In the Lok Sabha of the Indian Parliament, how many seats are reserved in total for representatives belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes?

Introduction / Context:
This question examines knowledge of the composition of the Lok Sabha, the House of the People, in the Parliament of India. A key feature of the Indian Constitution is the reservation of seats for members of the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) to ensure inclusive representation. Understanding the total number of reserved seats helps learners appreciate how constitutional provisions translate into actual parliamentary structure.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers to the total number of Lok Sabha seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes taken together.
• The options given are 39, 85, 109 and 131.
• The context is the standard composition of Lok Sabha after the relevant delimitation based on census data.
• No trick is implied about a particular year; the usual examination reference is the widely accepted standard figure used in polity textbooks.

Concept / Approach:
The Constitution of India allows reservation of Lok Sabha seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in proportion to their population. The exact numbers may be adjusted by delimitation orders from time to time, but for many years a well known figure has been used in competitive exams. In this framework, there are separate counts for SC reserved seats and ST reserved seats, and the required answer is the combined total. Standard polity references mention that around one fourth of Lok Sabha seats are reserved for SC and ST together, and the precise total is 131 seats during the period usually referred to in such questions.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Lok Sabha has a maximum strength of 552 members, although the actual filled strength is slightly lower. Step 2: Remember the commonly quoted figures for reserved seats, which are 84 seats for Scheduled Castes and 47 seats for Scheduled Tribes in the standard configuration. Step 3: Add these two numbers: 84 for Scheduled Castes plus 47 for Scheduled Tribes. Step 4: Perform the addition 84 + 47 which equals 131. Step 5: Compare this total, 131, with the options given in the question. Step 6: The only option that matches this combined total is 131, so that is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick verification method is to cross check with standard Indian polity books that list Lok Sabha composition. These books usually mention that there are 131 reserved seats, with 84 for Scheduled Castes and 47 for Scheduled Tribes. Another memory check is to remember that the number is just above 130, which eliminates all other smaller options like 39, 85 and 109 that are either too low or not the agreed standard total for SC plus ST seats combined.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The figure 39 is far too low to represent combined SC and ST representation in a large country like India. The number 85 does not reflect the combined total and is closer to only one of the categories. The number 109 is still lower than the accepted total of 131. Hence, all these options do not match the established combined reservation figure in the Lok Sabha. Only 131 corresponds to the recognised total for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes together.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to remember only one of the category totals, such as 84 or 47, and then guess an incorrect number that looks similar. Some candidates also confuse reserved Lok Sabha seats with reserved seats in State Legislative Assemblies, which are different. Another source of error is mixing up old and new figures across different census based delimitations without checking which standard is commonly used in exam questions. To avoid such confusion, it is helpful to remember both the separate numbers and their simple sum of 131.

Final Answer:
The total number of seats reserved in Lok Sabha for representatives of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes together is 131.