Personalisation of Education by AI and Big Data - Lourdes Guàrdia
GE POL SC PRESENTATION.pptx includes data regrading government and will be very helpful
1. HistoricalBackgroundandDevelopmentOf Reservation
Hindu society is divided into fourVarna, or classes, a convention which had its origins in the RigVeda,
Development of Reservations Policy InThe Pre-Independence Period
Jati, or caste, is a second factor specifying rank in the Hindu social hierarchy.Jatis are roughly determined by
occupation. Often region-specific, they are more precise than the sweepingVarna system which is common across
India and can be divided further into sub castes and sub-sub castes.This is also the case among untouchables.
The reservation system in India dates back to the 2nd century B.C. where the upper class enjoyed some added
privileges.
*The idea of a caste-based reservation system was originally conceived byWilliam Hunter and Jyotirao Phule in
1882.
*The reservation that exists today was introduced in 1933 when British Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald
presented the Communal Award.This made a provision for separate electorates for Muslims, Sikhs, Indian
Christians, Anglo-Indians, Europeans, and the Dalits.
*The communal award was opposed by Mahatma Gandhi, whereas, B.R.Ambedkar supported it.To address the
situation, Poona Pact was signed.According to this, the country would have a single Hindu electorate, with seats
reserved for Dalits.
In the 1990s, the recommendations of the Mandal Commission were implemented in government jobs.
2. All-India Depressed Classes Conference at
Nagpur, 1942
Efforts by both Indians and British officials encouraged untouchables and the lower castes to form their own
organizations to call for more equitable treatment and to demand economic assistance.Ambedkar was at the center
of these activities. Seeking a vehicle to bring pressure to bear on the government to secure more resources for the
Depressed Classes he had formed the Independent Labor Party in 1936. Changing tactics, he used a July 1942 All India
Depressed Classes Conference in Nagpur to establish an All India Depressed Classes Federation. Among the group’s
demands were those for a new constitution with provisions in provincial budgets, specifically in the form of money for
education, to support the advancement of the scheduled castes; representation by statute in all legislatures and local
bodies; separate electorates; representation on public service commission’s; the creation of separate villages for
scheduled castes, “away from and independent of the Hindu villages,” as well as a government-sponsored
“Settlement Commission” to administer the new villages; and the establishment of an All-India Scheduled Castes
Federation.
When in 1942 Congress Party leaders launched a “Quit India” movement, the British, engaged in a war for survival,
rounded up Nehru, Gandhi, and other leaders and jailed them for the duration of the struggle with Germany and
Japan. Ambedkar, by contrast, supported the war effort and became a member of theViceroy’s Executive Council. He
used his new position to advance the interests of the Scheduled Castes.
3. What was the need for reservation ?
The reservation is necessary to rectify the injustice that has been done to the
people of backward castes in the country historically. The reservation extends to
the people who belong to the economically backward sections and to bring them
at par with the people who for centuries have had the access to resources and
means.
Reservation helps in ensuring that adequate representation is being provided to the
people belonging to the backward class in the services that fall under the State as well
as for the advancement of the socially and economically backward people. Reservation
ensures equality as a basis of meritocracy i.e. before judging anyone on the basis of
merit, all the people must be brought at the same level and then justice will prevail.
4. The Reservation Act of 2004 in India refers to the legal provisions aimed at providing reservations or quotas for
certain socially and economically disadvantaged groups in education institutions and government jobs.
The act was implemented to promote social justice, equality, and inclusivity in Indian society.
Key provisions of the Reservation Act of 2004 include:
1. Reservation quotas for Scheduled Castes (SC), ScheduledTribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and other
marginalized communities in educational institutions and government jobs
2. Implementation of reservation policies for admission to educational institutions, including schools, colleges, and
universities.
3. Reservation of seats in government jobs and public sector undertakings for eligible candidates from disadvantaged
communities.
4. Establishment of reservation quotas for women in certain fields, such as local governance bodies and educational
institutions.
The Reservation Act of 2004 has been a subject of debate and controversy in India, with some arguing for the
need to expand reservation quotas to include more communities and others calling for a review of the existing
reservation policies. Despite the challenges and criticisms, the act continues to play a significant role in
addressing historical injustices and promoting social equity in India.
5. ARGUMENTSIN FAVOUR
In India, caste-based reservation is a requirement due to historical neglect and injustice to backward
communities.
●Reservation creates a level playing field.
●Reservations have not harmed administration efficiency, but have improved quality, according to a study.The
best example is Indian Railways, where the number of SC/ST staff is higher, and the results are better.
●Recent studies on Panchayats have found that reserving seats for women has a good impact.
It has the potential to increase women's political representation. It allows for the number of women in parliament
to be flexible.
●For EWS Category: According to the government, the modification was necessary to help EWS who are not
protected under existing reservation programmes, which, according to statistics, make up a sizable portion of the
country's population.
It may progressively erase the stigma associated with reservation, because reservation has historically been
linked to caste, and those who enter through the reservation are frequently looked down upon by the upper caste.
Arguments against
