Is reservation still needed in India? This in-depth article explores the logic behind caste-based affirmative action, answers popular criticisms, and backs every argument with constitutional principles, data, and lived realities.
Introduction: A Controversial Yet Crucial Debate
Reservation in India—affirmative action for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC)—has long been a subject of heated public debate. While it is constitutionally mandated as a corrective mechanism, critics question its fairness, merit implications, and duration.
This article aims to address these criticisms head-on, using a blend of data, constitutional logic, and moral reasoning, to explain why reservation remains necessary in 21st-century India.
1. “It’s Been 75 Years of Independence. Why Still Reservation?”
Because centuries of oppression don’t vanish in a few decades.
- Historical Legacy: Caste is a 2,000-year-old system of graded inequality. SCs and STs were systematically denied access to education, property, temples, and basic dignity.
- Present Reality:
- Literacy: 66.1% among Dalits vs 82% among upper castes (NSSO 2018).
- Access to higher education remains skewed—Dalits and Adivasis are underrepresented in IITs, IIMs, and central universities.
- Land ownership and employment in formal sectors are still predominantly upper caste.
Conclusion: Reservation is not about undoing the past; it’s about correcting the inequalities that persist today.
2. “Isn’t Reservation Killing Merit?”
No. Because merit doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it is shaped by privilege and opportunity.
- What We Call ‘Merit’ Is Often Privilege:
- Most top scorers in competitive exams have access to private coaching, English-medium education, and tech resources.
- In contrast, many SC/ST students are first-generation learners, often without electricity or books.
- Coaching & Caste Capital:
- A 2020 study shows 95% of IIT-JEE selections came from those who could afford private coaching.
- A student overcoming poverty, caste bias, and poor schooling to reach a medical or engineering seat shows greater merit.
Conclusion: Reservation doesn’t dilute merit. It recognizes and rewards merit despite adversity.
3. “Why Not Reserve Based Only on Economic Criteria?”
Because caste is a system of social exclusion, not just poverty.
- Caste Bias Persists Across Income Levels:
- A Dalit CEO may still face caste slurs or be denied housing in upper-caste areas.
- A 2014 IHDS survey found that 27% of Indians would not eat food cooked by a Dalit.
- Economic Status ≠ Social Status:
- A poor Brahmin still enjoys ritual status and social acceptance.
- A rich Dalit may still face discrimination in temples, marriages, or even professional settings.
Conclusion: Caste is a deeply entrenched social identity, and reservation is meant to correct that—not just income disparity.
4. “Is Reservation Being Misused by the Creamy Layer?”
Some misuse may occur, but that’s why filters exist.
- Creamy Layer Exclusion Already Exists for OBCs:
- OBCs with a family income above ₹8–12 lakh/year are excluded.
- Why Not for SC/STs?:
- Because caste discrimination is not based on income.
- Even SC/STs in high-paying jobs report daily indignities, tokenism, and alienation.
Conclusion: Fine-tuning is valid, but dismantling reservation because of limited misuse is unjustified.
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5. “When Will Reservation End?”
When caste-based discrimination ends.
- Dr. Ambedkar’s Vision: A casteless society—not permanent reservation.
- Ground Reality:
- Over 300 manual scavengers (mostly Dalits) have died cleaning sewers in the last 5 years.
- Inter-caste marriages still account for less than 6% of all marriages in India.
- Caste-based violence and atrocities are reported daily.
Conclusion: Reservation is not permanent. But the disease of casteism still is.
6. “Why Not Just Improve Government Schools?”
We must—but reservation is still needed because equal opportunity ≠ equal access.
- Dalit students in public schools often face teacher apathy, seating discrimination, and dropout pressures.
- Systemic Bias After Entry:
- Even in elite institutes like AIIMS and IITs, Dalit and Adivasi students face mental health issues due to social alienation.
Conclusion: Better schools and reservation are not alternatives—they’re both essential.
7. “Doesn’t Reservation Divide India Further?”
Caste divided India. Reservation tries to heal it.
- Ignoring caste doesn’t eliminate it—it only maintains the status quo.
- Real unity is not about sameness; it’s about justice and inclusion.
Conclusion: Reservation does not divide. It tries to integrate those who were kept outside for centuries.
Final Thoughts: Reservation Is Not a Privilege—It’s a Remedy
Reservation is not a handout. It is a constitutional and moral response to historical injustice and present-day discrimination. It does not seek to pull anyone down—it only lifts up those who were held down for centuries.
Until caste stops determining one’s place in society, reservation will remain a necessary tool of social justice.
Call to Action
Let us not ask, “When will reservation end?”
Let us ask, “When will caste stop deciding opportunity, dignity, and life outcomes?”
That will be the true day of equality—and the day reservation becomes unnecessary.