Question

What is the percentage of the total seats reserved in the Lok Sabha and State Vidhan Sabhas for the scheduled castes ?

• A. 7.5%
• B. 14%
• C. 15%
• D. 20%

Hint:

Remember the standard reservation percentages for central government positions: Scheduled Castes (SC) - 15%, Scheduled Tribes (ST) - 7.5%, and Other Backward Classes (OBC) - 27%. These figures are based on population proportions.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks about the reservation percentage for Scheduled Castes (SCs) in legislative bodies in India. According to Article 330 and 332 of the Constitution, seats are reserved for SCs and STs in proportion to their share of the population.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- The reservation of seats is based on the population figures from the Census. The current reservation is based on the 2001 Census data, though figures from the 2011 census are often cited.
- According to the 2011 Census, the Scheduled Caste population is 16.6% of the total population of India.
- In the Lok Sabha, 84 seats are reserved for SCs out of a total of 543. The percentage is \( \frac{84}{543} \times 100 \approx 15.47% \).
- While the exact population percentage is 16.6%, the reservation in practice is approximately 15%. This figure is widely used and accepted as the standard reservation percentage for SCs in central government jobs and educational institutions as well.
- 7.5% is the reservation percentage for Scheduled Tribes (STs).
Step 3: Final Answer:
The approximate percentage of total seats reserved for Scheduled Castes is 15%.