RESERVATION
SYSTEM IN INDIA

Presented by:
Ranit Bhaumik

CONTENT
• What is Reservation
• History of reservation
• Main objectives and criterion of reservation
• Types of reservation system in India
• Advantages and Disadvantages
• Consequences and current situation
• Why people are against it
• Protest against reservation
• Arguments advocating needs of reservation
• Needful thingsto be done

WHAT IS RESERVATION ?

 Reservations are political instruments that deliver a public good
which corrects a socio-economic wrong.
 Reservation is also termed as Affirmative action and fair
discrimination.
 Reservation in India is a form of affirmative action designed to
improve the well-being of perceived backward and under-
represented communities defined primarily by their 'caste'
(quota-system based on 'gender' or 'religion') is a phenomenon
that commenced with the coming into force of the Indian
Constitution.

IN CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
Article 16(4) : Nothing in this Article (16) shall prevent the
state from making any provision for reservation of
appointments or posts in favor of any backward class , which
is not adequately represented in the services under the state.
Article 46 : to promote educational and economic interests of
SC, ST and other weaker sections of society.
Article 14 : to provide equality before law and equal protection
of laws.
Article 15(3) : enabling provision to provide for special
provisions in case of women and children.

HISTORY OF RESERVATION

MAIN OBJECTIVE OF RESERVATION
" The main objective of the Indian reservation system is to increase
the opportunities for enhanced social and educational status (in the
sense better than the previous,until it becomes equal to that enjoyed
by an average member of other communities) of the underprivileged
underprivileged communities and, thus, enable them to take their
rightful place in the mainstream of Indian society.

CRITERION OF RESERVATION
• Reservation is given on basis of Caste, Religion.
• Reservation is given on basis of Population(Minority).
*however reservation is given on basis of financial condition, gender
but it is neither sufficient nor fair.

WHAT INDIANS THINK ABOUT
RESERVATION
The reservation system has received a mixed
response from Indians since its inception. It has been
praised for diminishing the gap between the upper
and lower castes by allowing the latter to enjoy the
further increased opportunities as the former in jobs,
education and governance by allotting seats
exclusively for them. It has also been criticized for
discouraging a merit-based system and encouraging
vote bank politics.

TYPES OF RESERVATION

Caste Based Reservation:
• In central government funded higher education institutions, 22.5% of
available seats are reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled
Tribe (ST) students (7.5% for STs and 15%for SCs).
• This reservation percentage has been raised to 49.5% by Including an
additional 27% Reservation for OBCs .
• This ratio is followed even in Parliament and all elections where a few
constituencies are earmarked for those from certain communities
(which will next rotate in 2026 per the Delimitation Commission).

Gender Based Reservation:
• In 1993, a constitutional amendment in India called for a random one
third of village council leader, or Pradhan , positions in Gram
panchayat to be reserved for women.
• The Women’s Reservation Bill was passed by the RAJYA SABHA on 9
March 2010 by a majority vote of 186 members in favour and 1
against. As of September 2015, the Lok Sabha has not voted on the
bill.

Religion Based Reservation:
• Reservation has also been extended to religious minorities. The
Tamil Nadu government has allotted 3.5% of seats each to
Muslims and Christians, thereby altering the OBC reservation
23% to 30% ( Since it excludes persons belonging to OBC who
are either Muslims or Christians).
• The Government of Andhra Pradesh introduced a law enabling
4% reservations for Muslims in 2004. ( This law was upheld by
Supreme Court of India in an interim order on March 25, 2010.
• Kerala Public Service Commission has a quota of 12% for
Muslims.

