Consequences of reservation in India
Brief History of reservation in India (1500 BC – 1990 AD)
The earliest evidence for the creation of Indian reservation was the Caste System which exists in Hindu religion since 1500BC to 1952AD when it was abolished in the Indian constitution. In this caste system the people were divided into the four categories i.e. Brahmana, Kashtriya, Vaishya, Shudra, where the Brahmana were the supreme one and the shudras were the most 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. Sati Pratha (Sati Custom) was abolished in the early 18 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 the 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 communities in India. 3–5% of seats are reserved for the Physically Disabled people in India. Some seats are also been reserved for the Sport persons, woman, veterans etc. During 1960 woman have also been included under discriminated community, and Separate Higher education institutions were made only for women where no other 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 SC and ST candidates respectively for a period of five years, after which the quota system would be reviewed. In 1990s that the recommendations of the Mandal Commission’s 12 years study were implemented in Government Jobs and Institutions by Vishwanath Pratap Singh as the Prime Minister of India.
Implications of reservation in India (1990 – 2025)
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) students (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 50% 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 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).
In January 2019 Government has given 10 percent reservations for General Category Poor people in Educational & Government Institutions.
In year 2020 several states governments have passed a bills providing for 75% reservation of factory and other blue-collar jobs for their domicile people in private sector.
In year 2023 Government has given 33% reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
Consequences of Reservation in India
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 and social 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 were 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(Biju 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 hasn’t made any policy and official statistics of Indian population are still pending to be released to the public. The combined population of Indians is increasing as always.
Several Reserved & General Category communities has started demanding reservation for them, these communities which include (Gujars, Brahmins of State of Haryana, Seers, Patels of state of Gujarat etc.).
Countries i.e. Germany, Bangladesh, Nepal has started implementing their own form of reservation in their own countries.
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.