monks and nuns belonging to the 111 registered Buddhist monasteries<ref name="ceosikkim-32Sangha">{{cite web |url=https://ceosikkim.nic.in/Home/ElectionLinkDesc?EID=10013 |title=32-Sangha Assembly Constituency - One of its kind in the country |website=ceosikkim.nic.in |accessdate= 22 January 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=2019-08-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818153301/https://ceosikkim.nic.in/Home/ElectionLinkDesc?EID=10013 }}</ref> are eligible to vote and stand for this seat.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/sikkims-sangha-assembly-seat-is-a-perfect-example-of-the-states-unique-political-process-to-protect-minority-rights-6401101.html|title=Sikkim's Sangha Assembly seat is a perfect example of the state's unique political process to protect minority rights|author=Joydeep Sen Gupta|access-date=3 June 2020}}</ref> Additionally, 12 seats in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly are reserved for the [[Bhutia-Lepcha]] ethnic people.<ref name="eci">{{cite web |url=https://eci.gov.in/files/file/7276-sikkim/ |title=Sikkim - Delimitation |website=Election Commission of India |date= |author= |accessdate= 3 January 2021}}</ref>

==Other reserved seats==
Some seats, rather than being reserved for specific groups, are chosen by other branches of the government.

===Union government's nominees to the Puducherry Legislative Assembly===
In the 33-member [[Puducherry Legislative Assembly]], 3 members are nominated by the [[Government of India|Union government of India]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Centre can nominate 3 MLAs to Puducherry Assembly: SC|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/centre-empowered-nominate-3-706779.html|author=Tripathi, Ashish|publisher=Deccan Herald|date=6 December 2018|access-date=1 August 2020}}</ref>

===Governor's nominees to the State Legislative Councils===
A [[Governor (India)|Governor]] can nominate up to 1/6 of the total number of members in a [[State Legislative Council (India)|State Legislative council]], the [[upper house]] of the state legislature in 6 states, [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Bihar]], [[Karnataka]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Telangana]] and [[Uttar Pradesh]]. These members are experts in the fields of art, science, literature and social service.

===President's nominees to the Rajya Sabha===
{{Main|List of nominated members of the Rajya Sabha}}
The President of India can nominate 12 members to the [[Rajya Sabha]]. These 12 members are people who have expertise in art, science, literature and social service.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/ranjan-gogoi-cji-rajya-sabha-6320862/|title=Justice Gogoi is best placed to be a non-partisan conduit between legislature, judiciary|first=Kartikeya|last=Tanna|date=19 March 2020|access-date=3 June 2020}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Reserved political positions]]
*[[Proportionate representation]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* [http://www.indhistory.com/round-table-conference-3.html Third Round Table conference, Poona Pact]

[[Category:Elections in India]]
[[Category: Political history of India]]
[[Category:Reservation in India]]