Reservation for economically weaker upper castes/general category students: Here's all you need to know

The Narendra Modi government has announced 10 per cent reservation for economically backward General category (Other Community) people in the country — applicable to jobs and collegiate admission. The Economically Weaker Section (EWS) will include those with an annual income below Rs 8 lakhs.

Here's what you need to know about the new proposal

Just like any other reservation category in colleges, 10 per cent will be allotted for people from the EWS section of the OC category.

These beneficiaries are likely to include people from castes like Brahmins, Thankur, Kayastha, Baniya, Jaat, Gujjar and others. 

This section of people would include those:

With an annual income of less than Rs 8 lakh per annum

Agricultural land below five acres

Residential plot below 109 yards in a notified municipality

Residential plot below 209 yards in a non-notified municipality

The 10 per cent reservation is over and above the 50 per cent mandated by the Constitution. The Supreme Court had capped the quota for caste-based reservation for government jobs at 50 per cent, which means that the Constitution would have to be amended. The reservation policy falls under Article 15 and 16 of the constitution. 

Currently, India has an OC (colloquially referred to as upper caste) population of 12-14 per cent. Ever since Independence, the upper castes in the country have been against the caste-based reservation, claiming that it should be based on the economic status of the individual. This decision of the Union Government comes right before the elections are scheduled to be held.