Definition & Specification of Scheduled Castes

Definition

Scheduled Castes are defined in Article 366(24) of the Constitution of India, 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 purpose of the Constitution.”

Specification

Article 341 of the Constitution deals with specification of a caste as a Scheduled Caste and reads as under:-

• Clause (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 ....