RESERVATION

BY SATYAM BHUSHAN(M.E)
 INTRODUCTION

Reservation is a system of affirmative action in India that

provides historically disadvantaged groups representation in
education, employment, government schemes, scholarships
and politics. Based on provisions in the Indian Constitution,
it allows the Union Government and the States and
Territories of India to set reserved quotas or seats, at
particular percentage in Education Admissions,
Employments, Political Bodies, Promotions, etc, for "socially
and educationally backward citizens"
 ORIGIN
• Quota systems favouring certain castes and other communities existed before
independence in several areas of British India. Rajarshi Shahu, the Maharaja of
the princely state of Kolhapur, introduced reservation in favor of non-Brahmin
and backward classes, much of which came into force in 1902. He provided free
education to everyone and opened several hostels to make it easier for them to
receive it. On 16 September 1921, the first Justice Party government passed the
first Communal Government Order (G. O. # 613), thereby becoming the first
elected body in the Indian legislative history to legislate reservations, which have
since become standard across the country. A significant one emerged from the
Round Table Conference of June 1932,WHICH PROVIDED roughly corresponding
to the STs and SCs, were assigned a number of seats to be filled by election from
constituencies in which only they could vote, although they could also vote in
other seats. The proposal was controversial: Mahatma Gandhi fasted in protest
against it but many among the depressed classes, including B. R. Ambedkar,
favored it. After negotiations, Gandhi reached an agreement with Ambedkar to
have a single Hindu electorate, with Dalits having seats reserved within it.
 AFTER INDEPENDENCE
• AFTER INDEPENDENCE,A significant change began in 1979 when the
Mandal Commission or the Socially and Educationally Backward
Classes (SEBC) Commission was established to assess the situation of
the socially and educationally backward classes WHICH
GAVE Reservation to the SCs. STs and OBCs in case of direct
recruitment on all India basis by open competition is given at the rate
of 15%, 7.5% and 27% respectively. In 2019 the government
announces the 10% reservation in educational institutions and
government jobs for economically weaker section of the general
category. The Supreme Court of India ruled in 1992 that reservations
could not exceed 50 percent, anything above which it judged would
violate equal access as guaranteed by the Constitution.
 BENIFITS
• Historical injustice: Caste based reservation is a necessity in India because of
historical negligence and injustice caused to those backward
communities.
• Level Playing field: Reservation provides a level playing field as it is difficult for
the backward sections who were historically deprived of education, skills, and
economic mobility to suddenly start competing with those who had access to
those means for centuries.
• Meritocracy Vs Equality: Meritocracy is important, however, it will have no
meaning without equality. The caste-based reservation also minimized the gap
between upper and lower castes to a great
extent .
• Administration quality: A study revealed that reservations have not affected the
efficiency of administration, but enhanced quality. The best example is the Indian
Railways in which the SC/ST employees comprise more in number, and the results
have been better.
 SHORTCOMINGS
• The majority of lower castes have stepped up the social ladder and are now on an equal
status compared to the general population. Hence, there is no need
forreservation anymore

• As the reservation grows larger, it becomes a mechanism of exclusion rather than of

inclusion. Because, nowadays, the previously advantaged communities have becoming
disadvantaged to a large extent due to the reservation
conundrum.
• Many upper castes are still plagued by poverty and illiteracy. Why equality and justice
don’t work for
them?

• Reservation brings down the economic growth rate of the country as it reduces the
efficiency of its labour. MANY DESERVING CANDIDATE WASTE THEIR LIFE TO
RESERVATION
 CONCLUSION
• Reservations based on caste and not on the basis of the economic
condition are unethical and unacceptable
• Fair and just reservations should be provided to uplift the people with
poor conditions of life, those who don’t have meals to eat, clothes to
wear, and no home to live in. .
• The reservation system has just become an instrument for politicians
to gain vote banks.
• THERE WAS A TIME WHEN RESERVATION WAS VERY NECESSARY BUT
IN TIME WE ARE LIVING NOW IT IS NOT AS SIGNIFICANT AS IT USED
TO BE