MAJOR PROJECT REPORT

On

RESERVATION SYSTEM IN INDIA

(Education Sector)

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the

requirement of Bachelor of Commerce
(BCOM(H))

Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University,

Delhi

Session 2020-21

Under the Guidance of Submitted by

Dr. Shubh Arora ADITI BIST
Designation BCOM (H)- VI Sem
00225588818

JIMS ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT TECHNICAL CAMPUS

48/4 Knowledge Park III, Greater Noida-201306 (U.P.)
 TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

This is to certify that Ms Aditi Bist /Enrollment No.00225588818 , student of B.Com

(H) VI Semester at JIMS Engineering Management Technical Campus, Greater Noida
affiliated to Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, have prepared
and submitted her Research Project Report on the topic RESERVATION SYSTEM IN
INDIA (Education Sector).

This is his/her original work for the partial fulfillment of awarding degree of Bachelor
of Commerce.

Signature of the Guide:

Date:
 DECLARATION

I hereby declare that this Major Project Report titled RESERVATION SYSTEM IN INDIA
(Education Sector) submitted by me to JEMTEC, Greater Noida is a bonafide work undertaken
by me and has not been submitted to any other University or Institution for the award of any
degree diploma / certificate or published any time before.

ADITI BIST Date: 19 /4/ 2020

Name: ADITI BIST

Enroll. No.: 00225588818
 BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that as per best of my belief the project entitled “RESERVATION SYSTEM IN
INDIA (Education Sector)” is the bonafide research work carried out by ADITI BIST (00225588818)
of B.COM(H), JEMTEC, Greater Noida, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Summer
Training Report for the Degree of Bachelor of Commerce. She has worked under my guidance. I wish her
success in all her career endeavors.

Faculty Guide Name: Dr. Shubh Arora

Designation:

Signature with Date

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I offer my sincere thanks and humble regards to JEMTEC, Greater Noida for imparting us very valuable
professional training in BCOM (H).

I pay my gratitude and sincere regards to Dr. Shubh Arora, my project Guide for giving me the cream of
her knowledge. I am thankful to her as she has been a constant source of advice, motivation and
inspiration. I am also thankful to him/her for giving his suggestions and encouragement throughout the
project work.

I take the opportunity to express my gratitude and thanks to our computer Lab staff and library staff for
providing me an opportunity to utilize their resources for the completion of the project.

I am also thankful to my family and friends for constantly motivating me to complete the project and
providing me an environment, which enhanced my knowledge.

Date: 19/ 4/ 2020

Name: Aditi Bist
Enroll. No.: 00225588818

Course: BCOM (H) (VI-Sem)

ADITI BIST
 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Reservation of seats in educational institutes of India is a law by which a given group

of students are allowed concessions. This system is generally applied in
government-aided educational institutes.

The quota is given based on castes or regions.

In state level institutes, some seats are reserved for the regional students (of the same
state). Again the reservation of seats for SC, ST, physically handicapped and sports
persons is compulsory in government aided educational institutions whether it is a
state or a national institute.

The percentage of reservation in any govt. The aided educational institute is generally
15% for SCs and 7.5% for STs. 3% seats are reserved for Persons with Disability
(PWD) as per PWD Act 1995. A 27% quota for Other Backward Classes has been
recently proposed which is under consideration by the Parliament of India.

Central government-funded higher education institutions: 22.5% for scheduled caste

(dalit) and scheduled tribe (adivasi) students. HRD Minister Arjun Singh has proposed
raising this to 49.5%, by including reservation for OBCs.
 CONTENTS

S. No. Topic Page No

1 Certificate (Issued by College)
2 Declaration
3 Acknowledgement
4 Executive Summary
5 Chapter-1: Introduction
6 Chapter-2: Detailed Report
7 Chapter-3: Literature Review
8 Chapter-4: Research Methodology
9 Chapter-5: Data Analysis
10 Chapter-6: Findings
11 Chapter-7: Recommendations/ Suggestions
12 Chapter-8: Conclusion & Limitations of the study
13 References/Bibliography
14 Appendices
 CHAPTER - 1
INTRODUCTION
What does Reservation Mean ?

Reservation is an act of withholding certain things for being enjoyed by the

particular person/community and no other person/community has the right to enjoy
the reserved thing. Reservation in Indian law is a form of affirmative action whereby
a percentage of seats are reserved in public sector units, union and state civil
services, union and state government departments and in all public and private
educational institutions, except in the religious/linguistic minority educational
institutions, for the socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or the
scheduled castes and tribes who are inadequately represented in these services and
institutions.

Reservation is a provision made in the legal jurisdiction of India, by which a

percentage of quotas are appropriated for the socially or economically
underprivileged sections of native Indians or people belonging to the Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Reservation has been secured in the Parliament of
India, civil services under State and central bodies, State Legislative Assemblies and
other Government sector units. It is also in practice in all Government and private
academic institutes .

The concept of reservation was enshrined in the Constitution to allow the so-called
deprived classes to come at par with the so-called privileged ones. The Constitution
of India allows this kind of positive discrimination in order to bring about equality of
opportunity and status in the society. The founding fathers had never intended
Reservation to be a temporary phenomenon. Reservations to the underprivileged
were to be extended until they were uplifted socially and stabilized economically.

Reservations with the view of helping the deprived classes to gain a better footing
and avail equal benefits of an independent and free nation were introduced in the
system .

