What is the difference between the …

In India, a certain number of political position and university posts are held for specifics groups of the population, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Women.

There are reserved constituencies in both Parliamentary and State Assembly elections. Candidates of General category are not eligible to contest from these constituencies. All voters are to vote for one of the candidates (from Scheduled Castes or Schedule Tribes). In case of Municipal elections and other Local Bodies elections, the constituencies are known as Wards. Thus, there may be as many Wards or Constituencies as the number of elected seats in the elected body. Reserved constituencies are those constituencies in which seats are reserved for SCs and STs on the basis of their population.

In earlier History of India under British rule, separate electorate meant not only were the seats reserved for a specific community, but voting for the reserved constituency was allowed for only members of that specific community. For example, only Muslims could vote for Muslim candidates in the reserved constituencies for Muslims.