Prime Minister of India in Kannada for UPSC | ಭಾರತದ ಪ್ರಧಾನ ಮಂತ್ರಿ

Prelims pointers

Reservation in India

1. Constitutional Provisions:

• Article 15(4): Special provisions for socially and educationally backward classes.
• Article 16(4): Reservation in public employment for backward classes.
• Article 330, 332: Reservation of seats for SC/ST in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
• Article 243D, 243T: Reservation in Panchayats and Municipalities.

2. Landmark Judgments:

• Indra Sawhney Case (1992): Upheld 27% OBC reservation; introduced the concept of the "creamy layer."
• EWS Reservation (103rd Amendment, 2019): 10% reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS).

3. Current Affairs:

• Recent debates on the demand for caste-based census (2021–2023).
• Changes to the OBC and EWS income limits (revised to ₹8 lakh annually).
• SC ruling on 10% EWS quota (November 2022): Upheld validity but excluded SC/ST/OBC categories.

4. Key Reports and Committees:

• Mandal Commission (1980): Identified and recommended 27% reservation for OBCs.
• Rohini Commission: Tasked with sub-categorization of OBCs to ensure equitable distribution.

5. Challenges and Criticisms:

• Creamy layer implementation and identification issues.
• Balancing meritocracy and affirmative action.
• Inefficiency in addressing regional disparities within backward classes.

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UPSC Mains-style answers (~300 words)

1. Reservation in India

Reservation in India is a constitutional provision aimed at ensuring social justice by providing opportunities for historically disadvantaged groups. Articles 15, 16, and 46 of the Constitution lay the foundation for reservations in education, employment, and other socio-economic areas.

The reservation system addresses inequality by allocating a percentage of government jobs, educational institutions, and legislatures to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC).

Significant Judgments:

• Indra Sawhney Case (1992): It upheld 27% reservation for OBCs but excluded the "creamy layer."
• EWS Reservation (2019): The 103rd Constitutional Amendment introduced 10% reservation for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) in the general category.

Recent Developments (Current Affairs):

• In 2023, there were debates on increasing OBC reservations for NEET and central educational institutions.
• The Karnataka government's revision of reservation policies in 2024 included enhancing quotas for SCs and STs, sparking nationwide discussions on balancing economic and social criteria.

Challenges:

1. Overlapping caste categories create conflicts.
2. The "creamy layer" concept is inconsistently applied.
3. Limited focus on economic backwardness outside caste.

Way Forward:

• Comprehensive socio-economic surveys to rationalize reservation.
• A focus on education and skill development alongside quotas to enable sustainable upliftment.

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