Reservation In India : Tool For Social Justice And Equality In Education And Government Services

Indian society has long been characterized by structural inequality and discrimination rooted in the caste system. This system, based on principles of purity and pollution, assigns economic and civil rights hierarchically by birth. The Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas occupy the highest positions in this hierarchy, while the so-called lower castes, or "Avarnas," who fall outside the traditional four-fold Varna system, continue to face the stigma of untouchability and social exclusion even today. Although the reservation system was introduced during British rule as result of social reform movements that emerged alongside the freedom struggle, caste-based discrimination persisted. The reservation policy was designed to ensure the inclusion of historically deprived groups by providing quotas in education, government employment, and legislative bodies at both the Union and State levels. On January 26, 1950, the Indian Constitution formally prohibited caste-based discrimination and abolished untouchability. It also empowered the Union and State governments to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward communities, particularly Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). However, since the 1990s, the reservation policy has remained a contentious issue, debated extensively in Parliament, State Assemblies, and the public sphere. This paper examines the implementation of reservations for Scheduled Castes in education and government employment, from primary levels to higher education institutions. It argues that, despite constitutional provisions, the actual beneficiaries among SC communities have not fully received the intended support due to improper implementation of the policy.