Nothing much has changed since the past 60 years proving that we have misdirected
our energies in the wrong direction. We have failed utterly in bringing the
underprivileged at an equal footing with the rest of the society. Rather, many times, it
seems that the reservation policy tries to avenge the wrong done to the
non-privileged all these years. We have successfully paralysed a section of the
society permanently and blocked their upward mobility by killing their zeal to work
hard and be rewarded. Who will want to work hard if one gets an opportunity and
other incentives without burning the midnight oil? Instead of encouraging this kind
of lethargy, the policy should be formulated in such a way as to harness the real
cream of every section of the society regardless of their caste or community for the
betterment of the society. In view of the present scenario, it is needed to keep aside
the narrow vote bank politics and think truly for the betterment of the
under-privileged and honestly pursue policies and programmes for their upliftment.

What is the Quota System?

In the quota system, some communities are determined on the basis of

socioeconomic and educational parameters to be “backward” and their members
(other than those excluded in the “creamy layer”) are all given the benefit of being
put in a separate category (“reserved” category) where they only have to compete
with other backward class members. In these other positive discrimination models, a
handicap is awarded to each individual on the basis of different socio-economic,
educational and gender based factors .
Definition of Reservation

It is not simple to define reservation but many efforts were made by different authors
or it is well defined in dictionaries too. The definitions mentioned in various
dictionaries are as follows: According to Encyclopedia Americana , the term
'Reserve' is defined as follows: “In a general non accounting definition, a reserve is a
supply held for future use, or something set apart for a special purpose. In accounting
the term has been used in several different ways: to indicate a deduction from an
asset (a contra asset account); a liability, the exact amount of which is undetermined;
or an earmarked portion of retained earnings' '. The Oxford English Dictionary
defines the term 'Reservation' as an expressed or tacit limitation or exception made
with regard to something. The Dictionary of Public Administration5 define the term
‘Reservation policy’ in India is based on consciously planned preferences, which
may be based on ascriptive criteria like ethnicity, gender and even on geographical
location, Resource to it is taken to compensate for persistent discrimination or
socio-economic mobility being an act of deliberately designed social engineering.
Such preferential policies are in observance in a few countries, both developed and
developing. The United States calls it the policy of positive or affirmative action. It is
known as ‘Bhumiputra preferences’ in Malaysia. India calls it the policy of
reservation. As India’s reservation system is based on caste, one must note that the
caste system is hierarchical, the four most marginalized categories being the
‘Untouchables’ , ‘Harijans’ , ‘Dalits’ or the Scheduled caste in the language of the
Constitution.
 CHAPTER - 2
DETAILED REPORT
Reservation is a system of affirmative action in India that provides historically
disadvantaged groups representation in education, employment and politics.

Based on provisions in the Indian Constitution, it allows the Indian government to

set reserved quotas or seats, which lower the qualifications needed in exams, job
openings etc. for "socially and economically backward citizens."

Reservation was intended to uplift these communities but the government's failure to
control the amount of reservation and lack of comprehensive review of the policies
have resulted in wide criticism and backlash.

Critics have often described it as a menace primarily due to its anti-meritocratic

nature, which they claim is causing further division and discrimination in the society
.

After fifty six years of its implementation in independent India, the reservation
policy has reached a stage where both its critics and supporters are unhappy about it.
The impact of the reservation must be evaluated in relation to the impact of other
policies pursued by the government during this period.

The strategy of planned development is the most important policy of the government.
Planning was expected to produce growth with social India and this includes the
Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and the Other Backward Classes.

The trend seems to have shifted to reverse discrimination rather than mere
affirmative action. Some backward classes are not living any differently than before.
Their subsistence is meager and rural lifestyles do not provide them with any of the
desired benefits.
Thus, a distinct economic class system exists within the backward classes.

Since economic status is not a test used for the purpose, undeserving people gain the
undue advantages and the deserving ones still stand where they were without a
significant change in their status .
Reservation is only one important means to promote equality for the weaker
elements of the society.

We must first understand the true meaning of ‘equality’ itself. It is important here
that the Indian scheme provides equality to the weaker sections of the society and the
approach of the Indian Supreme Court is liberal in interpreting the equality clauses of
the Indian constitution.

All these issues have been discussed in chapter of this dissertation.The Judges in
India fortunately possess the most potent judicial power in their hands, namely, the
power of judicial review.
In this way the judiciary not only interprets the Constitution, but also upholds the
Constitution by exercising the power of judicial review.

The Court’s Acts as the protector and the guardian of the supremacy of the
Constitution by keeping all authorities legislative, executive, administrative, judicial
or quasi-judicial within their respective legal jurisdictions.
HISTORY OF RESERVATION

Before independence

Quota systems favouring certain castes and other communities existed before
independence in several areas of British India. Demands for various forms of positive
discrimination had been made, for example, in 1882 and 1891.

Shahu, the Maharaja of the princely state of Kolhapur, introduced reservation in favor of
non-Brahmin and backward classes, much of which came into force in 1902. He provided
free education to everyone and opened several hostels to make it easier for them to receive
it. He also tried to ensure that people thus educated were suitably employed, and he
appealed both for a class-free India and the abolition of untouchability. His 1902 measures
created 50 percent reservation for backward communities.

On 16 September 1921, the first Justice Party government passed the first Communal
Government Order, thereby becoming the first elected body in the Indian legislative
history to legislate reservations, which have since become standard across the country.

