Prelims pointers
Reservation in Karnataka
1. Historical Background:
- Karnataka was one of the first states to implement the Mandal Commission recommendations (1990).
- The state implemented a 50% reservation cap across educational institutions and public employment based on caste and community.
- Karnataka’s SC/ST and OBC Act, 1990 governs reservation policies in the state.
2. Current Reservation Framework in Karnataka:
- Scheduled Castes (SC): 17%
- Scheduled Tribes (ST): 7%
- Other Backward Classes (OBC): 32%
- Economically Weaker Sections (EWS): 10%
3. Key Acts and Rules:
- The Karnataka SC/ST and Other Backward Classes (Reservation of Appointments, etc.) Act, 1990.
- Karnataka Education Act, 1983: Includes reservation provisions in educational institutions.
4. Current Affairs (Additional Developments):
- Revised SC/ST Reservation (2023): Karnataka increased SC quota from 15% to 17% and ST quota from 3% to 7%, exceeding the 50% ceiling, following a Cabinet decision.
- Internal Reservation for SC Sub-Castes (2023): Karnataka divided SC reservation into categories to address intra-caste disparities.
- Lingayat and Vokkaliga Quota Reclassification (2023): Removed from OBC list and placed under a newly created ‘2C’ and ‘2D’ categories, increasing competition.
- Demand for Caste Census: Following Bihar’s lead, Karnataka intensified demands for its own caste-based census (2023).
- Maratha Reservation Movement: Raised concerns over the inclusion of neighboring communities into Karnataka’s OBC list.
5. Recent Legal and Political Developments:
- SC Observation on Exceeding 50% Quota (2023): Pending petitions on whether Karnataka’s revised SC/ST quota violates the ceiling.
- EWS Quota Impact: Legal battles over its implementation in Karnataka without affecting existing OBC quotas.
6. Key Challenges in Karnataka's Reservation System:
- Balancing intra-caste reservations for equitable benefit distribution.
- Exceeding the 50% reservation cap: Legal and constitutional hurdles.
- Political pressures to accommodate dominant communities like Lingayats and Vokkaligas.
- Opposition from general merit categories due to reduced opportunities.
Karnataka Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes (Reservation of Appointments, Etc.) Act, 1990:
1. Overview of the Act
- Purpose: To ensure representation of Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in public employment, education, and other spheres.
- Year Enacted: 1990.
- Jurisdiction: Applicable only in the state of Karnataka.
2. Reservation Policy
- SC Reservation: 15%.
- ST Reservation: 3%.
- OBC Reservation: Initially set at 32%.
- Total Reservation: 50% as per the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Indra Sawhney case (1992).
3. Constitutional Backing
- Derived from Articles 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution of India, which allow special provisions for socially and educationally backward classes and SC/ST communities.
- The Act aligns with the Directive Principles of State Policy, particularly Article 46, which promotes the educational and economic interests of SCs, STs, and other weaker sections.
4. Amendments and Updates
- Over the years, the Act has been amended to enhance representation for certain sub-categories within SC/ST and OBC groups.
- Recently, a demand to increase ST reservation to 7% and SC reservation to 17% has gained momentum.
UPSC Mains-style answers (~300 words)
3. Reservation in Karnataka (Karnataka SC/ST and OBC Act, 1990)
The Karnataka SC/ST and OBC Act, 1990, lays the groundwork for reservations in education, public employment, and political representation for backward classes within Karnataka.
Salient Features of the Act:
- Provides 15% and 3% reservations for SCs and STs, respectively.
- Ensures quotas for OBCs across three categories based on economic and social backwardness.
Current Developments (2024):
- The Karnataka government recently increased reservations for SCs (17%) and STs (7%), which led to legal challenges and protests by other communities.
- Debate over reservation for Panchamasali Lingayats within the OBC category remains ongoing.
- Implementation of the Gruha Lakshmi and Shakti Yojana highlighted the government's emphasis on empowering backward classes through socio-economic schemes.
Challenges:
- Rising demands from other communities for reservation (e.g., Lingayats, Vokkaligas).
- Balancing caste-based and economic-based reservation criteria.
- Administrative challenges in ensuring proper implementation.
Way Forward:
- Transparent mechanisms to address reservation demands.
- Better monitoring of schemes to ensure benefits reach the intended population.
- Encouraging skill development and entrepreneurship among backward classes.
