The Union Cabinet on Monday, 7 January, announced 10 percent quota in jobs and education for the economically backward upper castes.
The designated quota comes above and after the already existing quota for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and makes the reservation percentage 60 percent in total.
WHAT DOES THE CONSTITUTION SAY?
The proposed reservation can be brought about by an amendment to Articles 15 and 16 of the constitution, as currently, reservation on the basis of economic criteria alone is not provided for in the constitution.
A constitutional amendment bill needs two-third of the majority of the House, while the government has the numbers in the Lok Sabha, the Opposition has the power in the Rajya Sabha.
WHO QUALIFIES FOR THE QUOTA?
The beneficiaries of the 10 percent reservation will be measure by their family income, agricultural land, residential house and residential plot.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Family income should be less than 8 lakh per annum.
- Farm land should be less than that of 5 acres.
- Residential house should be less than 1000 sq ft.
- Residential plot should be below 100 yards in a notified municipality.
- In case of a non-notified municipality area, the residential plot should be below 200 yards.
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