Status as a Domicile and Others:
• With few exceptions , all jobs under certain State governments are reserved for
those who are domiciled within the jurisdiction of that government. Ex.- Punjab
Engineering College (Chandigarh) 85%of seats were earlier reserved for
Chandigarh-domiciles- now it is 50%.
• There is also some seats reserved for the Jammu and Kashmir MIGRANTS in every
Government- aided educational institute.
• Other includes:-
Terrorist victims
of Kashmir e.g.
Punjab.
Single girl Child
(in Punjab)

EXCLUDED FROM RESERVATION
• Constitutional posts : The sons and daughters of the President of India, the Vice-President of
India, Judges of the Supreme Court, the High Courts chairman, the members of Union Public
Service Commission, members of the State Public Service Commission, Chief Election
Commissioner, Comptroller Auditor-General of India or any person holding positions of a
constitutional nature.
• Service Category : Those who have parent(s) that are Class I or Class II officers, or both parents
are Class I or Class II officers but one of them dies or suffers permanent incapacitation . The
criteria used for sons and daughters of Group A and B are the same for the employees of the
Public sector.
• The sons and daughters of parents either or both of whom is or are in the rank of colonel and
above in the army or in equivalent posts in the Navy, the Air Force, and the Paramilitary Force. But
that will hold true
provided that-"the wife of an armed
forces is herself in the
armed forces (i.e., the
category under consideration)
the rule of exclusion will apply
only when she herself
has reached the rank
of Colonel.“"the service
ranks below Colonel of
husband and wife shall
not be clubbed together"

ADVANTAGES OF RESERVATION SYSTEM
• Reservation helps socially backward positioned
people or a class to enhance themselves by
putting them forward and encourages them to
sustain and develop themselves.
• Proper application of the reservation system
helps India to grow and develop not only by
helping the backward class people but also by
developing the society.
• Systematic application of reservation system in
education enriches brain power of the country
and makes India better.

DISADVANTAGES OF RESERVATION SYSTEM
• Divides people and creates agony and rage
among themselves
• Non filling of posts if proper candidates are not
available
• Castes are given preference instead of merits
• Ill-treatment to reserved employees and
students
• Creates lethargy in reserved category
• Narrows the scopes of general category people

• Produces Jealousy and antipathy between caste and caste.
• Evident in Southern India , The members of royal families
also gets benefitted of it. (Do they really need it).
• According to National Employability
report, only 18%
engineers are up to
the standard to the
designated post.
• Why reservation ,
when entrance are
merit based?

CONSEQUENCES

Why Reservation has become a bane for
people?
Reservation has become a bane for people rather
than a boon mainly because of
Vote bank politics
and
Unfair package distribution

Vote Bank Politics

Unfair, Unequal Reservation System in India

WHY PEOPLE ARE AGAINST IT?
 What Reservation has done ?
 Poor, in an Indian context implies absolute poverty. By
international standards, it is $1.25 a day and 32% of Indian
population in poor according to that definition.
This is the distribution
of poor people by
Caste ,accounting
for split between
rural and urban
population.

THE CURRENT SITUATION
• People are arguing that Reservation is no longer Relevant.
• Arguing for reservation Based on economical condition.
• Without access to education , the poor will always be poor.
• Reservation system based on a social net contradicts itself.
• Government
should not play
Robin Hood.

REVOLUTIONS AGAINST RESERVATION

ARGUMENTS ADVOCATING NEED OF RESERVATION
• People born in upper cast family have a privilege or
unearned advantage , special right or socio-economic
status.
• The Practical study done by THORAT ET AT related
to employment in private sector highlights the value
and role of socio-economic status.
• Who says that reservation is not paying back ? A
recent Report of UN shows that poverty improvement
rate of India is equivalent to that of USA.

WHAT IF WE END RESERVATION RIGHT NOW!!!
While Manual scavenging for many may have ended
as a form of employment, the stigma and
discrimination associated with it lingers on, making it
difficult for former or liberated manual scavengers to
secure alternate livelihood and raising the fear that
people could once again return to manual scavenging
in the absence of other opportunities to support their
families.

THEN WHAT TO DO?
yes, we all today have need of reservation. Because there are many
people, who use live in village and are backward. Many of them are
like based firmly on reservation for their existence.
So we simply cannot take
it way ! At least not today.
Reservation , therefore
is the inevitable political
consequence of
correcting the inequality
of opportunity and
many more.

AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO
The thing we need to do is only to rise over selfishness. To view
this policy with broader perspective; i.e. Reservation is good.
This is not a issue to ignore away. We all are getting influenced
to it and this is going to be true in future.
Seriously we need a
lot of things done
over it.
Also needs to avoid
movements like that
of Gurger and Patel.

THANK YOU