Article 340

Presidential Commission to Investigate Conditions of Backward Classes

Official heading: “Appointment of a Commission to investigate the conditions of backward classes”

Check this article against the official editionAwaiting human legal review

Source edition: The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2026)
Source locator: Part XVI, Article 340, printed pages 201–202
Last human source-link check: Not yet checked
Last human legal review: Not yet reviewed

Open official PDF at this article Report a text or source error

AI-assisted source comparisons are noted with the citations below; the check date remains pending until a human confirms the link. The report link opens your email app; you choose whether to send it.

1. In One Sentence

Authorizes the President to appoint a commission to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes and recommend remedial measures.

2. What It Means in Everyday Language

Article 340 provides the constitutional foundation for state investigation into social and educational backwardness.

The President may appoint a Commission consisting of persons deemed fit to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes within the territory of India and the difficulties under which they labor.

The Commission is tasked with making recommendations regarding steps the Union or States should take to remove difficulties, improve conditions, and allocate financial grants.

This historic article led to the appointment of the First Backward Classes Commission (Kaka Kalelkar Commission, 1953) and the Second Backward Classes Commission (Mandal Commission, 1979), which paved the way for central OBC reservations under Article 16(4).

3. Practical Illustrative Example

Everyday Scenario:

The President appoints a national commission to study the socio-economic conditions and educational indices of marginalized communities across India.

Core takeaway: Article 340 provides the direct constitutional authority for commissions (like the Mandal Commission) that formulate affirmative action policies for backward classes.

Illustrative Notice: The Commission’s recommendations are advisory; the executive and legislature decide whether, when, and how to implement proposed reservation quotas.

4. Important Limits, Qualifications & Exceptions

Article 340 is the constitutional root for backward class identification and national welfare commissions.

Fact-finding mission: Empowers the Commission to examine social, educational, and economic hardships.
Parliamentary tabling: The President must cause the Commission’s report and a memorandum of action taken to be laid before each House of Parliament.
Foundation for OBC policies: Provided the legal and constitutional basis for the Mandal Commission reforms upheld in Indra Sawhney (1992).

5. Operative Constitutional Text

(1) The President may by order appoint a Commission consisting of such persons as he thinks fit to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes within the territory of India and the difficulties under which they labour and to make recommendations as to the steps that should be taken by the Union or any State to remove such difficulties and to improve their condition and as to the grants that should be made for the purpose by the Union or any State and the conditions subject to which such grants should be made, and the order appointing such Commission shall define the procedure to be followed by the Commission. (2) A Commission so appointed shall investigate the matters referred to them and present to the President a report setting out the facts as found by them and making such recommendations as they think proper. (3) The President shall cause a copy of the report so presented together with a memorandum explaining the action taken thereon to be laid before each House of Parliament.

Transcription for reference; compare with the linked official editionNot yet verified by a human legal reviewer

6. Sources & Historical Assembly Deliberations

Assembly quotations are withheld until wording, dates, and attribution have been checked against the primary record.

Sources & Citation Metadata

•
Constitutional TextThe Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2026)Cited PDF page
Government of India (Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice) • Part XVI, Article 340, printed pages 201–202 • Human source-link check pending
Primary PDF accessed and transcribed with AI assistance on 14 October 2026. Formatting and amendment annotation markers are omitted; operative wording is retained. This is not human legal review. Later amendments and commencement notifications have not been comprehensively checked.

Human legal review is pending; compare the text with the cited editionNon-partisan educational resource