The British Raj introduced elements of reservation in the Government of India Act of
1909 and there were many other measures put in place prior to independence.
A significant one emerged from the Round Table Conference of June 1932, when the
Prime Minister of Britain, Ramsay MacDonald, proposed the Communal Award,
according to which separate representation was to be provided for Muslims, Sikhs, Indian
Christians, Anglo-Indians, and Europeans. The depressed classes, roughly corresponding
to the STs and SCs, were assigned a number of seats to be filled by election from
constituencies in which only they could vote, although they could also vote in other seats.
The proposal was controversial: Mahatma Gandhi fasted in protest against it but many
among the depressed classes, including B. R. Ambedkar, favored it. After negotiations,
Gandhi reached an agreement with Ambedkar to have a single Hindu electorate, with
Dalits having seats reserved within it. Electorates for other religions, such as Islam and
Sikhism, remained separate. This became known as the Poona Pact.

After independence

After the independence of India in 1947 there were some major initiatives in favor of the
STs, SCs and after the 1980s in favour of OBCs.(Other Backward Castes) and in 2019 for
the poor in the upper caste category . The country's affirmative action program was
launched in 1950 and is the oldest such programme in the world.
A common form of caste discrimination in India was the practice of untouchability. SCs
were the primary targets of the practice, which was outlawed by the new Constitution of
India.

In 1954, the Ministry of Education suggested that 20 percent of places should be reserved
for the SCs and STs in educational institutions with a provision to relax minimum
qualifying marks for admission by 5 percent wherever required. In 1982, it was specified
that 15 percent and 7.5 percent of vacancies in public sector and government-aided
educational institutes should be reserved for the SC and ST candidates, respectively.

A significant change began in 1979 when the Mandal Commission or the Socially and
Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Commission was established to assess the
situation of the socially and educationally backward classes.The commission did not have
exact population figures for the OBCs and so used data from the 1931 census, thus
estimating the group's population at 52 per cent. In 1980 the commission's report
recommended that a reserved quota for OBCs of 27 per cent should apply in respect of
services and public sector bodies operated by the Union Government. It called for a
similar change to admissions to institutes of higher education, except where states already
had more generous requirements. It was not until the 1990s that the recommendations
were implemented in Union Government jobs.

In 2019 the government announces the 10% reservation in educational institutions and
government jobs for the economically weaker section of the upper caste category.

The Constitution of India states in article 15(4): "Nothing in [article 15] or in clause (2) of
article 29 shall prevent the State from making any special provision for the advancement
of any socially, and educationally backward classes of citizens of or for the Scheduled
Castes and the Scheduled Tribes."Article 46 of the Constitution states that "The State shall
promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections
of the people, and, in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and
shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation."

The Supreme Court of India ruled in 1992 that reservations could not exceed 50 percent,
anything above which it judged would violate equal access as guaranteed by the
Constitution. It thus put a cap on reservations. However, the recent amendment of the
constitution exceeds 50% and also there are state laws that exceed this 50 percent limit
and these are under litigation in the Supreme Court. For example, in the State of Tamil
Nadu, the caste-based reservation stands at 69 percent and applies to about 87 percent of
the population.
SYNOPSIS
1: Category-Wise Student Enrollment
Reservation system or quota in context of Indian higher education system basically
means that a set percentage of seats will be reserved in all universities and colleges
for students who belong to socially and educationally backward categories or belong
to different castes such as SC, ST and OBC.

In Indian higher education institutions, 15% and 7.5% seats are reserved for SC and
ST category candidates, respectively. Apart from that, 27% seats are reserved by the
government for OBC category students. It says that a total percentage of reservation
in Indian colleges and universities is up to 49.5%, leaving only 50.5% seats available
for General category candidates.

2: How Reservation came into existence?

The Reservation system was introduced in India by Dr.B R Ambedkar, Drafting
Committee of India after the independence.
The main concern behind introducing this system was to help the deprived section of
the society- the Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes and the Other Backward Castes
people, to provide them with better education, and equal opportunities as compared
to the other sections of the society. However, now the situation has entirely changed.

3: The Current Scenario

The constitution makers made the reservation as a policy of the democratic
government in order to lift up the downtrodden sections of our society, but over the
years since the independence, the reservation policy of the government has taken an
ugly turn.
Reservation in higher education has become a serious issue now. It has created
differences between different sections of the society.
Recent Survey

As per AISHE- All India Survey on Higher Education report 2016-17, total
3,45,84,781 students were enrolled in Indian higher education institutions last year,
and out of that, a total of 52.56% students were from reserved categories (SC, ST,
OBC) and the remaining 47.44% belonged to the General category. These statistics
are proof of how the General category students are getting affected and getting
deprived of the opportunities they should get.

The survey over admissions of students for the past 5 years says that student
enrollment in the General category has significantly decreased from 53.2% in
2011-12 to 47.4% in 2015-16. Also, on the other hand, student enrollment across SC,
ST, and OBC categories has increased over the past 5 years.

