2 minAct/Law
Act/Law

Reservation Policies

What is Reservation Policies?

A system of affirmative action in India that provides for reserving a certain percentage of seats in government jobs, educational institutions, and legislative bodies for historically disadvantaged communities to ensure their adequate representation and promote social equality.

Historical Background

Reservation policies in India are rooted in the historical injustices of the caste system and colonial-era provisions. Post-independence, they were enshrined in the Constitution for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). The Mandal Commission recommendations led to the extension of reservations to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the 1990s.

Key Points

9 points
  • 1.

    Constitutional basis: Articles 15(4), 15(5), 15(6), 16(4), 16(4A), 16(4B), 16(6) for reservations in education and public employment; Articles 330, 332, 334 for reservations in legislative bodies.

  • 2.

    Categories covered: Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

  • 3.

    Current percentages: SC (15%), ST (7.5%), OBC (27%), EWS (10%).

  • 4.

    The Supreme Court, in the Indra Sawhney case (1992), capped total reservations at 50%, with exceptions in extraordinary circumstances.

  • 5.

    The 'creamy layer' concept excludes affluent individuals from OBC reservations to ensure benefits reach the most deserving.

  • 6.

    The purpose is to ensure adequate representation, correct historical injustices, and promote social and educational advancement of backward classes.

  • 7.

    National Commissions for SC, ST, and OBC review and monitor the implementation of reservation policies.

  • 8.

    Reservations in legislative bodies (Lok Sabha and State Assemblies) are based on population proportion and are reviewed periodically.

  • 9.

    The 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019, introduced 10% reservation for EWS in government jobs and educational institutions.

Visual Insights

Understanding Reservation Policies

This mind map illustrates the key aspects of reservation policies in India, including constitutional provisions, beneficiaries, and related concepts.

Reservation Policies

  • Constitutional Basis
  • Beneficiaries
  • Key Concepts
  • Challenges

Recent Developments

4 developments

The implementation of 10% EWS reservation has been upheld by the Supreme Court.

Ongoing demand for sub-categorization of OBCs to ensure equitable distribution of benefits among various OBC groups.

The Bihar caste survey has reignited demands for increased reservation limits and a national caste census to justify such changes.

Debates continue regarding the 50% reservation cap and the criteria for identifying backwardness (caste vs. economic status).

This Concept in News

3 topics

Centre to Consider Micro-Minority Status for Syro-Malabar Church

24 Feb 2026

The Syro-Malabar Church's request for micro-minority status demonstrates the evolving nature of reservation policies and the ongoing need to address specific disadvantages faced by different communities. This news highlights the limitations of a one-size-fits-all approach to reservation and the potential for more nuanced and targeted interventions. It challenges the existing framework by raising questions about how to best allocate resources and benefits to ensure that all communities have a fair chance to succeed. Understanding reservation policies is crucial for analyzing this news because it provides the context for understanding the Church's request, the potential implications of granting micro-minority status, and the broader debate about social justice and equality in India. This news reveals that the concept of reservation is not static but is constantly being re-evaluated and adapted to address the changing needs of society.

Skewed Quota Data Sparks Debate in Jammu and Kashmir

16 Feb 2026

The news highlights the critical need for accurate data in implementing reservation policies. Skewed data undermines the very purpose of reservation, which is to provide equitable representation to marginalized communities. It demonstrates how even well-intentioned policies can fail if the underlying data is flawed. This news challenges the assumption that reservation policies automatically lead to social justice; it underscores the importance of rigorous monitoring and evaluation. The implications of this news are that governments need to invest in better data collection and analysis to ensure that reservation policies are effective and fair. Understanding reservation policies is crucial for analyzing this news because it provides the context for understanding the potential consequences of skewed data on the intended beneficiaries and the overall social fabric. The news reveals that the implementation of reservation policies is not a simple matter of allocating quotas; it requires careful attention to detail and a commitment to transparency and accountability.

