PROJECT REPORT Public Perception on Reservation System Submitted to: Ms. Bharti Mahlyan Department of Political Science, SRCC, New Delhi. Subject: Constitutional Values and Fundamental Duties. Submitted by: Sanyam Bansal 22BC643 Udita Goel 22BC666 Ujjwal Goel 22BC157 Molik Jain 228¢445 Rudraksh Gaur 22BC061 Aditya Jha 22BC749torical Background William Hunter and Jyotirao Phule in 1882 originally conceived the idea of caste-based reservation system. The reservation system that exists today, in its true sense, was introduced in 1933 when British Prime-Minister Ramsay Macdonald presented the ‘Communal Award’. The award made provision for separate electorates for Muslims, Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians, Europeans and the Dalits, After long negotiations, Gandhi and Ambedkar signed the ‘Poona Pact’, where it was decided that there would be a single Hindu electorate with certain reservations in it. After independence, initially reservations were provided only for SCs and STs. 08Cs were included in the ambit of reservation in 1991 on the recommendations of the Mandal Commission Mandal Commi In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 340 of the Constitution, the President appointed a backward class commission in December 1978 under the chairmanship of B. P. Mandal. The commission was formed to determine the criteria for defining India’s “socially and educationally backward classes” and to recommend steps to be taken for the advancement of those classes. The Mandal Commission concluded that India’s population consisted of approximately 52 percent OBCs, therefore 27% government jobs should be reserved for them. The commission has developed eleven indicators of social, educational, and economic backwardness. Apart from identifying backward classes among Hindus, the Commission has also identified backward classes among non-Hindus (c.g., Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and Buddhists. It has generated an all-india other backward classes (OBC) list of 3,743 castes and a more underprivileged “depressed backward classes” list of 2,108 castes. In the Indra Sawhney Case of 1992, the Supreme Court while upholding the 27 percent quota for backward classes struck down the government notification reserving 10% government jobs for economically backward classes among the higher castes. The Supreme Court in the same case also upheld the principle that the combined reservation beneficiaries should not exceed 50 percent of India's population. The concept of ‘creamy layer’ also gained currency through this judgement and provision that reservation for backward classes should be confined to initial appointments only and not extend to promotions. Recently, the Constitutional (103rd Amendment) Act of 2019 has provided 10% reservation in government jobs and educational institutions for the “economically backward” in the unreserved category. ‘The Act amends Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution by adding clauses empowering the government to provide reservation on the basis of economic backwardness. This 10% economic reservation is over and above the 50% reservation cap. nVarious Opinions on Reservation System Inhis article, Anand Teltumbde discussed the initiatives taken by Prakash Ambedkar, who suggested that the scheduled castes (SCs) have disproportionately benefited by a single sub caste in every state in the Council of intellectuals (Mumbai), and further discussed the solution in the seminar held in 2009. His article was titled "Reservations within Reservations: A solution" and was published in Economic and Political Weekly in 2009. In his work "Caste System in India and Its Impact on Politics” published in Institution of Strategic Studies Islamabad in 2007, M. Shahbaz Saeed examines the Indian caste system and how the caste system came to be used as a political tool in India. In her article "Caste in Contemporary India: Flexibility and Persistence” published in Annual Reviews (2014), Divya Vaid described the caste system, its salient characteristics, transformations perceived in Indian societies, and provides a specific view of caste transformation with an emphasis on socioeconomic and labour market. Sukhadeo Thorat, a well-known educator and senior UGC official, placed emphasis on anti-discrimination policies to eliminate caste discrimination on the labor market by the corporate sector to foster competitiveness for national economic growth in their article "Reservation And Efficiency: Myth And Reality" published in the Economic and Political Weekly in 2005. In the article "Caste & the Corporate Sector" published in the Indian Journal of Industrial Relations (2008), Surinder S. Jodhka described and argued the reservation policies in the private sector, which were denied by corporate sectors, and found that there was a very low percentage of Dalits or Muslim OBC candidates in the corporate sectors jobs. A. M. Shah discussed the idea of caste as a system in rural rather than urban communities and studied the individual caste in context of both rural and urban communities in their article "Caste in the 21st Century: From System to Elements” that was published in Economic and Political Weekly in 2007. The notion of reservation anticipated by the Indian Constitution is explained by C. Basavaraju in the paper "Reservation under the Constitution of India: Issues and Perspectives” published in Indian Law Institute (2009) with insights on the judicial approach to reservation.1. Part XVI deals with reservation of SC and ST in Central and State legislatures. 