Consequences of reservation in India

This article describes the consequences of reservation in India.

Brief history of Indian reservation (1500 BC – 1990 AD)

There was a Caste System which existed in Hindu religion since 1500 BC to 1952 AD when it was abolished in the Indian constitution. In this caste system the people were divided into the four categories i.e. Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vysya, Shudra, where the Brahmana were the supreme one and the shudras were the discriminated ones and are treated like untouchables.

Though Islam came to India in the early 7th century with the advent of Arab traders and the conquest of Sindh, it started to become a major religion during the later Muslim conquest in the Indian subcontinent during this period Buddhism declined rapidly and many Hindus were forcibly converted to Islam. The caste system has been a matter of contention ever since the British occupied India and remains a point of conflict. The custom of sati was abolished in the early 18th century by the British rulers.

The post independence (1947) period comes with the great relief for the lower caste where the caste system was abolished under the Constitution of India and untouchability is declared as the crime under the law. In 1950 India was declared as a Socialist State. India have the Domicile reservation of (50 – 85%) based on the domicile status of the people in various states and Union Territory of India. Many minority religious institutions like (Sikh, Christian, Muslim, Jain, etc.) already have (30–50%) of reservation for their communities in India. 3–5% of seats are reserved for the physically disabled people in India. Some seats are also been reserved for the sports persons, woman, veterans etc. Since 1960 woman have also been included as a discriminated community and separate Higher education Institutions were made only for women where no other person is allowed for admission in those institutes, women were also given the separate public facilities like coaches and seats were made reserved in the Transport facilities i.e Trains, Buses etc.

In 1982, the Constitution specified 15% and 7.5% of vacancies in public sector and government-aided educational institutes are a quota reserved for the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates respectively for a period of five years, after which the quota system would be reviewed. In the 1990s the recommendations of the Mandal Commission’s twelve-year study were implemented in government jobs and institutions by Vishwanath Pratap Singh as the Prime Minister of India.

Implications of Indian reservation (1990 – 2016)

• In 1990 higher education institutions, public sector units & Government Bodies, 22.5% of available seats were made reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) (15% for SCs, 7.5% for STs). This reservation percentage has been raised to 49.5%, by including an additional 27% reservation for OBCs in 2006. 5-10% of aggregate marks and 3-5years of age relaxation and exemption from tuition fees is given to SC, ST & OBC candidates who wish to take admissions in various Government institutions.
• The Central government's has given the 5% reservation to the physically disabled person who have 40% or more disabilities.
• In 2010 Women get one third reservation in gram panchayat (village assembly - a form of local village government) and municipal elections. There is a long-term plan to extend this reservation to parliament and legislative assemblies. For instance, some law schools in India have a 30% reservation for females, women also enjoys the separate Higher education institutions which are made only for women and no other is allowed for admission in those institutes.
• The CBSE has introduced examination reforms using Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) in its affiliated schools from the academic year 2009-2010. Under the new procedure, Children below class 10th will be evaluated under the 9 Grade system. Student must get D or higher grade to get promoted in next class. The rules for compartment and improvement will be same as previous year. No student will be declared fail even if he gets all E1 or below. He will get chances to improve. For class 10 exams, grades on final exam only be treated as done last year.
• In mid-2012 25% reservation is provided to the reserved category children in the Government aided & Private schools under the Right to education act which was passed earlier by the parliament.
• In January 2016 Government has given 33 percent reservations to women in all paramilitary forces, including Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Consequences of Indian Reservation

Immediate consequences

• In the Higher Education institutes and Government Bodies reserved category people are given the relaxations, which results in admission of people who have lower aggregate percentage of marks both in academics & competitive exams.
• The Financial status of the reserved category people is increasing, and well supported by the government.
• People mainly the students of various education institutes were started protesting against the Mandal Commission in form of closed roads, highways, transportation services, government services, schools, and businesses of India. About 150 students have attempted self-immolation throughout India.

Short-term consequences

• The percentage of SC, ST, and OBC in government institutions have risen sharply, today the total percentage of reserved category persons working in these institution is about 40%.
• The exploited non reserved category persons who missed the opportunity because someone else has taken his place have become deprived and miserable in the poor economic conditions of India.
• V. P. Singh lost his power on November 1990 and left his job as Prime minister of India, The Janta Dal (Peoples Group) party was split up into many Different parties like Rashtriya Janata Dal(State Peoples Group) (which ruled the state of Bihar), Samajwadi(Socialist) Party (ruling the state of Uttar Pradesh), Biju Janata Dal(Peoples Group) (governing Odisha), Janata Dal(Peoples Group) Secular (which ruled the state of Karnataka) and the Janata Dal(Peoples Group) United(which ruled the state of Bihar).

Long-term consequences

• The population of reserved category community has increased through the years since 1990, though the government still has not made any policy and official statistics of Indian population based on caste, which are still pending to be released to the public. The combined population of Indians is increasing as always.
• Several Unreserved or General category communities has started demanding reservation for them, these communities which include (Gujars & Jats of State of Haryana, Seers, Patels of state of Gujarat, etc.).

Individual theories on consequences

• Some philosophers believe that India has lost its pace for the development due to the reservation in India, because more capable persons were not offered the places which they deserved on the bases of acts done in past.
• Some think that reservation in India is not good for society since the people were still remain divided among themselves due to the increase and decrease of Financial and Social status in the society.