Elections
SC/ST claims must be considered, consistent with maintaining administrative efficiency, when making Union/State service appointments - though this doesn't prevent relaxed qualifying marks, lower evaluation standards, or promotion reservations for SC/ST candidates.
This provides the constitutional basis for reservation in government employment and promotions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, while also referencing "administrative efficiency" as a relevant consideration - courts have had to balance these two elements in various rulings on the scope and limits of reservation in public employment.
This is part of the constitutional foundation (alongside Articles 16(4) and 16(4A)) for SC/ST reservation quotas in government jobs and promotions, including specific relaxations in qualifying marks or evaluation standards for these categories.