Reservation of Seats for ST & SC in Parliament & Proportional Representation: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

For those, who are preparing for government exams in India, or other official competitive examinations, need to study Polity related to it and Reservation of Seats for ST & SC in Parliament & Proportional Representation is an important topic to the polity and compulsory for candidates who are preparing for exams.

If you also one of them and want to know more about the same, then please be with us till the end of this article, because we are going to provide you all the related information about Reservation of Seats for ST & SC in Parliament & Proportional Representation.

So, let's start-

Reservation of Seats for ST & SC in Parliament

The Constitution of India provides for the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in both Houses of Parliament under Article 330 and Article 332, respectively.

Article 330 of the Constitution

Article 330 of the Constitution provides for the reservation of seats for SCs in the Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament). The number of seats reserved for SCs is determined by the President of India on the basis of population proportion. Currently, 84 out of the 543 seats in the Lok Sabha are reserved for SC candidates.

Article 332 of the Constitution

Article 332 provides for the reservation of seats for STs in the Lok Sabha. Similar to SCs, the number of seats reserved for STs is also determined by the President of India on the basis of population proportion. Currently, 47 out of the 543 seats in the Lok Sabha are reserved for ST candidates.

In addition to the Lok Sabha, the Constitution also provides for the reservation of seats for SCs and STs in the Rajya Sabha (upper house of Parliament) under Article 80. 12 seats are reserved for SCs and 5 seats are reserved for STs in the Rajya Sabha.

Proportional Representation in Indian Parliament

Proportional representation (PR) is a method of voting where seats in the Parliament or other legislative bodies are allocated in proportion to the number of votes received by each political party. In India, PR is used in the election of members to the Rajya Sabha (upper house of Parliament) and in some state legislative councils.

In the Rajya Sabha, members are elected by the state legislative assemblies using the system of proportional representation by means of the Single Transferable Vote (STV) method. Under this method, each voter casts a single vote for a candidate of their choice, and if their preferred candidate does not win, their vote is transferred to the next preference candidate. The candidate who secures a certain number of votes, known as the quota, is elected to the Rajya Sabha.

For example, let's say there are six seats up for election in the Rajya Sabha, and 600 votes are cast. The quota to be elected to the Rajya Sabha is 100 votes. Candidate A receives 200 votes and is elected to the Rajya Sabha. The surplus votes (100 votes) of Candidate A are then transferred to the next preference candidates of those who voted for Candidate A. If Candidate B receives 50 of those transferred votes and reaches the quota of 100, then Candidate B is also elected to the Rajya Sabha.

The Constitution of India provides for the use of the STV method for proportional representation in the election of members to the Rajya Sabha under Article 80(4). It mandates that each member of the Rajya Sabha shall be elected by the elected members of the legislative assembly of the state in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the Single Transferable Vote.

The purpose of proportional representation is to ensure that the allocation of seats in Parliament or legislative bodies accurately reflects the preferences of the electorate. The system helps to ensure that minority parties and groups are represented in Parliament, as well as promoting a more diverse range of voices in the legislative process.

FAQ's

Q1. What is the constitutional provision for the reservation of seats for STs and SCs in Parliament?

Ans: Constitutional provision for reservation of seats for STs and SCs in Parliament is provided under Article 330 and Article 331 for the reservation of seats for SCs and STs respectively in the Lok Sabha. Similarly, Article 334 provides for the reservation of seats for STs and SCs in the Rajya Sabha.

Q2. How many seats are reserved for STs and SCs in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha?

Ans: 84 seats are reserved for SCs and 47 seats are reserved for STs in the Lok Sabha, while 15 seats are reserved for SCs and 5 seats are reserved for STs in the Rajya Sabha.

Q3. What is the purpose of proportional representation in the Rajya Sabha?

Ans: The purpose of proportional representation in the Rajya Sabha is to ensure that the representation of states in the upper house is based on their population and not just on their geographic size. This helps to ensure that the voice of smaller states is not drowned out by larger states.

Q4. How does the Single Transferable Vote system work in the election of members to the Rajya Sabha?

Ans: The Single Transferable Vote system works in the election of members to the Rajya Sabha by allowing voters to rank their preferred candidates in order of preference. Candidates who reach the quota of votes required to win are elected, and any excess votes are transferred to the remaining candidates.

Q5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of proportional representation in the Indian political system?

Ans: The advantages of proportional representation in the Indian political system include fair representation of all groups, especially smaller parties, and a more diverse legislature. The disadvantages include instability in government formation and the possibility of extremist parties gaining representation.