Understanding the 104th Amendment and SC/ST Reservation

The question asks about the specific constitutional amendment that extended the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in the legislatures for an additional 10-year period, setting the new expiry date to 2030.

Constitutional Provisions for Reservation

In India, reservations for SCs and STs in legislative bodies (like the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies) were initially intended for a limited period. However, these provisions have been extended multiple times through various constitutional amendments to ensure continued representation for these communities.

Role of the 104th Amendment

The 104^th Amendment Act, 2019 played a crucial role in extending these reservations. Here's how:

• It extended the reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies for another ten years.
• This extension meant that the reservation, which was set to expire, would continue until January 25, 2030.
• A significant aspect of this amendment was that it did not extend the nomination of Anglo-Indian members to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, effectively ending that provision.

Analysis of Other Options

Let's briefly look at why the other options are not the correct answer for this specific question:

• 105^th Amendment: This amendment primarily dealt with the restoration of the states' power to make their own lists of OBCs (Other Backward Classes).
• 101^st Amendment: This amendment is famous for introducing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India.
• 103^rd Amendment: This amendment introduced reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) among the general category citizens.

Conclusion on Reservation Extension

Therefore, the amendment specifically responsible for extending the reservation for SCs and STs in legislatures until 2030 is the 104^th Amendment Act.