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THE CONSTITUTION, MADE UNDERSTANDABLE

Article 342A
Socially and educationally backward classes

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Source edition: as on 1 May 2026. Omitted and struck-down reference entries remain labelled. Open the authoritative PDF ↗

Article 342A / Part XVI

Socially and educationally backward classes

included in edition
Plain languageOfficial textPurpose & sources
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THE PLAIN-LANGUAGE GUIDE

What does this mean?

This addresses the Central List of socially and educationally backward classes and preserves the stated State and Union-territory power to maintain their own lists for their purposes. Central and State lists need not be identical.

Reserved representation and special safeguards for specified communities, commissions and listing procedures.

PURPOSE & CONTEXT

Why is this provision here?

Different Central and State purposes require clarity about the respective authority to maintain backward-class lists.

Historical evidence

Article 342A was introduced in its present subject framework by Amendment 102 (2018), after the original Constitution. The verified sources are the official edition and the linked Amendment Act and Bill statement. Original 1946–1950 Assembly debates predate this insertion and are not presented as its direct drafting reason. The explanation of function above is editorial; the Bill statement supplies the attributed legislative reasons for the later proposal.

The explanation of purpose is an editorial reading of the provision. A drafting motive is attributed only where a linked historical source supports it.

Limits, exceptions & reading carefully

Educational summary of the linked source text. Exceptions, provisos, implementing laws and applicable judgments must be read before applying it to a real case.

Amendment references
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Read the official constitutional text
[342A. Socially and educationally backward classes.—(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 socially and educationally backward classes in the Central List which shall for the purposes of the Central Government] be deemed to be socially and educationally backward classes in relation to that State or Union territory, as the case may be. (2) Parliament may by law include in or exclude from the Central List of socially and educationally backward classes specified in a notification issued under clause (1) any socially and educationally backward class, but save as aforesaid a notification issued under the said clause shall not be varied by any subsequent notification.] [Explanation.—For the purposes of clauses (1) and (2), the expression “Central List” means the list of socially and educationally backward classes prepared and maintained by and for the Central Government. (3) Notwithstanding any contained in clauses (1) and (2), every State or Union territory may, by law, prepare and maintain, for its own purposes, a list of socially and educationally backward classes, entries in which may be different from the Central List.]
Source-page notes · may concern neighbouring Articles

1. Art 342 A ins. by the Constitution (One Hundred and Second Amendment) Act, 2018, s. 4 (w.e.f. 15-8-2018). 2. Subs. by the Constitution (One Hundred and Fifth Amendment) Act, 2021, s. 3 for socially and educationally backward classes which shall for the purposes of the Constitution (w.e.f. 15-9-2021). 3. Ins. by the Constitution (One Hundred and Fifth Amendment) Act, 2021, s. 3 (w.e.f. 15-9-2021).

Extracted from the Legislative Department’s May 2026 edition. Page footnotes may refer to neighbouring provisions; check their markers in the PDF. Inclusion in this edition does not by itself establish commencement or judicial effect.