Reservation policies in India aim to ensure social and economic equality for historically marginalized groups. These policies are primarily designed to uplift Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) by providing them with preferential treatment in education, employment, and legislatures.
The origins of India's reservation policies trace back to the British colonial period, but they were formally institutionalized by the Indian Constitution, which came into effect in 1950. The Constitution laid down provisions for affirmative action, under Article 15(4) and Article 16(4), to offer opportunities to underrepresented communities. Initially, reservations were limited to SCs and STs, but over time, they were expanded to include OBCs.
Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs): The reservation for SCs and STs is rooted in the need to address the centuries of social exclusion, discrimination, and oppression faced by these communities. The Constitution guaranteed them reservations in educational institutions, government jobs, and legislatures. The proportion of reservation was based on their population in the country, and the quota was set at 15% for SCs and 7.5% for STs in government jobs and educational institutions. In legislative bodies, SC and ST candidates were also given reserved seats to ensure political representation.
Other Backward Classes (OBCs): The reservation for OBCs, as recommended by the Mandal Commission (1980), was introduced in the 1990s. The Commission classified OBCs as those who were socially and educationally backward, even though they were not as disadvantaged as SCs and STs. Initially, reservations for OBCs were set at 27% in government jobs and educational institutions. This quota was extended after the implementation of the Mandal Commission's report, leading to significant protests in the early 1990s.
Women’s Reservation: Although not part of the original reservation policy, the demand for reservations for women has gained traction over the years. Several states in India have enacted laws reserving seats for women in local bodies. At the national level, the Women's Reservation Bill, which aims to reserve 33% of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, has been proposed but not passed yet.
Economic Reservations: In recent years, there has been a push for economic-based reservations. In 2019, the government introduced a 10% reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS) of the general category, extending reservations to those with an annual income below a certain threshold.
These reservation policies have played a crucial role in providing opportunities to historically disadvantaged groups, though they have also sparked debates regarding their fairness and impact on meritocracy.
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