In a significant move, the 124th constitutional amendment Bill approved by Lok Sabha on Tuesday has provisions to make it mandatory for private educational institutions — both aided and unaided — to provide 10% reservations to economically backward section in the general category. The minority educational institutions, however, will remain excluded as they are protected under Article 30 of the Constitution.
The provisions of reservations will also cover initial appointments in services, and not promotions. So far, in the government and government-funded higher educational institutions, 22.5% of available seats are reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students (7.5% for SCs, 15% for STs), besides the 27% reservation for OBCs.
According to the Bill, "at present, the economically weaker sections of citizens have largely remained excluded from attending the higher educational institutions and public employment on account of their financial incapacity to compete with the persons who are economically more privileged." The Bill seeks to amend Article 15 of the Constitution, by adding a clause which allows states to make "special provision for the advancement of any economically weaker sections of citizens".
While piloting the Bill, Social Justice Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot told Lok Sabha that it will seek to benefit people suffering due to 'economic incapacity'. "The economically weaker sections have largely remained excluded from attending higher educational institutions and job on account of their financial incapacity," the bill said.