The 104Th Amendment: A Historic Ratification

The 104th Amendment to the Indian Constitution, also known as the 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, was passed by the Indian Parliament in 2020. The amendment was first introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 9, 2019, by the Minister of Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad. The 104th Amendment abolished the Anglo-Indian community's reserved seats in the Parliament and State Legislatures of India, while extending reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) for up to ten years, until 2030.

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The 104th Amendment was introduced in 2019

The 104th Amendment to the Indian Constitution was introduced in 2019 by the Minister of Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad. The bill was proposed to amend Article 334 of the Constitution, which initially provided for the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Anglo-Indians in the Parliament and State Assemblies.

The 104th Amendment extended the time limit for terminating SC and ST seats in the House of Commons and State Legislatures from 70 to 80 years. This was done to maintain the Constitution's inclusive character and assure equality among people. The Amendment also ended the Anglo-Indian community's seat reservation in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. This provision was initially enacted to ensure the representation of the small Anglo-Indian community, but it was removed as the community had blended into the nation's population.

The 104th Amendment Act is a reflection of the changing societal requirements and the need to secure the right of representation in politics for socially and educationally backward communities. The Amendment passed by the Indian Parliament in 2020, highlights the key features of the Panchayati Raj of India and is, therefore, an important topic for UPSC Civil Services aspirants.

The 104th Amendment to the Indian Constitution is just one of the many amendments to the Constitution since it was first enacted in 1950. As of July 2025, there have been 106 amendments, making the Indian Constitution the most amended national constitution in the world.

It was passed by the Indian Parliament in 2020

The 104th Amendment to the Indian Constitution was passed by the Indian Parliament in 2020. The Amendment was first introduced by the Minister of Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad in the Lok Sabha on December 9, 2019. The bill was intended to amend Article 334 of the Constitution, which initially provided for the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Anglo-Indians in Parliament and State Assemblies.

The 104th Amendment extended the time limit for terminating SC and ST seats in the House of Commons and State Legislatures from 70 to 80 years, effectively extending reservations for these groups for another ten years, until 2030. This extension was granted to secure the right of representation in politics for socially and educationally backward communities and to maintain the Constitution's inclusive character.

At the same time, the Amendment abolished the reservation of seats for Anglo-Indians in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. This provision was initially enacted to ensure the representation of this small community, but it was removed as the population has blended in with the nation's population. The Anglo-Indian community's seat reservation in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies was ended, while the reservation for SCs and STs was extended for another ten years.

The 104th Amendment is a key example of how the Indian Constitution is amended to reflect changing societal needs. As of 2025, there have been 106 amendments to the Indian Constitution since it was first enacted in 1950, making it the most amended national constitution in the world. The frequent amendments to the Indian Constitution highlight the dynamic nature of the country's political system and the efforts to uphold the ideals of equality and inclusivity for all citizens.

Ended Anglo-Indian seat reservation

The 104th Amendment to the Indian Constitution was introduced by the Minister of Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad in the Lok Sabha on December 9, 2019, and was passed by the Indian Parliament in 2020. This amendment ended the Anglo-Indian community’s seat reservation in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.

The Anglo-Indian community in India is a small community that has blended in with the nation's population. They share the same pride in being Indian as all other citizens. The Anglo-Indian reserved seats in the Parliament and State Legislatures of India were abolished by the 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019. This amendment removed the provision for the Anglo-Indian community to be represented by two seats in the Lok Sabha and one in the State Legislative Assemblies.

The 104th Amendment also extended the time limit for terminating SC and ST seats in the House of Commons and State Legislatures from 70 to 80 years. The reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies was extended for another ten years, until 2030.

The 104th Amendment to the Indian Constitution was made to reflect changing societal needs and to maintain the Constitution's inclusive character. The amendment was passed to secure the right of representation in politics of the socially and educationally backward communities. The Preamble to the Indian Constitution lays down the ideal of equality of status and opportunity for all citizens of India.

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Extended SCs and STs reservation until 2030

The 104th Amendment to the Indian Constitution was passed in 2020. It addressed the evolving needs of India's sociopolitical landscape, particularly in terms of political representation and social justice.

The Amendment extended the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies for another ten years, until 2030. This extension was deemed necessary as the factors that influenced the original decision to reserve seats for these communities still exist. Despite the progress made by the SCs and STs over the last 70 years, it was believed that continued representation was required to maintain the Constitution's inclusive character.

The 104th Amendment also abolished the reservation of seats for the Anglo-Indian community, which had been in place since 1950. This was due to the significant decline in the Anglo-Indian population, raising questions about the need for their reserved seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.

The validity of extending the reservation of seats for SCs and STs has been questioned, with some arguing that it violates the basic structure of the Constitution and deprives the electorate of a choice in candidates. The Supreme Court clarified that it would examine the validity of the 104th Amendment only in relation to its application to the SC/ST communities and not the termination of the Anglo-Indian quota.

The 104th Amendment reflects India's changing approach to political representation and social justice. By extending the reservation for SCs and STs, the Amendment seeks to ensure that marginalised communities continue to have a voice in India's political landscape.

Amended Article 334 of the Constitution

Article 334 of the Indian Constitution has been amended multiple times since its enactment in 1950, making it the most amended national constitution in the world. The article concerns the reservation of seats and special representation for various communities within the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.

The original text of Article 334 stipulated that the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) should expire within ten years of the commencement of the Constitution, which would have been 26 January 1960. However, recognising the need to provide marginalised communities with greater opportunities for political participation, this deadline was extended multiple times through constitutional amendments.

The 8th Amendment in 1959 was the first to amend Article 334, extending the reservation period to 1970. This was further extended to 1980 by the 23rd Amendment in 1969, to 1990 by the 45th Amendment in 1980, to 2000 by the 62nd Amendment, to 2010 by the 79th Amendment, to 2020 by the 95th Amendment, and finally to 2030 by the 104th Amendment in 2019.

The 104th Amendment Act, which came into effect on 25 January 2020, also ceased the reservation of seats for Anglo-Indians in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. This change abolished the nomination process that had allowed members of the Anglo-Indian community to be represented in these legislative bodies.

In addition to the extensions of reservation periods for SCs and STs, Article 334 has also been amended to include provisions for the reservation of seats for women in the House of the People, the Legislative Assembly of a State, and the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. These reservations are subject to an exercise of delimitation based on the first census figures published after the commencement of the Constitution.

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