DO WE STILL NEED A RESERVATION OR
QUOTA SYSTEM IN INDIA?
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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.
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It is being used to uplift one section of the society at the cost of another, which is not
fair.
Taking a seat just by showing your under privileged certificate won’t give you anything,
but just the degree or a job.
reservation system in India is creating a workforce which is not capable enough to
compete at the global level.
Politicians use reservation system as a gimmick to have a permanent vote bank.
Education has become a part of politics.
reservation system is an evident discrimination
This leaves the more eligible candidate to give their seat to a person belonging to a
reserve category.
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BENEFICIARY GROUPS OF THE RESERVATION SYSTEM
Enrolment in educational institutions and job placements are reserved based on a
variety of criteria. The quota system sets aside a proportion of all possible positions for
members of a specific group. Those not belonging to the designated communities can
compete only for the remaining positions, while members of the designated communities
can compete for all positions (both reserved and open). For example, when 1 out of 10
clerical positions in railways are reserved for ex-servicemen, those who have served in
the Army can compete both in the "General Category" as well as in the specific quota.
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SEATS ARE RESERVED FOR PEOPLE UNDER THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
Caste- 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 SCs, 15% for STs. This reservation percentage has been raised to 48% 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-- There also is a growing demand for women reservation in pre-existing
reservations like OBC, SC/ST, Physically handicapped etc. Some feminist groups still
demand that reservation for women should be at least 50% as they comprise 50% of the
population.
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Religion--Religious minority (Muslim or Christian) educational institutes also have 50%
reservation for Muslim or Christian religions. The Central government has listed a
number of Muslim communities as backward Muslims, making them eligible for
reservation.
Controversy-- The Government of India on 22 December 2011 announced
establishment of a sub-quota of 4.5% for minorities within the existing 27% reservation
for Other Backward Classes.
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Status as a domicile--With few exceptions, all jobs under certain State governments are
reserved for those who are domiciled within the jurisdiction of that government. For
example, in Punjab Engineering College (Chandigarh) 85% of seats were earlier
reserved for Chandigarh-domiciles—now it is 50%. There are also some seats reserved
for the Jammu and Kashmir 'migrants' in every Government-aided educational institute.
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SOME RESERVATIONS ARE ALSO MADE FOR
Terrorist victims from Kashmir, e.g. in Punjab
Single Girl-Child (in Punjab)
Migrants from the state of Jammu and Kashmir
Sons/daughters/grandsons/granddaughters of Freedom Fighters
Physically handicapped
Sports personalities
Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) have a small percentage of reserved seats in educational
institutions. (Note : NRI reservations were removed from IIT in 2003)
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Those who have served in the armed forces ('ex-serviceman' quota—because the age
of superannuation in the Military Service is much shorter than that in the Civil posts;
more so, certain intakes are tenure-based, e.g. the contract for Short-Service
Commission is merely 8 years)
Dependents of armed forces personnel killed-in-action
Repatriates
Reservation in special schools of Government Undertakings/ PSUs, for the children of
their own employees (e.g. Army schools, PSU schools, etc.)
Paid pathway reservations in places of worship (e.g., Tirumala Venkateswara Temple,
Tiruthani Murugan (Balaji) temple)
Seat reservation for Senior citizens and Physically handicapped in public (bus)
transport.
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REASONS OF WHY RESERVATION SYSTEM SHOULD BE ABOLISHED IN INDIA...
1. To prove the word equality in the constitution.
2. As abroad India should offer free quality education and should sponsor scholarships
for unprivileged poor student, reservation is just opposite to it..
3. Reservation system is affecting education system.
4. Because the reserved are preferred over the deserved and that reserved is
undeserving.
5. If reservation policy continues it will lead to the “murder of merit".
6. For the accomplishment of equal opportunity to deserving candidates...
7. Because it breaks the unity of the country.
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