Reservation System in India, Caste Wise and Category Wise

The reservation system in India was created to provide equal opportunity to marginalised communities such as Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and other backward classes. The aim was to eliminate social inequality, discrimination injustices being done to the marginalized community. The reservation system helped disadvantaged groups to hold a place in the education system, the government jobs and legislation. In this article, we will discuss the reservation policy, structure and its impact. 

Reservation System in India Purpose

The Reservation System in India was introduced for the purpose of ensuring justice and inclusive development. The goal was to work towards the upliftment of communities that were having historical disadvantages of caste-hierarchy and systematic exclusion. The purpose of introducing Reservation System in India was: 

1. Social Equality: Ensure that oppressed communities like SCs, STs, OBCs receive equal access to education, employment and upward mobility. 
2. Reduce Economic Gaps: The reserved seats at educational institutes and offices ensures that the marginalised group receive economic empowerment and stability. 
3. Overcome historical injustice: Compensates for the years of injustice, discrimination, exclusion and denial of basic rights to SCs, STs and OBC groups. 
4. Inclusive Representation: Provide diversity across public services as well as academia. 
5. Strengthen democratic participation: enables marginalised communities to participate in governance and policymaking, providing a stronger voice in shaping the nation. 

Caste- Based Reservation in India History

The reservation system in India was created to address social inequalities and fair representation. The journey of caste-based reservation can be traced back to the colonial era: 

• 1882- Early Foundation 

Reformers like William Hunter and Jyotirao Phule are remembered as the very initial people who initiated the need of caste-based reservations to uplift the marginalised groups and ensure social justice is served. 

• 1933- The Communal Awards

Communal Awards were introduced by British Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald. Under this, it was proposed that electorates be separated for communities including Muslims, Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians, Dalits and Europeans.

• 1932- The Poona Pact

Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R Ambedkar negotiated the separate electorates for dalits under the Poona Pact. The pact was concluded with the decision of establishing a common Hindu electorate having reserved seats for dalits in legislatures. 

• Post- Independence Constitutional Provisions

Dr. Ambedkar and the constituent assembly introduced reservations for SCs and STs in education, employment and legislatures. Initially it was set up for 10 years, but kept on extending due to social disparities. 

• 1991- Inclusion of OBCs

The Mandal Commission was established for the purpose of submitting a report about the OBCs. Based on this report, the Indian government provided reservation benefits of Other Backward Classes in order to address their historical socio-economic disadvantages. 

What is the Mandal Commission?

The Mandal Commission, established in 1978 under the chairmanship of B.P. Mandal was tasked with identifying socially and educationally backward classes in India. Based on its findings, the Commission recommended 27% reservation in government jobs for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), estimating that they made up around 52% of the population.

It compiled comprehensive lists, identifying 3,743 OBC castes across both Hindu and non-Hindu communities, along with a separate list of 2,108 particularly underprivileged groups.

The Commission’s recommendations played a pivotal role in shaping India’s reservation policy, significantly broadening the scope of affirmative action for marginalized sections of society.

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Reservation in India Constitutional Provisions and Amendments

The Reservation in India underwent a number of constitutional provisions and amendments: 

• Articles 15(4) & 16(4):  The state provides reservation in education and public employment for SCs, STs, and other backward classes.
• Article 16(4A) (77th Amendment, 1995): Reservation in promotions for SCs and STs.
• Article 16(4B) (81st Amendment, 2000): Allows the carrying forward of unfilled SC/ST vacancies beyond the 50% limit.
• Article 335: Balances the claims of SCs/STs in public employment with administrative efficiency.
• Articles 330 & 332: Provide reservation in Parliament and State Assemblies for SCs and STs.
• Articles 243D & 243T: Mandate reservations in Panchayats and Municipalities respectively.
• Article 15(6) & 16(6) (103rd Amendment, 2019): Introduce 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in the general category, in addition to the existing 50% cap for SCs, STs, and OBCs.

Reservation Percentage in India for SC/ST/OBC

The current reservation percentages in India are based on caste and other social categories:

Caste-Based Reservation in Education

In India, both government and select private educational institutions implement reservation policies to promote equitable access to higher education for historically marginalized communities.

• Government Institutions: Seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) to bridge educational disparities and ensure representation.
• Private Institutions: In several states, private colleges—especially those receiving government aid—are also mandated to follow reservation norms for SC, ST, and OBC students.
• Prestigious Institutes (IITs, NITs, Medical Colleges): Even premier institutions like IITs, NITs, and top medical colleges adhere to reservation policies, fostering diversity and inclusion at the highest levels of academia.

Reservation in India Landmark Cases

India’s reservation framework has evolved through several critical Supreme Court rulings:

• Indra Sawhney Case (1992):
  Famously known as the Mandal Commission case, it upheld 27% reservation for OBCs while introducing key principles:
  • Capped total reservations at 50%
  • Introduced the “creamy layer” exclusion for OBCs
  • Prohibited reservation in promotions
• M. Nagaraj Case (2006):
  Upheld reservation in promotions for SCs and STs but laid down constitutional requirements like proving backwardness, inadequate representation, and administrative efficiency.
• Janhit Abhiyan v. Union of India (2022):
  The Supreme Court upheld the validity of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019, which introduced a 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), even if it breached the 50% ceiling.

These judgments have played a defining role in balancing affirmative action with constitutional principles of equality.