General Category Reservation: Rajya Sabha To Function A Day Extra To Discuss Proposed 10 Per Cent Quota

On Monday (7 January), Government of India extended the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha until 9 January to ensure that there is a session to discuss the proposed 10 per cent job and education quota for the economically weaker sections of the society.

Chairman of the Upper House M Venkaiah Naidu has given a nod to the request placed and has extended the proceedings, Economic Times reported. The planned winter session was supposed to end on 8 January.

The government, yesterday, approved the aforementioned quota for the economically weaker sections. A Constitutional amendment bill will be required for the quota to be validated.

Even the principle opposition party, the Indian National Congress will reportedly support the bill and move it to the Upper House. The quota can be used by anyone who qualifies a criteria set by the government, which includes an annual family income of less than Rs 8 lakh.

The reservation will take the total of the quota given to 60 per cent, as opposed to the current 50 per cent that is reserved for scheduled caste, scheduled tribes and other backward classes.

The Constitution doesn’t make provisions for reservation on economic grounds, hence the government intends to amend Article 15 and 16 to ensure the passage of the same.