Laws, Rules, Regulations & Conscience

The reservation system in India is a form of affirmative action designed to improve the educational and employment opportunities for historically disadvantaged groups, such as Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). While the system has helped many individuals from marginalized communities gain access to education and jobs, it has also sparked debates. Some argue that it is essential for social equity and upliftment, while others believe it may compromise merit and efficiency. Additionally, there are discussions about whether economic criteria should also be considered for reservations.

The fairness of the reservation system in India is a topic of significant debate. Here some key points from both perspective:

Argument for the reservation system:

1. Social Justice: It aims to correct historical injustices and provide opportunities to marginalized communities.
2. Representation: It ensures that these communities have representation in education, employment, and politics, which can help in their socio-economic upliftment.
3. Equality of Opportunity: By providing reservations, the system attempts to level the playing field for those who have been historically disadvantaged.

Argument against the reservation system:

1. Meritocracy Concerns: Critics argue that reservations can compromise merit and efficiency, as positions might be filled based on quotas rather than qualifications.
2. Economic Criteria: Some believe that reservations should be based on economic status rather than caste, to ensure that all economically disadvantaged individuals receive support.
3. Perpetuation of Caste: There is a concern that the reservation system reinforces caste identities rather than helping to eliminate them.

My concerns are that the deserving aspirants who sacrifice their every privilege to give all they have for their dream profession faces rejections because of the reservation system, this is an extreme loophole we must say. Although The introduction of reservations for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in 2019 aimed to address some of these concerns by including economic criteria.