Year on year decreasing graph of General category students’ enrollment in higher

education institutions is a situation of concern in future and if remains unattended,
will be a big reason for failed dreams of these students.
SWOT ANALYSIS OF THE
RESERVATION SYSTEM
A successful turnaround generally starts with an overall understanding of the
troubled company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT). The
following is an example of what a SWOT analysis might look like:

1. Strengths

● There is no doubt that reservation has helped the people of reserved class to
improve their social and economical status.
● The proportion of SC, ST, and OBC has increased in government institutes
and hence providing them a chance to raise themselves.
● More number of SC, ST students have been enrolled in Undergraduate,
Postgraduate and other higher studies. It shows they are now understanding that
education is the only way of salvation from their miserable situation.
● Seats are reserved in Lok Sabha for SC ST so that they get a chance of
decision making and present their views and ideas on different aspects of society.
Because they had been deprived of these rights for centuries.
2. Weaknesses
● It divides our country on the basis of caste, religion and gender and hence
threatens our national unity.
● The attempt of goverment is that all the people in our country live without any
discrimination on any basis, but reservation will not let that happen. It creates the
feeling of superiority and inferiority among different class of people.
● It did not do justice with the unreserved class because despite working hard
they didn't get the desired seat and it filled them with anger and feeling of enmity for
reserved class.
● It often subverts the society and disturbs law and order which leads to loss of
life and property.

3. Opportunities
● Reservation for physically disabled persons is an important factor towards
their livelihood. Just imagine, if reservation for pd's would not be there, we would
have a larger population of true beggars.
● Reservation for girls is also important upto certain levels in countries like
India, where many girls are kept prohibited from opportunities due to social and
economic factors. Reservations are motivating girls to mix with the mainstream and
help in the development of themselves as well as the country.
● Reservation for truly deserved families, who lack basic opportunities due to
financial problems, is extremely important to bring out their talent. Just compare a
boy/girl of a rich or upper middle class family, who can access a lot of funding
towards coaching, books, computers etc., with a boy/girl from a poor family. Due to
lack of many things, the true talent of the poor guy would be left unseen if not given
enough opportunity.
4. Threats
● Enemy of meritocracy.
● An increasing sense of caste discrimination.
● Not able to help actual beneficiaries.
● Implementation is not well.
● No provision of reservation for the economically backward.
CHAPTER - 3
LITERATURE
REVIEW
Reservation in India is the process of setting aside a certain percentage of seats
(vacancies) in government institutions for the members of backward and
under-represented communities. Reservation is a form of quota-based affirmative
action. Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes
(OBCs) are the primary beneficiaries of the reservation policies under the
Constitution. The concept was enshrined in the Constitution to allow the so called
deprived classes to come at par with the so called privileged ones.

Initially, the reservation policy was only for 10 years after the independence to uplift
the socially and under-privileged to stabilise them economically. Yet, even after 68
years of independence the Government has failed to truly uplift the backward
sections properly.

The reservation system finds its origin in the age-old caste system of India. The caste
system at its birth was meant to divide people on the basis of their occupation like
teaching and preaching (Brahmins), kingship and war (Kshatriya), and lastly
business (Vaish) etc, but soon it became an instrument to divide the society on caste
basis, creating various walls between different sections of the society. After
independence, the primary objective of the reservation was to uplift the untouchable
who were the most marginalised.

But today we stand divided widely into Hindu, Muslim, SC, ST, OBC with newer
reservations coming up from different sections of society like Christians, jats,
Pandits, Tribals etc.

Unfortunately, the policy has failed to achieve the desired aim of bringing the
non-privileged classes into the mainstream. It has instead marginalised them all the
more and has deepened the rift created by the caste system even more. Moreover,
today it is not taken as a right but it is considered more of a privilege by people,
provoking unending debates.

The 93rd Amendment and the recent declaration of the government for reservation in
institutions of higher education has stirred the anger of the youth in general all over
the country.
The UGC cell helps universities implement the reservation policy in student
admission and staff recruitment process for teaching and non-teaching jobs. Protests
from various sections of society had come stating that development of one section of
the society should not be at the cost of the other section.

They have argued caste category cannot decide whether he/she is eligible for
admission or not, what matters is merit. Further some have argued that in some cases
children belonging to the backward classes do not even possess the necessary merit,
thereby snatching away one seat, just because they come from a particular religion or
caste for which our government provides reservation.

Recent ‘Women’s Reservation Bill’ passed by Rajya Sabha in 2010 got majority
support but it has not been voted on the bill as yet. Its opposers say gender cannot be
held as a basis for reservation alone. True, as Pratibha Patil, Meera Kumar, Sonia
Gandhi and other women do not hold their position merely because of their gender
reservation.

The 93rd Amendment and the recent declaration of the government for reservation in
institutions of higher education has stirred the anger of the youth in general all over
the country.

The UGC cell helps universities implement the reservation policy in student
admission and staff recruitment process for teaching and non-teaching jobs. Protests
from various sections of society had come stating that development of one section of
the society should not be at the cost of the other section.

They have argued caste category cannot decide whether he/she is eligible for
admission or not, what matters is merit. Further some have argued that in some cases
children belonging to the backward classes do not even possess the necessary merit,
thereby snatching away one seat, just because they come from a particular religion or
caste for which our government provides reservation.

Recent ‘Women’s Reservation Bill’ passed by Rajya Sabha in 2010 got majority
support but it has not been voted on the bill as yet. Its opposers say gender cannot be
held as a basis for reservation alone. True, as Pratibha Patil, Meera Kumar, Sonia
Gandhi and other women do not hold their position merely because of their gender
reservation.

If one takes a look at the issue objectively, one will realise that the intention behind
reservation is not faulty at all but it is the implementation and application that has
proved ineffective. The benefit of reservation has failed to trickle down to the lowest
section of the society.