UGC Regulations and the Persistence of Privilege in Education

14 Feb 2026

The news about UGC regulations and privilege highlights the complexities of achieving true equality of opportunity. (1) It demonstrates that even seemingly neutral policies can have unintended consequences that reinforce existing inequalities, undermining the purpose of reservation. (2) The news challenges the assumption that simply providing reservation is enough to level the playing field. It suggests that systemic barriers within the education system may negate the benefits of reservation for marginalized students. (3) The news reveals the need for a more holistic approach to social justice, one that addresses not only access but also the quality of education and the resources available to students from different backgrounds. (4) The implications of this news are that reservation policies alone are insufficient to achieve social justice. They must be complemented by other measures to address systemic inequalities and ensure that all students have a fair chance to succeed. (5) Understanding reservation policies is crucial for analyzing this news because it provides the context for understanding the goals of affirmative action and the challenges of achieving them in practice. It helps to critically evaluate whether existing policies are effectively promoting social justice or inadvertently perpetuating privilege.

Source Topic

Centre to Consider Micro-Minority Status for Syro-Malabar Church

Polity & Governance

UPSC Relevance

Crucial for UPSC GS Paper 2 (Polity & Governance - Social Justice, Fundamental Rights, Constitutional Amendments, Welfare Schemes). A highly debated and frequently asked topic in both Prelims and Mains.

Understanding Reservation Policies

This mind map illustrates the key aspects of reservation policies in India, including constitutional provisions, beneficiaries, and related concepts.

Reservation Policies

Articles 15(4), 16(4)

SCs, STs, OBCs, EWS

50% rule, Creamy Layer

Implementation, Social Division

Connections
Constitutional BasisBeneficiaries
BeneficiariesKey Concepts
Key ConceptsChallenges

This Concept in News

3 news topics

3

Centre to Consider Micro-Minority Status for Syro-Malabar Church

24 February 2026

The Syro-Malabar Church's request for micro-minority status demonstrates the evolving nature of reservation policies and the ongoing need to address specific disadvantages faced by different communities. This news highlights the limitations of a one-size-fits-all approach to reservation and the potential for more nuanced and targeted interventions. It challenges the existing framework by raising questions about how to best allocate resources and benefits to ensure that all communities have a fair chance to succeed. Understanding reservation policies is crucial for analyzing this news because it provides the context for understanding the Church's request, the potential implications of granting micro-minority status, and the broader debate about social justice and equality in India. This news reveals that the concept of reservation is not static but is constantly being re-evaluated and adapted to address the changing needs of society.

Skewed Quota Data Sparks Debate in Jammu and Kashmir

16 February 2026

The news highlights the critical need for accurate data in implementing reservation policies. Skewed data undermines the very purpose of reservation, which is to provide equitable representation to marginalized communities. It demonstrates how even well-intentioned policies can fail if the underlying data is flawed. This news challenges the assumption that reservation policies automatically lead to social justice; it underscores the importance of rigorous monitoring and evaluation. The implications of this news are that governments need to invest in better data collection and analysis to ensure that reservation policies are effective and fair. Understanding reservation policies is crucial for analyzing this news because it provides the context for understanding the potential consequences of skewed data on the intended beneficiaries and the overall social fabric. The news reveals that the implementation of reservation policies is not a simple matter of allocating quotas; it requires careful attention to detail and a commitment to transparency and accountability.

UGC Regulations and the Persistence of Privilege in Education

14 February 2026

The news about UGC regulations and privilege highlights the complexities of achieving true equality of opportunity. (1) It demonstrates that even seemingly neutral policies can have unintended consequences that reinforce existing inequalities, undermining the purpose of reservation. (2) The news challenges the assumption that simply providing reservation is enough to level the playing field. It suggests that systemic barriers within the education system may negate the benefits of reservation for marginalized students. (3) The news reveals the need for a more holistic approach to social justice, one that addresses not only access but also the quality of education and the resources available to students from different backgrounds. (4) The implications of this news are that reservation policies alone are insufficient to achieve social justice. They must be complemented by other measures to address systemic inequalities and ensure that all students have a fair chance to succeed. (5) Understanding reservation policies is crucial for analyzing this news because it provides the context for understanding the goals of affirmative action and the challenges of achieving them in practice. It helps to critically evaluate whether existing policies are effectively promoting social justice or inadvertently perpetuating privilege.