Scheduled Castes
Also called: SC
Castes, races or tribes, or parts of or groups within them, deemed to be Scheduled Castes under Article 341 of the Constitution (Article 366(24)).
Explained
Article 366(24) of the Constitution defines Scheduled Castes as such castes, races or tribes or parts of or groups within such castes, races or tribes as are deemed under Article 341 to be Scheduled Castes for the purposes of the Constitution. The definition is therefore by reference to a notified list, not to any social test applied by a court.
Under Article 341(1), the President may, with respect to any State or Union territory, and in the case of a State after consultation with the Governor, by public notification specify the castes, races or tribes, or parts of or groups within them, which shall be deemed to be Scheduled Castes in relation to that State or Union territory. Under Article 341(2), only Parliament, by law, may include in or exclude from the list; the notification cannot be varied by any later notification. The status is State specific. The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 is the principal notification. Scheduled Tribes are dealt with separately under Articles 342 and 366(25).
Many provisions use the definition. Article 15(4) permits special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes; Article 16(4A) permits reservation in promotion with consequential seniority; Article 16(4B) allows carry forward of unfilled reserved vacancies as a separate class outside the fifty per cent ceiling; Article 46 directs the State to promote their educational and economic interests; Articles 330, 332 and 243D reserve seats in the Lok Sabha, State Assemblies and Panchayats; and Article 338 creates the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. Section 2(1)(c) of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 adopts the constitutional meaning.
A seven Judge Bench in 2024 held that States may sub-classify the Scheduled Castes for reservation on a rational basis supported by data, overruling the 2004 view that they form a single homogeneous class. Examiners test Article 341, the role of Parliament, the amendments adding Articles 15(4) and 16(4A), and the composition of the Commission.
What the law says
(23) “Schedule” means a Schedule to this Constitution;
Clause (24) defines Scheduled Castes
(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.
Presidential notification and Parliament's power to vary
(1) The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.
(2) No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them, be subject to any disability, liability, restriction or condition with regard to—
(a) access to shops, public restaurants, hotels and places of public entertainment; or
Clause (4): special provisions for SCs and STs
(2) No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, residence or any of them, be ineligible for, or discriminated against in respect of, any employment or office under the State.
(3) Nothing in this article shall prevent Parliament from making any law prescribing, in regard to a class or classes of employment or appointment to an office [under the Government of, or any local or other authority within, a State or Union territory, any requirement as to residence within that State or Union territory] prior to such employment or appointment.
(4) Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making any provision for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of any backward class of citizens which, in the opinion of the State, is not adequately represented in the services under the State.
Clauses (4A) and (4B): promotion and carry forward
[[(1) There shall be a Commission for the Scheduled Castes to be known as the National Commission for the Scheduled Castes.
(2) Subject to the provisions of any law made in this behalf by Parliament, the Commission shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and three other Members and the conditions of service and tenure of office of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and other Members so appointed shall be such as the President may by rule determine.]
(3) The Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and other Members of the Commission shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.
National Commission for Scheduled Castes
(c) “Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes” shall have the meanings assigned to them respectively under clause (24) and clause (25) of article 366 of the Constitution;
Clause (1)(c) adopts the constitutional meaning
For the exam
- Article 366(24) defines Scheduled Castes by reference to Article 341.
- President notifies after consulting the Governor; only Parliament by law can include or exclude.
- Lists are State or Union territory specific.
- Article 16(4A): reservation in promotion with consequential seniority for SCs and STs.
- Sub-classification within SCs is permissible (State of Punjab v. Davinder Singh, 2024).
214 questions in the Law Maker question bank use this term. Practise Constitutional Law questions
Judgments
- State of Punjab v. Davinder Singh (2024)The State may sub-classify the Scheduled Castes for reservation under Articles 15(4) and 16(4) on a rational principle supported by data on inadequate representation; E.V. Chinnaiah v. State of Andhra Pradesh was overruled.
- E.V. Chinnaiah v. State of Andhra Pradesh (2004)The Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Castes (Rationalisation of Reservations) Act, 2000, which split the Presidential List of Scheduled Castes into four groups with separate quotas, was beyond State legislative competence and violated Article 14.
Related terms
- Scheduled TribesTribes or tribal communities, or parts of or groups within them, deemed under Article 342 to be Scheduled Tribes for the purposes of the Constitution (Article 366(25)).
- Socially and educationally backward classesUnder Article 366(26C), the backward classes deemed socially and educationally backward under Article 342A for the Central Government or a State or Union territory. Articles 15(4) and 15(5) permit special provisions for them.
- The State (Article 12)For Part III of the Constitution, the Government and Parliament of India, the Government and Legislature of each State, and all local or other authorities in India or under the control of the Government of India.
- Union territoryAny Union territory specified in the First Schedule to the Constitution, including any other territory within India not specified in that Schedule. Article 366(30) of the Constitution.
- LawFor Article 13 of the Constitution, law includes any Ordinance, order, bye-law, rule, regulation, notification, custom or usage having the force of law in India.
Further reading
Checked 6 November 2026. Statutory text is quoted from the Bare Acts library, taken from India Code. See the full glossary.