Also, it has killed the spirit of brotherhood and healthy competition.Researchers have
studied the impact of reservations on policy outcomes, public goods, other household
benefits, and household poverty levels.

Over the last decade researchers have continued to expand the subject from the
policies implemented by the GPs and their expenditures, to the result of these
policies and expenditures in public goods provided to households and poverty levels.
The first group of research considers the types of policies that are created when
political reservations are in place. Pande focuses on the effect of minority
representation in state legislatures on policy outcomes.

Using state-level panel data of 16 major states from 1960 to 1992, she analyzes the
impact of SC and ST reservations on total spending, education spending, job quotas,
and ST welfare spending. She concludes that increasing minority representation
increases policies concerning transfers for minority groups.

ST reservation increases spending on ST welfare programs, while lowers education

and overall government spending. SC reservation also increases the share of
government jobs for minorities.9 Similarly, Duflo et al. studies the district of
Birbhum, West Bengal in 2000 using interviews with villagers and GP presidents.
The authors survey investments in local public goods provided since 1993 in various
hamlets that were randomly assigned SC/ST reservations of GP presidents.

The study finds that while SC presidents allocate more public goods to SC hamlets
and the share of investments in SC hamlets are 10% higher, reservations did not
affect the mix of public goods that are provided. Thus reservation policy enables
preference of recipients but not of the goods themselves.10 3 Others have studied the
effects of reservations on public goods and household benefits.
 Chattopadhyay and Duflo use village level data in West Bengal and Rajasthan, but
focus on one third of the presidency seats reserved for women and their subsequent
policy decisions. Between 2000 and 2002 results show that women presidents in
reserved seats invest more in public goods according to the local women’s
preferences – namely drinking water and roads in West Bengal and drinking water
for Rajasthan.

Though there is no significant impact found on benefits for female-headed

households, the authors prove that mechanisms based on identities and gender can
have significant impacts on policy decisions.11 Shifting the focus to goods and
services received by households, Besley et al. analyze household and village level
data for the impact of reservations for GP presidents in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
and Tamil Nadu on household benefits received.

From September to November 2002, they found that SC and ST reservations in GPs
increased private household benefits such as construction of houses and toilets, in
addition to water and electricity connections. However public goods and
infrastructure including construction of roads increase in the area of the presidents
regardless of reservations.

A similar study by Bardhan et al. finds in West Bengal that among 69 villages
between 2003 and 2005, SC and ST reservations increase household benefits,
especially toilets. Tracking GP expenditures, the increase in benefits for SC/ST
households most often was a result of a diversion of employment benefits from
landless non-SC/ST to SC/ST households. 13 Bardhan’s updated paper finds no
positive impact of women’s reservation and mixed results for SC/ST reservations in
GPs on targeting of specific programs.

The mixed findings of the latter is largely attributable to the insignificance of effects
of SC and ST reservations when combined.14 The most recent study determines the
policy impact on the well-being of households. Chin and Prakash use reservation
shares in 16 states SC and ST seats to study the effect of GP reservations on
household poverty levels. The paper adds to previous research by quantifying the
overall effect of the policy on rural, urban, and aggregate poverty.
The methodology is based on poverty headcount per ratio and a poverty gap index to
measure the percentage of the population below the poverty line as well as the
magnitude of poverty. The study finds that while there are significant reductions in
poverty for STs, SCs do not experience the same results, potentially due to the
homogenous living environment and geographic isolation of many ST hamlets.

These studies analyze the effect of reservations on policy decisions, provision of

public goods and benefits, as well as household poverty. Research has shown that
reservations often create policies geared towards benefiting disadvantaged groups
and that benefits received by the targeted households increases. However how
reservations affect the daily lives of disadvantaged households in less direct ways is
unclear. This paper seeks to evaluate the effect of GP reservations on education
attainment among the SC and ST children.
 CHAPTER - 4
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
 4.1.Objective of Study

The objectives of the research are -:

● To find the views of people in the reservation system in the education sector .
● To study students' knowledge and awareness on current laws regarding the reservation system .
● To know the current status of treatment (of minorities ) in the eyes of Indian citizens .
4.2Research Design

This research involved a study, which was descriptive as well as exploratory in

nature , it basically aims at gathering data.
Exploratory Research's main purposes would be to determine the approximate area
where the problem lies and also to identify some attractive courses of action to solve
it. The main purpose of this study is that the researcher can formulate a problem for
more precise investigation or of developing the working hypothesis from an
operational point of view. Research process is flexible and unstructured. Sample is
small and non-representative. This study includes extensive study of the organization
and market survey of retailers to satisfy the objective.
4.3 Data Collection Method (Primary Data only)

Sources from where firsthand information is gathered directly are called primary
source and in- formation thus called primary data. In case of study the primary
source is students to know the general view on reservation.

Questionnaire:

Questionnaire consists of questions for students, which are of following types:

A. Dichotomous questions that are of yes / no types.

B. Multiple Choice questions

C. Structured questions

D. Close ended question

4.4 Sampling Method

Plans of Analysis:

Systemic objective quantitative analysis of the contents through the questionnaire

was done. De- tailed tables were developed showing the data collected from the
respondents. From the table the percentages were calculated on the basis of which
the data was analyzed.
The various research measuring tools used are:

● Questionnaire
● Tables
● Percentage
● Pie-charts
● Bar-charts
 CHAPTER -5
ANALYSIS/STUDY OF
THE TOPIC
 DATA ANALYSIS

Survey forms were sent to a total of 50 candidates including students as well as their
parents . Following is the sample area of people who filled the forms .