2. Article 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution enabled the State and Central Governments to reserve seats in government services for the members of the SC and ST. 3. The Constitution was amended by the Constitution (77th Amendment) Act, 1995 and a new clause (4A) was inserted in Article 16 to enable the government to provide reservation in promotion. 4, Later, clause (4A) was modified by the Constitution (85th Amendment) Act, 2001 to provide consequential seniority to SC and ST candidates promoted by giving reservation. 5. Constitutional 81st Amendment Act, 2000 inserted Article 16 (4 8) which enables the state to fill the unfilled vacancies of a year which are reserved for SCs/STs in the succeeding year, thereby nullifying the ceiling of fifty percent reservation on total number of vacancies of that year. 6. Article 330 and 332 provides for specific representation through reservation of seats for SCs and STs in the Parliament and in the State Legislative Assemblies respectively. 7. Article 243D provides reservation of seats for SCs and STs in every Panchayat. 8, Article 233T provides reservation of seats for SCs and STs in every Municipality. 9. Article 335 of the constitution says that the claims of STs and STs shall be taken into consideration constituently with the maintenance of efficacy of the administration.CASE LAWS (For reference] 1. Indra Sawhney v. Union of India and Ors. (1992] Indra Sawhney case year 1992, was a nine-judge bench case that the Indian judiciary set in stone. itis both fortunate and cursed, maybe to see forever the dynamic power play and friction of political opportunism, pro-reservation and anti-reservation emotions in India. In the midst of widespread unrest and violent demonstrations against the implementation of the infamous Mandal Commission Report's 27 per cent quota for the socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs) in all central government jobs and public institutions, this landmark case was the miracle child of Indian judicial pragmatism, In the Indra Sawhney case, the court made an attempt to find an appropriate solution that maintains a fine balance between society and the rights of the underprivileged/backward classes. The only issue at hand was the Supreme Court’s ruling on the legitimacy of the Mandal Commission Report. In reality, the Apex Court was tasked with making a lot of complex decisions that had broad implications. The following categories can be used to group the significant problems in this historic case: Application and scope of Articles 16(1) and 16(4): Article 16(1) of the Indian Constitution guarantees equality of opportunity in matters of public employment and prevents discrimination based on religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. Article 16(4) allows the state to make provisions for the reservation of posts in favour of socially and educationally backward classes, Exclusion of creamy layer: The concept of the creamy layer refers to the relatively better-off individuals within backward classes who do not require affirmative action benefits. The Supreme Court ruled that the creamy layer should be excluded from the reservation benefits. This ensures that reservation benefits reach the deserving and truly disadvantaged sections of backward classes. Reserved quota and carry forward rule: The reserved quota refers to the percentage of posts or seats reserved for specific categories or communities in education institutionsor public employment. The carry forward rule allows unfilled reserved positions from one year to be carried forward and added to the next year's quota. Non-applicable to promotions: The Supreme Court, in the Indira Sawhney case, ruled that the concept of reservation does not apply to promotions within public employment. Itheld that reservation can only be applied at the initial stage of recruitment and not for subsequent promotions. nhit Abhiyan vs Union of India (201: The 10% reservation for economically weaker sections does not violate the 50% ceiling limit on reservations set by the Supreme Court in the Indra Sawhney case. The court held that the reservation for economically weaker sections is based on economic criteria and not on social or educational backwardness, which are the criteria for the existing reservations. Therefore, the reservation for economically weaker sections does not affect the existing reservations and does not exceed the 50% ceiling limit. ‘The reservation for economically weaker sections does not violate the basic structure of the Constitution. The court held that the reservation is a legitimate exercise of the state’s power to promote social and economic equality and does not affect the basic structure of the Constitution. The reservation for economically weaker sections is an enabling provision and not a mandatory provision. The court clarified that the reservation for economically weaker sections does not mandate the institutions to provide the 10% ceiling reservation to the EWS classes, but only enables the state to make arrangements for the same The reservation for economically weaker sections must be implemented in a manner that ensures that the existing reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs are not diluted. The court held that the reservation for economically weaker sections should be