The Reservations Question: A review of caste-based reservations in India. (original) (raw)
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Caste and Reservation in India
International Journal of English Literature and Social Sciences, 2021
Reservations in India, specifically, in the context of social and educational backward classes (SEBC) have been undergoing constitutional setbacks in recent years. The increasing politicization and subsequent echoes of scraping down reservations in appointments and promotions to SC, and STs, sporadic discontinuation of fellowships for socially backward students, absence of accurate data on backlog vacancies, reserved positions vacant in employment, and finally, in most cases under-representation in the 49.5-50 per cent quota out of which 15 per cent for SCs, 7.5 per cent to STs and 27 per cent to OBCs that have been earmarked, lays bare the institutional breach in the promise of social justice. Reservation in this context, calls for a renewed perspective on how and why it not only suffers alienation and conflicts from within the minority sections it so represents but increasingly projects out as exclusive and exclusionary a category to the majority. The paper attempts to project the double bind within which reservation attempts to articulate the voice of the non-represented. The paper further draws in the recent judicial judgment of the Uttarakhand High Court in matters of promotion, which arguably bear out contradictory responses to the reservation, analyzing in the process a decadal shift in the substantive power of reservation that is being increasingly understood to be a threat to the majoritarian class and caste interests.
Caste-based reservations in India is a form of quota-based affirmative action, aimed to facilitate for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC), as the primary beneficiaries of the reservation policies under the Indian Constitution. The proponents of caste-based reservation policy emphasize its symbolic importance which is for democracy to be representative and inclusive through fair distribution of power. The apparent motive behind legalization of affirmative action as recommended by Mandal’s Commission was to restore the past social inequalities, thus implementing caste-based reservations in education and bureaucracy. Mandal Commission report, a milestone in institutionalization of caste-reservation policy, has reinforced caste solidarity as the salient motive of voting in India thus executing it as an instrument of vote bank politics. Further analysis reveals that restoration of socio-economic inequalities were not the primary objectives of caste-based reservation, neither it aimed to eliminate casteism or define the objectives of the policy, but create an illusion of power. Through the analysis of India’s Northern states, the most populous state of Utter Pradesh (UP) specifically, this essay will demonstrate that changes in caste compositions of state government have not lead to improvement and equalization of socio-economic positions of individuals. Moreover, it will argue that caste, an ambiguous concept and instigator of stratification of Indian society, fosters the practices of corruptions and clientelism on both political and individuals levels.
Evolution of Reservation System in India: An Overview
The reservation system is an affirmative action that addresses historical and social inequalities marginalized communities face. The reservation policy in India was introduced after independence to promote social justice and upliftment of historically disadvantaged groups such as the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes. The Indian Constitution provides for reservation in education, employment, and political representation. The reservation policy has been a subject of debate and controversy in India. While some argue that correcting historical injustices is necessary, others believe it is discriminatory and hinders merit-based selection. This research paper provides an overview of the reservation policy in India, examining the constitutional provisions that underpin this contentious issue. Through a comprehensive analysis of the historical and legal context, the study aims to shed light on the origins, implementation, and impact of reservation policy in India. By highlighting the challenges and opportunities this policy presents, the study seeks to contribute to the ongoing debate on affirmative action and social justice in India. Ultimately, this research paper offers a nuanced and insightful perspective on one of India's most complex and enduring issues.
ANALYSING THE RESERVATION SYSTEM IN INDIA First Author's Name: Prof. (Dr.) J.P. Yadav
Economies and Politics Weekly, 2023
The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the reservation system in India, exploring its historical evolution and the key judicial judgments that have shaped it. It begins by emphasizing the constitutional commitment to securing social, economic, and political justice for marginalized communities. The historical context is then discussed, focusing on the early 20th-century dissatisfaction among non-Brahmins and the formation of the Justice Party to challenge Brahmin dominance. The Justice Party's success in securing reservations for non-Brahmins is highlighted, as well as the subsequent shifts in the Congress party's stance on reservations. The article delves into the Champakam Dorairajan case, which challenged caste-based reservations, and the subsequent constitutional amendments that introduced economic criteria into reservations. It discusses various Supreme Court cases that clarified reservation percentages, the concept of the "creamy layer," and the 103rd Constitutional Amendment, which introduced economic criteria in reservations. The conclusion emphasizes the challenges of maintaining a balance in reservation policies, ensuring that opportunities are provided to genuinely backward individuals while preventing misuse. The article acknowledges the social tensions that have arisen from reservations and calls for careful calibration to achieve social harmony and inclusive development. The reservation system in India is presented as a critical tool in addressing historical inequalities while fostering equitable access to education and employment opportunities.
Historical Background and Development Of Reservation In India: An Analysis
The varna or caste system has been imbibed in Indian culture since time immemorial. Hindu society is divided into four Varna, or classes, a convention which had its origins in the Rig Veda, the first and most important set of hymns in Hindu scripture which dates back to 1500-1000 B.C. 1 At the top of the hierarchy are the Brahmins, or priests, followed by the Kshatriyas, or warriors. The Vaisyas, the farmers and artisans, constitute the third class. At the bottom are the Shudras, the class responsible for serving the three higher groups. Finally, the Untouchables fall completely outside of this system. It is for this reason that the untouchables have also been termed a Varna (" no class "). The paper intends to highlight the conceptual development of reservation in colonial India.
Reservation in India: Rhetoric and Reality
International Journal of Advanced Research, 2021
Reservation is always contentious and sentimental issue and raises many concerns of the people. The policy of reservation and safeguards provided to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes has adversely affected the unity and solidarity of the nation. Reservation in India is all about reserving access to seats in the government jobs, educational institutions and even legislatures to certain sections of the population. The reservation can also be seen as positive discrimination. Reservation in India is a government policy, backed by the Indian Constitution. Part XVI deals with reservation of SC and ST in Central and state legislature. The need for reservation can be looked from legal and socio-cultural perspective. The act of reservation is reserving seats in educational institutions, certain places of employment for certain castes and classes of society which are considered backward, those being the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Caste...
THE HISTORY OF RESERVATIONS IN INDIA FROM THE 1800s TO THE 1950s
It is now well-known and widely accepted that the caste system constitutes the longest, most resilient and systematic example of social engineering ever devised by humans. The system has ensured that a small minority of Indians cornered the benefits of the hard work of the masses. The Brahmins and their collaborators, through the sanskritisation process, have a monopoly on the fat of the land. This situation may have continued largely unchanged but for the arrival of several Europeans who came to trade and stayed to conquer. In short, the monopoly enjoyed by the elites of India began to be challenged by the colonialists.