Section 1
Section 2
Q1.What is your attitude towards the reservation
system in India ?

Positive - 10
Negative - 31
Neutral - 9

Total Number Of Respondent - 50 responses

Q2.Has your attitude towards the reservation
system changed over time?

Become more positive towards it - 21

Become more negative towards it - 26
My attitude hasn't changed - 2
Other (Specify) - 1

Total Number Of Respondent - 50 responses

Q3.From which of the existing grounds should the
reservation system be valid if it were up to you?

Benchmark Persons with Disabilities (PWD) - 28

Economic grounds - 26
Historical or social marginalization(Caste) - 3
None - 14

Total Number Of Respondent - 50 responses

Q4.Do you think that adding a 10 percent quota for
the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) to
universities is important?

Yes - 24
No - 11
Maybe - 15

Total Number Of Respondent - 50 responses

Q5. Should reservation be given in higher
education even when good education facilities are
provided to every student irrespective of their caste
and financial status ?
Yes - 11
No - 39

Total Number Of Respondent - 50 responses

Q6. Do you think that students who benefit from
the reservation system are less meritorious than
students from the general category?

Yes - 23
Sometimes - 23
No - 4

Total Number Of Respondent - 50 responses

Q7. Do you think the reservation system decreases
the motivation to study hard for those students who
benefit from it?

Yes - 29
Sometimes - 18
No - 3

Total Number Of Respondent - 50 responses

Q8. Do you think the reservation system to higher
education can have an effect on the quality of the
job market?

Yes, for the better - 3

Yes, for the worse - 17
No difference - 30

Total Number Of Respondent - 50 responses

Q9. Do you think the reservation system affects the
quality of the higher education system?

Yes, to the better - 3

Yes, to the worse - 24
No difference - 23

Total Number Of Respondent - 50 responses

Q10. Do you think the reservation system is an
obstruction in national development ?
Yes - 24
No - 10
Maybe - 16

Total Number Of Respondent - 50 responses

Q11. Do you think the academic staff can
discriminate on the basis of the students' social
identities?

Yes - 10
Maybe - 23
No - 17

Total Number Of Respondent - 50 responses

Q12. How prevalent do you believe caste
discrimination is in your part of India today?

To an high degree - 7
To a lesser degree - 13
Not prevalent at all - 17
Only prevalent in villages - 13

Total Number Of Respondent - 50 responses

Q13. How do you perceive the peer to peer
relationship between the scheduled and the general
students at the education institutes?

Normal - 28
Cordial - 11
Professional - 4
Conflictual - 7

Total Number Of Respondent - 50 responses

Q14. Should there be Income based reservation not
caste based reservation ?

Yes - 26
No - 16
Maybe - 8

Total Number Of Respondent - 50 responses

Q15. According to you, on which level of
education is reservation justified ?
Bachelor - 19
Master - 8
PhD - 6
None - 22
Other:
(Primary education - 1)

Total Number Of Respondent - 50 responses

Section 3
1.Can you think of anything positive about the reservation
system? Just write "no" if nothing comes to mind.

No
Benefits the weaker
No
No
No

2.Can you think of anything negative about the reservation

system? Just write "no" if nothing comes to mind.

No
People who are meritorious sometimes do not get selected in a
particular college/job etc. because a person with low grades
from a reserved category gets that seat.
Which I feel is unfair.
Yes, I think due to this reservation system people with more
potential somewhat get less or no opportunity to prove
themselves.
Plenty.. as it harms the hard working general category
students
It's an obstacle in national growth
Yes
3.Are there any ways the reservation system could be
improved if it were up to you? Just write "no" if nothing
comes to mind.

No
Reservation should be based on economic status grounds.
That can improve the registration system.
Income criteria should be the base of reservation but only
upto 12th standard
Elimination of reservation system
It should be discontinued
Yes

4.Suggestions

Government should provide equal education opportunity to

every child and support the economically weaker Section of
society to educate their children
No
No
CHAPTER -6
FINDINGS
 FINDINGS:-

● The majority of people who took initiative in this survey were majority from
metropolitan cities of India with 2nd generation of thor families educated who
have pursued the stream of commerce .

● Around 78% of people who took initiative in this survey said that reservation
shouldnt be given in higher education as good education facilities are provided
to every student irrespective of their caste and financial status .

● Only 8% of people said that students who benefit from the reservation system
are equally meritorious as students from the general category .

● The majority of people who took initiative in this survey agree that the
reservation system decreases the motivation to study hard for those students
who benefit from it .

● 60% of people believe that the reservation system to higher education can
have an effect on the quality of the job market for the worse .

● The majority of people who took initiative in this survey agree that the
reservation system is an obstruction in national development .

● The study dealt with the Origin and evolution of the reservation system in
India followed by the introduction and implementation of providing
reservations for the Economically Weaker Sections of the general category
people.
● The study also analyzed various debates on providing reservations based on
the economic status, existing reservation system and social structure along
with the perceptions of the people as the study investigated and collected data
about the awareness and opinion of the people on providing the reservations
for the Economically Weaker Sections of the society.