implemented after taking into account the existing reservations and the total percentage of reservations should not exceed 50%.EWS Reservation In Indi On January 9th 2019, the Parliament of India enacted the Constitution (One Hundred and Third Amendment) Act, 2019 which enabled the State to make reservations in higher education and matters of public employment on the basis of economic criteria alone. The Act amended Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution by inserting 15(6) and 16(6). It received presidential assent on January 12th 2019 and was published in the Gazette on the same day. The Amendment under Article 15(6) enables the State to make special provisions for the advancement of any economically weaker section of citizens, including reservations in educational institutions, It states that such reservations can be made in any educational institution, including both aided and unaided private institutions, except minority educational institutions covered under Article 30(1). It further states that the upper limit of EWS reservations will be 10% (meaning up to 10% of seats can be reserved for citizens falling in the EWS category). This 10% ceiling is independent of ceilings on existing reservations. Article 16(6) enables the State to make provisions for reservation in appointments. Again, these provisions will be subject to a 10% ceiling, in addition to the existing reservations, More than 20 petitions have been filed challenging the constitutional validity of the 103rd Amendment. They argue that the Amendment violates the basic features of the Constitution and violates the fundamental right to equality under Article 14. In a 3:2 split, the Bench delivered the Judgment on November 7th, 2022 and declared that the Amendment and EWS Reservations were constitutionally valid. In his Judgement, Justice Dinesh Maheswari J. noted, “Reservation is an instrument of affirmative action by the State so as to ensure all-inclusive march towards the goals of an egalitarian society while counteracting inequalities; itis an instrument not only for inclusion of socially and educationally backward classes to the mainstream of society but, also for inclusion of any class or section so disadvantaged as to be answering the description of a weaker section. In this background, reservation structured singularly on economic crit any essential feature of the Constitution of India and does not cause any damage to the basic structure of the Constitution of India.” ia does not violatePros of Reservation «It ensures diversity in advanced education, equality in the workplace and offers protection from hatred. «It helps in the emancipation of disadvantaged individuals and thereby promotes equality for all «It breaks stereotypes regarding caste, religion, and ethnicity. *It increases social mobility. *Itis needed to compensate for centuries of oppression and discrimination and provides level-playing fields. ‘It seeks to bring equity in society by addressing ‘graded inequalities’. Cons of Reservation “There are concerns that lead to erosion of meritocracy. «It can still reinforce stereotypes as it demeans the achievements of marginalised sections. *People coming under the ambit of reservation, their success is labelled as a result of Reservation, instead of their capabilities and hard work. *There are concerns that reservation can serve as a medium for reverse discrimination, *Reverse discrimination is discrimination against members of a dominant or majority group, in favour of members of a minority or historically disadvantaged group. *Due to vote bank politics, even after discrimination issues have been diminishing, itis difficult to withdraw the reservationSURVEY REPORT Objectives: 1. To analyse the dissemination of information about the Reservation System in India among the masses. 2. Tosee if the public believes that the reservation system has been effective in achieving its objectives. Methodology: This research report has incorporated both primary and secondary data research to understand the public's view and opinion on the reservation system. Various pie charts used show the quantitative results of the survey in terms of the percentage while the inference throws light on the qualitative aspect. For primary research, 28 respondents of a collective group were asked to fill out a questionnaire on their knowledge and understanding of the system. For secondary research, various articles and court cases were referred to understand the strata and legislation behind the same. ‘Age group @ 15.25 © 26-35 @ 36 and above As it can be seen in the graph provided, 75% of the responses that we received are from people belonging to the age group of 15-25, so the survey can be seen as the youth's take on the reservation system prevalent in India.Question 1. How much do you know about the reservation system? O Sigiicanty O insigitcaty (@ Neutral, does not affect me Inference: 82% of people in our survey believe that they have significant knowledge about the reservation system. This can be interpreted as a positive response since it can be inferred that people have considerable knowledge about the current policy of reservation followed in India. Question 2 : Reservation system is based on what grounds ? 2. Reservation system is based on what grounds ? 