Quota In Institutions Approved By Cabinet

A Constitution amendment bill was approved by The Union Cabinet on Monday night, providing for the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and backward castes in government-aided elite educational institutions, including IITs and IIMs, during the current session of Parliament.

Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi refused to divulge the details of the legislation claiming privilege of the House but said the bill will be brought by August 25, the last day of the monsoon session.

It is understood that the government has not for the moment taken up the proposal for implementing reservation in unaided educational institutions.

The proposed reservation in the first phase is also expected to cover central institutions like NITs and central universities.

Monday's decision taken at a two-hour special meeting of the cabinet implies that the reservation proposal would be implemented in a phased manner and not in one go as demanded by parties like DMK and PMK, key UPA constituents, and strong votaries of reservation.

Details of the quantum of reservation were not spelt out but it is believed that it could be up to 27 percent for OBCs and combined with the quota for SC and ST.