CASTE BASED RESERVATION POLICY OF INDIA

INTRODUCTION:-

Caste based reservation is a peculiarity that is observed only in the context of India. No other country in this world has given a caste based reservation to it's citizens. However, there is a historical background to this system. In the medieval ages, the condition of the Indian backward castes such as the Dalits and the tribals of India was horrendous. there was a widespread inhumane treatment of such castes and tribes and after the independence of India caste based reservation in India was introduced. Nowadays, reservation which was originally introduced to alleviate the backward castes from their condition has become a political tool. in some ways the true meaning of alleviation has also been lost.

THE PROPORTION OF RESERVATION:-

The proportion of reservation given to various castes, tribes, other backward classes (OBC) and economically weaker sections (EWS) is as follows:

From the above table it is quite clear that there is a reservation quota for 59.5% of the total seats available in government granted institutions. It has been taken from the Hindu Editorial.

THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF CASTE BASED RESERVATIONS:-

Due to an elongated rule of tyranny for a period of almost 1400 years on the scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes it became inevitable to take some sort of an affirmative action for the marginalized communities.(Note: Here, the term 1400 years is used because  the gene pool records of India indicate that from the year 600 AD onwards the genetic homogeneity in the genes increased. It is an indicator of a reduction in the inter-caste marriages highlighting the unbreachable social strata of the society.) 

This policy of caste based reservation gave real alleviation to the backward castes from exploitation as they could also climb in the social ladder. This was an unprecedented shift in their social standard. So, it can be stated that there is some truth to the statement that this policy reduced the social inequalities in the society. However, to what extent this purpose has been solved is still debatable.

ADDITIONS IN THE LIST OF RESERVATION QUOTA:-

Originally, after independence the caste based reservation was given only to Scheduled Tribes and the Scheduled Castes. These castes and tribes are mentioned in the Schedule II 4(1) of the Indian constitution. However, an addition of Other Backward Castes also took place after the submission of the report given by the Mandal Commission in the year 1980. Widescale protests also erupted against it in the year 1990. Affirmative action had been the prime motive behind this action. It can also be said that this policy has been able to give almost proportionate representation to the backward castes of India.

There was also an increment in the reservation quota in the form of a quota for the Economically Weaker Sections(EWS). It was introduced in the year 2019 on the 7th of January. An additional 10% reservation was taken from the general category and a new category of reserved quota was formed.

THE POLITICIZATION OF THE RESERVATION DISCOURSE:-

It has been observed in the case of any policy of affirmative action that the political establishment tends to gain political mileage from it. It is an established fact that every State Government has created it's own vote banks for electoral gains. In some of the states of India a particular backward caste is given preference over other backward castes. 

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar himself stated that he does not wish for a reservation policy of more than 10 years. However, after a decade of independence, no political party had the electoral incentive of abolishing the system of caste based reservation.

MY OPINION ON THE CASTE BASED RESERVATIONS:-

In my opinion, the policy of cate based reservation has increased the social mobility in the Indian society quite significantly. However, when we have an aggregate reservation of 59.5% then, it tends to start undermining the merit in this process. For a country to develop swiftly, the ideals of capitalism should be embraced. If equality in the society is to be established then the education should be provided in various institutions to remove various stereotypes.

In the future, industrialization should be done to such an extent that no person identifies himself with his caste or tribe, but everyone identifies with their common nationality. I am not particular in the opposition or support of the caste based reservation or the reservation on economic basis. If there are no new jobs offered by the private sector then everyone would only look for the Government jobs which form only 2% of the total jobs in India.

Thus, I would conclude that the main focus of this nation should be on the increase in the Per Capita Income and alleviation of casteism, untouchability etc. in such an equitable society, everyone would be able to integrate as there would be relatively higher social mobility.