Bihar Assembly Passed 75% Reservation Bill; Tejashwi Yadav Says, "First Time In The History Of India" (image: twitter.com/yadavtejashwi)
Bihar Assembly on Thursday passed the Reservation Amendment Bill 2023 to increase the reservations in government jobs and educational institutions from the existing 60% to 75%. It includes 10% to the economically weaker sections (EWS). It was during the fourth day of the winter session of the Assembly, the Bill was introduced and unanimously passed.
The Bill enables 18% quota for other backward classes (OBCs), 25% for extremely backward classes (EBCs), 20% for scheduled castes (SCs) and 2% for scheduled tribes (STs).Currently, the existing structure of 50 per cent quota in the states is divided as follows: 14% to SC, 10% to ST, 12% EBC, 8% to OBC and 3% each to women and the poor among the general category. The inclusion of the 10% EWS quota adds up the reservation to 60%.
After the clearing of the bill, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav told the reporters: “This is for the first time in the history of India that a total of 75% reservation is given . . . The two bills about reservation in recruitment and educational institutions have been passed today,” ANI quoted him as saying. He then added that the Bihar government increased the reservation for Dalits, tribals, backwards class and extremely backward classes.
Continuing further, he said: “The BJP does not want this information to reach the people.”
It was based on the recent caste survey report, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar put forward an increase in reservations for backward classes in accordance with their share in Bihar”s total population.
It was in October, Mr Kumar – led government passed caste-based survey report in Bihar. As per the report, OBCs and EBCs in the state constitute 63 per cent of the population. Among the 13-crore population, the backward class constituted 27 per cent of the population, while the EBCs falls under 36 per cent.
The Reservation Bill will transform into law after gaining approval from the Legislative Council and the Governor.