● The study came out with the conclusion that the people are supporting and
welcoming the reservations for Economically Weaker Sections but more than
that they are expecting the implementation of EWS in the existing reservation
system.
 CHAPTER -7
Recommendations
/ Suggestions
1.Making education mandatory and free for everyone
Making education mandatory and free for all till the age of 18 is one good
resolution that has been adopted. Tax rates should be increased in this situation
thus making education till the age of 18 free for everyone . If every student in a
country is given equal opportunities to study then there would be no need for
reservation .Others could be proposing reservation based on economic status
and providing opportunities to students to earn while they study.

2. Increasing expenditure in education sector

The Indian government expenditure in the education sector is very low with
merely 3.8%(2017-2018) of the total budget. The budget allotted to the
education sector needs massive inflation for the purpose to expand educational
infrastructure in order to remove limitations on number of admission seats and
generation of employment in the education sector.

3. Basis of reservation - EWS & BPL

The reservation in education is to be based on the segregation of society under

economic weaker section(EWS) and below poverty line(BPL) instead of
caste-based division for this reason, as money constraints do hinder education.
The EWS and BPL reservation policy in education has already been
implemented by the government but the categorization under EWS and BPL
demands for rigorous amendment as its scope is very limited as compared to
caste based reservation regimes. A special category enforcing eligibility for
reservation based on occupation of person, which is known as ‘Occupationally
Weak Class’ can be framed and implemented.
4. Abolishment because of outdated laws - 1931 does
not stand as a reliable source of data . Till the period, the
census is fully prepared and analysed, the caste based
reservation should be abolished from Indian society.

That, the social stratification into scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backwards classes is based on the census conducted in 1931 i.e. during the
period when India was the dominion state of British Empire.

On August 15th,1947 India gained independence and was partitioned into two
independent states – India and Pakistan. There is no census of such a large scale
that has been conducted in independent India till 2011, the report of which is yet
to be submitted.

The census of India, 1931 does not stand as a reliable source of data for
classifying persons on the basis of races, castes, regionalism, ethnicity, tribes,
etc. for the year 2018. With the passage of time, circumstances have changed,
and society has developed and will continue to evolve.

There has been drastic change in the social order of Indian society since the
time India gained independence and the clear image of society cannot be drawn
out of the census of India, 1931.

Till the period, the census is fully prepared and analysed, the caste based
reservation is to be abolished from Indian society.
 CHAPTER - 8
Conclusion &
Limitations of the
study
 CONCLUSION
The reservations are now politically biased. Reservation policies are now
formulated and being used by the governments in power for votes in mind to
appease one or the other section of the society. Politicians see this as a golden
opportunity for getting votes. Despite the 50% quota in reservations provided by
the honorable supreme court, Various state governments have made reservations
exceeding this limit for political gains. Knowledgeable and deserving students
are not able to avail the opportunity in education, whereas students who couldn’t
make it to the merit but belong to one of these classes are enjoying the
opportunities given to them to study in top colleges in higher education. Due to
this, many students are not able to chase their dreams and get success.Because
of this discrepancy, most of the students and people have a common opinion that
Reservation system should be eliminated and students based on their talent
should be given a chance to secure a seat in good colleges and pursue higher
education.Reservation is one of the major causes today why a majority of people
are moving outside and why the younger generation wants to explore and work
for other countries, instead of serving their own. A big section of society today
thinks and believes that as far as the reservation in the educational institutions is
agreeable to a certain extent, it should be based on the economic status of the
parents rather than the caste and minority.
 LIMITATIONS
1. Politically Formulated
Reservation policies are now formulated and being used by the governments in
power for votes in mind to appease one or the other section of the society. Politicians
see this as a golden opportunity for getting votes.Despite being the limit of 50%
quota in reservations provided by the honorable supreme court, Various state
governments have made reservations exceeding this limit for the political gains.

Haryana in 2016 passed a bill that created reservations for the Jats and five other
groups by including them in a new category called backward classes .
This move was stayed by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana in November 2018,
the Maharashtra assembly unanimously passed a bill that provided for 16 percent
reservation in higher education and public services to the Maratha community. But a
similar reservation provided to the community in 2014 was stayed by the Bombay
High Court, pointing to reservations exceeding 50 percent. Recently In 2019,
Madhya Pradesh Government passed an ordinance to increase the cumulative quota
to 63%. A petition is pending before the High Court of Madhya Pradesh. Position of
the reservation quota will be more clear after the verdict of the honorable Supreme
Court in the petition pending before it assailing increased reservation for the
economically weaker sections.

The details of reservation quotas in premier Institutions like IIT's and IIM's.
Economic Weaker Sections (GEN-EWS)- 10%
Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL) - 27%
Scheduled Caste (SC) - 15%
Scheduled Tribes (ST) - 7.5%
Benchmark Persons with Disabilities (PWD) - 5%
 2. Disparity among Students

Knowledgeable and deserving students are not able to avail the opportunity in
education, whereas students who couldn’t make it to the merit but belong to one of
these classes are enjoying the opportunities given to them to study in top colleges in
higher education. Due to this, many students are not able to chase their dreams and
get success.The average statistics of students studying and applying for higher
education says that the reserved category like SC, ST should have 40% to qualify
while General category people should have 80% to qualify. The difference is double,
and this is not only affecting the education system, but also affecting the mindset of
people living in society. The entrance exam fee is also categorized in the reservation
system, where the general category students have to pay an extra fee than the
reserved categories without any consideration of their economic conditions.Because
of this discrepancy, most of the students and people have a common opinion that
Reservation system should be eliminated and students based on their talent should be
given a chance to secure a seat in good colleges and pursue higher education.

