Centre directs educational institutions to implement 10 per cent quota for poor in general category

The Centre on Sunday directed all educational institutions and universities to implement 10 per cent reservation for the economically backward section in general category from the upcoming educational year 2019. The development came days after the constitutional provision to provide 10 per cent quota to the poor among upper castes came into force on January 14. Addressing a press conference in Maharashtra, Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said an office memorandum has been issued to implement the stipulated quota.

"Government has issued an office memorandum to implement 10 per cent reservation. We have issued orders yesterday to all institutes and universities to implement it in the upcoming educational year. We have also asked states to implement it," Javadekar was quoted as saying.

In its recently concluded winter session, the Parliament passed the Constitution (124 Amendment) Bill, 2019, after President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the same. The bill was passed by the Parliament on January 9.

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These "special provisions" would relate to "their admission to educational institutions, including private educational institutions, whether aided or unaided by the state, other than the minority educational institutions".

"In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Constitution (One Hundred and Third Amendment) Act, 2019, the Central Government hereby appoints January 14 as the date on which the provision of the said Act shall come into force," a gazette notification by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment read.

The Act amends Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution, by adding a clause which allows states to make "special provision for the advancement of any economically weaker sections of citizens". The reservation will give a financial relief to upper caste individuals whose annual income is below Rs 8 lakh and who possess less than 5 acres of agriculture land.