


{"id":56131,"date":"2025-11-02T17:00:55","date_gmt":"2025-11-02T11:30:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=56131"},"modified":"2025-11-03T17:24:37","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T11:54:37","slug":"reservation-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/reservation-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Reservation System in India, Caste Wise and Category Wise"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reservation System in India Purpose<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Social Equality:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Ensure that oppressed communities like SCs, STs, OBCs receive equal access to education, employment and upward mobility.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Reduce Economic Gaps: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The reserved seats at educational institutes and offices ensures that the marginalised group receive economic empowerment and stability.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Overcome historical injustice:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Compensates for the years of injustice, discrimination, exclusion and denial of basic rights to SCs, STs and OBC groups.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Inclusive Representation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provide diversity across public services as well as academia.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strengthen democratic participation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> enables marginalised communities to participate in governance and policymaking, providing a stronger voice in shaping the nation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Caste- Based Reservation in India History<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>1882- Early Foundation\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>1933- The Communal Awards<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>1932- The Poona Pact<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Post- Independence Constitutional Provisions<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr. Ambedkar and the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/constituent-assembly-making-of-the-indian-constitution\/\" target=\"_blank\">constituent assembly<\/a><\/strong> 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>1991- Inclusion of OBCs<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is the Mandal Commission?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/mandal-commission\/\" target=\"_blank\">Mandal Commission<\/a><\/strong>, 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Commission\u2019s recommendations played a pivotal role in shaping India\u2019s reservation policy, significantly broadening the scope of affirmative action for marginalized sections of society.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reservation in India Constitutional Provisions and Amendments<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Reservation in India underwent a number of constitutional provisions and amendments:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Articles 15(4) &amp; 16(4):\u00a0 The state provides reservation in education and public employment for SCs, STs, and other backward classes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Article 16(4A) (77th Amendment, 1995): Reservation in promotions for SCs and STs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Article 16(4B) (81st Amendment, 2000): Allows the carrying forward of unfilled SC\/ST vacancies beyond the 50% limit.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Article 335: Balances the claims of SCs\/STs in public employment with administrative efficiency.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Articles 330 &amp; 332: Provide reservation in Parliament and State Assemblies for SCs and STs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Articles 243D &amp; 243T: Mandate reservations in Panchayats and Municipalities respectively.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Article 15(6) &amp; 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.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reservation Percentage in India for SC\/ST\/OBC<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The current reservation percentages in India are based on caste and other social categories:<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 50.8569%; height: 306px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 51px;\">\n<td style=\"text-align: center; height: 51px; width: 58.5062%;\"><strong>Category<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; height: 51px; width: 45.4357%;\"><strong>Reservation Percentage<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 51px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 51px; width: 58.5062%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scheduled Castes (SC)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 51px; width: 45.4357%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 51px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 51px; width: 58.5062%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scheduled Tribes (ST)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 51px; width: 45.4357%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7.5%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 51px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 51px; width: 58.5062%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other Backward Classes (OBC)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 51px; width: 45.4357%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">27%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 51px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 51px; width: 58.5062%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 51px; width: 45.4357%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 51px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 51px; width: 58.5062%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Persons with Benchmark Disabilities<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 51px; width: 45.4357%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Caste-Based Reservation in Education<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In India, both government and select private educational institutions implement reservation policies to promote equitable access to higher education for historically marginalized communities.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Government Institutions: Seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) to bridge educational disparities and ensure representation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Private Institutions: In several states, private colleges\u2014especially those receiving government aid\u2014are also mandated to follow reservation norms for SC, ST, and OBC students.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reservation in India Landmark Cases<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s reservation framework has evolved through several critical Supreme Court rulings:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Indra Sawhney Case (1992):<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Famously known as the Mandal Commission case, it upheld 27% reservation for OBCs while introducing key principles:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Capped total reservations at 50%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Introduced the &#8220;creamy layer&#8221; exclusion for OBCs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prohibited reservation in promotions<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>M. Nagaraj Case (2006):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Upheld reservation in promotions for SCs and STs but laid down constitutional requirements like proving backwardness, inadequate representation, and administrative efficiency.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Janhit Abhiyan v. Union of India (2022):<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The Supreme Court upheld the validity of the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/103rd-constitutional-amendment-act\/\" target=\"_blank\">103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019<\/a><\/strong>, which introduced a 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), even if it breached the 50% ceiling.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These judgments have played a defining role in balancing affirmative action with constitutional principles of equality.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Check Reservation System in India including its purpose history constitutional provisions Mandal Commission and impact on SC ST OBC EWS education and governance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":55697,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[1713],"class_list":{"0":"post-56131","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-studies","8":"tag-reservation-in-india","9":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56131","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56131"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56131\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55697"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56131"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56131"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56131"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}