I’ll ask you this question : whenever you hear the word reservation what’s the first thought that comes to your mind? Do you associate it with social justice, or with the erosion of merit, or do you see it as reverse discrimination?
Whether it’s the erosion of merit, or you view it as reverse discrimination, its very important to understand what you currently think about reservation before we read forward with the topic. Nowadays, many people often see reservation merely as a vote-bank strategy or a political tool. You might have noticed that every year in India new groups emerge demanding reservation, leading to more friction and division in society. Some even say that India might be the only country where people striving to label themselves as “backward”. Amidst all this, two important questions arise: First should India consider increasing reservation in today’s context, or should it be completely abolished? And Second, if reservation is to continue, what should it be an economic basis?
Understanding reservation is crucial for everyone because it impacts us all – be it school admissions, college admissions, government jobs, politics, or the nation’s development.
Now, the topic of reservation is not only important but also quite difficult and complex. So, to settle this important topic of reservation once and for all, first of all, we’ll understand:
- Who gets Reservation and Why?
In India, reservation is an affirmative action policy providing quotas in government jobs, education, and politics to historically disadvantaged groups. It aims to address social, educational, and economic backwardness stemming from centuries of discrimination.
Eligible Groups
Reservation primarily benefits these categories with fixed quotas:
- Scheduled Castes (SC): 15% quota, for castes historically facing untouchability and social exclusion.
- Scheduled Tribes (ST): 7.5% quota, for indigenous tribal communities with limited access to opportunities.
- Other Backward Classes (OBC): 27% quota, for socially and educationally backward castes; excludes “creamy layer” (affluent subsets).
- Economically Weaker Sections (EWS): 10% quota since 2019, for general category poor (family income under ₹8 lakh/year).
- Others include Persons with Disabilities (4%) and ex-servicemen.
Purpose
The policy corrects historical injustices under Articles 15, 16, and 46 of the Constitution, ensuring representation and upliftment. It applies to direct recruitment, promotions (for SC/ST), and temporary posts over 45 days, but scientific/technical roles may be exempt. Total quotas generally cap at 50% per Supreme Court rulings.
What is Horizontal and Vertical reservation?
Vertical reservation allocates specific quotas for groups like Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in jobs, education, and promotions, as per Articles 16(4), 16(4A), and related provisions in the Indian Constitution. These quotas are applied separately to each category, dividing total seats into distinct vertical slices (e.g., 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST).
Horizontal reservation cuts across all vertical categories to provide opportunities for groups like women, persons with disabilities (PwD), ex-servicemen, and transgender individuals, under Article 15(3). It applies proportionally within each vertical quota—for instance, if 33% is reserved for women horizontally, then 33% of SC seats, 33% of OBC seats, and so on must go to women from those categories.
Key Differences
| Aspect | Vertical Reservation | Horizontal Reservation |
| Basis | Caste, tribe, or economic backwardness (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) | Gender, disability, or other cross-cutting factors |
| Application | Separate quotas per group | Within each vertical category, not overall |
| Example | 27% seats for OBC | 33% women in OBC, SC, and general seats |
| Overlap | A person gets one vertical slot | Can combine (e.g., SC woman gets both) |
This system ensures intersectional equity, like an OBC woman benefiting from both quotas without double-counting.
- What is the current reservation percentage?
Current Reservation Percentages
India’s central reservation policy, applicable to government jobs, education, and promotions, allocates fixed quotas across vertical categories totaling 59.5% (exceeding the 50% cap via the EWS amendment). These percentages remain standard as of 2026, with no major national changes reported.
- What is Vertical and Horizontal Reservation?
Vertical Reservations (Caste/Economic Categories)
These form the primary quotas:
- Scheduled Castes (SC): 15%
- Scheduled Tribes (ST): 7.5%
- Other Backward Classes (OBC): 27%
- Economically Weaker Sections (EWS): 10%
Horizontal Reservations (Cross-Cutting)
These apply within vertical categories:
- Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): 4%
- Women: Often 33% (varies by scheme/institution)
State Variations
States like Tamil Nadu (69%), Maharashtra (62%), and Bihar (75%) exceed the 50% cap via local laws, often under court review. Gujarat (user location) follows central norms: SC 7%, ST 15%, OBC 27%, EWS 10%. Always verify for specific jobs/institutions, as creamy layer exclusions apply to OBC/EWS.
- Grand reservation system by understanding important events from 1950 to 2024 :
Key Events in Reservation Timeline
India’s reservation system evolved from constitutional provisions for SC/ST to broader quotas, shaped by commissions and Supreme Court rulings upholding equity with limits.
1950s Foundations
- 1950: Constitution enables SC/ST reservations (15%/7.5%) in jobs/education.
- 1951: State of Madras v Champakam Dorairajan struck quotas; led to 1st Amendment (Art 15(4)).
- 1953: Kaka Kalelkar Commission identifies backward castes but rejected.
Mandal Era (1979-1992)
- 1979: Mandal Commission recommends 27% OBC quota.
- 1990: VP Singh implements it, sparking protests.
- 1992: Indra Sawhney v UOI upholds 27% OBC, 50% cap, creamy layer; no promotions initially.
2000s-2010s Expansions
- 2006: Reservations extended to OBCs in central education.
- 2018: Jarnail Singh applies creamy layer to SC/ST promotions.
Recent Developments (2019-2024)
- 2019: 103rd Amendment adds 10% EWS quota.
- 2022: Janhit Abhiyan upholds EWS, allows breaching 50% for new classes.
- 2024: State of Punjab v Davinder Singh permits SC/ST sub-classification.
I hope that you’ve definitely learned something new from today’s topic.