3. The Discriminatory Character of our Society and Economy

Today the situation has so much worsened, that it has become imperative to
recognize the confined and discriminatory character of our society and economy.
Reservation is one of the major causes today why a majority of people are moving
outside and why the younger generation wants to explore and work for other
countries, instead of serving their own. A big section of society today thinks and
believes that as far as the reservation in the educational institutions is agreeable to a
certain extent, it should be based on the economic status of the parents rather than the
caste and minority.
 4. Reverse Discrimination

The people of scheduled tribe and scheduled were historically oppressed and
discriminated but the reverse discrimination is not the solution as prolonged by caste
based reservation. Also, it cannot be assumed that all the persons of a particular caste
are backward and have been marginalised. Caste based reservation regimes exhibited
in Indian governance due to the extreme situations (slavery, manual scavenging,
untouchability, etc.) faced by weaker and marginalised section of the society. Today,
the circumstances have changed and there are special penal laws to protect the
interests of backward classes from such extreme situations. The purpose to induce
caste based reservation in education, employment and legislature was to eradicate
class differentiation, to attain class less society, and for harmonious administration of
the society but, in the recent turn of events such as Jat agitation, Maratha agitation,
Gurjar agitation, etc. against the present reservation policies disrupted harmony in the
society and preserves the idea of caste based society. The caste based reservation is
creating division in the society and is a stumbling block to an egalitarian society .

5. Misuse of Law

With time, people have started misusing this policy. There are many examples of
people making false documents just to get a seat in a college or a job. Politicians are
playing a major role in fueling reservation policy. The reason behind this is that SC
and ST make up to 33% of the population of our country. Politicians fear losing out
on their vote bank if they make changes against SC and ST.
References/Bibliography

WEBSITES

https://www.ijser.org/researchpaper/Reservation-in-educat
ion-a-tool-of-social-transformation.pdf

https://wrytin.com/utkalikamishra/impact-of-reservation-
on-education-system-jw612sas

https://www.indiaeducation.net/indiaedudestination/polic
y/

https://www.apnaahangout.com/sc-st-obc-reservation-edu
cation-india/

https://mangalmay.org/blog/should-reservation-in-higher-
education-be-allowed/

https://www.clearias.com/reservation-in-india/

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/298632251_Res
ervations_in_India_A_study

https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/caste/ill-effects-of-cas
te-system-in-india/47389
ANNEXURE
 QUESTIONNAIRE

Section 1
1. NAME

2. AGE GROUP

Below 18
18-30
31-45
45-60
60 above

3. What gender are you?

Female
Male
Prefer not to say

4. What is your highest level of education?

Senior secondary (10+2)

Bachelors
Master
PhD
5. Which field of academics have you pursued?

Arts
Commerce
Science
Other:

6. Which category / caste is one of your social categories?

General
Scheduled caste
Scheduled tribe
OBC

7. What is the annual income of your family household?

Less than 5 lakhs

5 lakhs - 10 lakhs
10 lakhs - 20 lakhs
Above 20 lakh

8. What generation educated (formal higher education) are you in

your family (starting from your parents) ?

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
9 . What part of India are you from?

Village
Town
City
Metropolitan city

Section 2
10. What is your attitude towards the reservation system in India ?

Positive
Negative
Neutral

11. Has your attitude towards the reservation system changed over time?

Become more positive towards it

Become more negative towards it
My attitude hasn't changed
Other (Specify)

12. From which of the existing grounds should the reservation system be valid if it
were up to you?

Benchmark Persons with Disabilities (PWD)

Economic grounds
Historical or social marginalization(Caste)
None
 13. Do you think that adding a 10 percent quota for the Economically Weaker
Section (EWS) to universities is important?

Yes
No
Maybe

14. Should reservation be given in higher education even when good education
facilities are provided to every student irrespective of their caste and financial
status ?

Yes
No
Other:

15. Do you think that students who benefit from the reservation system are less
meritorious than students from the general category?

Yes
Sometimes
No

16. Do you think the reservation system decreases the motivation to study hard for
those students who benefit from it?

Yes
Somewhat
No
 17. Do you think the reservation system to higher education can have an effect on
the quality of the job market?

Yes, for the better

Yes, for the worse
No difference

18. Do you think the reservation system affects the quality of the higher education
system?

Yes, to the better

Yes, to the worse
No difference

19.Do you think the reservation system is an obstruction in national development ?

Yes
No
Maybe

20. Do you think the academic staff can discriminate on the basis of the students'
social identities?

Yes
Maybe
No
 21. How prevalent do you believe caste discrimination is in your part of India
today?

To an high degree
To a lesser degree
Not prevalent at all
Only prevalent in villages
Other:

22. How do you perceive the peer to peer relationship between the scheduled and
the general students at the education institutes?

Normal
Cordial
Professional
Conflictual

23. Should there be Income based reservation not caste based reservation ?

Yes
No
Maybe
24.According to you on which level of education is reservation justified ?

Bachelor
Master
PhD
None
Other:
Section 3

25. Do you think anything positive about the reservation system?

Just write "no" if nothing comes to mind.

26. Can you think of anything negative about the reservation

system? Just write "no" if nothing comes to mind.

27.Are there any ways the reservation system could be improved

if it were up to you? Just write "no" if nothing comes to mind.

28. Suggestions