27 responses @ income @ Representation © Noutal, It does not afect meInference As the graph clearly shows , we conducted a questionnaire survey to analyze and view public opinion about the subject matter that “ the Reservation system is based on what grounds . We received a heavy response with 66.7% of the respondents in the favor of representation .29.6% of the respondents believe that it is based on Income whereas the rest 3.7% believe it to be neutral Analysis Reservation is a system of affirmative action in India that provides historically disadvantaged groups representation in education, employment, government schemes, scholarships and politics. Based on provisions in the Indian Constitution , it allows the Union Government and the States and Territories of India to set reserved quotas or seats , at particular percentage in Education Admissions, Employments, Political Bodies, Promotions, etc, for "socially and educationally backward citizens . Dr. 8 R Ambedkar fought for bringing the reservation system into the Indian constitution to help economically various caste people who were unable to have sufficient opportunities to grow . Lower castes were deprived of having a better chance in education, jobs and many other things which led to caste based reservation. They were primarily divided into Scheduled castes, Scheduled tribes and other backward castes. However , apart from the reservation system which is based on representation , Income-based reservation is a choice which can be seen clearly from the survey as 29.6% of the respondents gave their selection as this view of the Reservation system being based on Income . They argue that irrespective of their individual economic standards, these people are getting benefits which is not a good sign when looked from the non-reservation people’s perspective. ‘They argue that there is a need to consider an income based reservation system which brings balance by helping people who are economically weak. This helps in making sure that high income people are not given excess benefits. However, as per the viewpoint of most of the respondents , Income is not the only criteria to look at who should be provided with reservation. There are many parameters like social environment, literacy rate, accessibility to quality education that defines who needs reservation . There is also a chance that though the income sources are high, the level of education one can get in the area is less qualitative, which impedes the growth scope for high income people as well. We can see significant differences in the growth rate between urban and rural areas in education and quality of living though the income levels are the same . So, itis also imperative that we look at long term growth which can be significantly productive in income based reservation though it can still bring uneven results. Living dynamics in India are changing gradually and in order to ensure equality to every citizen , we reach to our very apt conclusion that the government should take the bold step of providing only financial aid based on the income level to nurture the skills required to grab the opportunities available.Question 3: Is Caste Discrimination still prevalent in India? 3. Caste discrimination is still prevalent in India, 27 esponses @ Aare @ Dioagee @ Neutra, t does net sect me, Analysis: As the graph very clearly shows, about 89% of the respondents of the survey feel that the old, hated caste system is still prevalent in our nation. Most of the respondents of our survey were people in the age group of 15-25 years, i.e., teenagers and young adults, and almost all of them have been living in an urban setup. Seeing their age and social background, some important inferences that we can make are as follows: 1) Caste system is prevalent in urban areas as well - Very often, we safely assume that only the social problems of our country are being faced by the rural areas only, given their backwardness in terms of education and economy. But problems like those of caste discrimination and caste systems are more related to the mindset of a person rather than his economic and educational backgrounds. The survey makes us think that probably the respondents have themselves faced these issues or have seen any instances happening around them. 2) The younger generation is very well aware of the problems being faced by the society: The other important thing that can be inferred from the survey and the responses received is that the younger generation is aware about issues like caste discrimination and the fact that they acknowledge it as a problem isa sign of the same. This fact, if taken in a positive sign, means that this generation can be the change makers if it decides to be so. We know that making this conclusion from such a small sample size is not completely right, but we can always try to bring about big changes by taking small steps.How can we fight against this evil? The solution to the problem of caste discrimination requires a change of mindset rather than any statutory regulation. While article 17 of the Indian Constitution clearly states that untouchability is an offense, fighting this problem requires the contribution of every Indian, in his own capacity. But the role of government is the most important, given that it is the people’s government. Some of the ways that can help us fight caste discrimination are as follows: More workplace diversity and inclusion- This work should be done not only by the public sector companies, but also by the private companies so as to build a resilient nation. Strict laws for misconduct- The legal system should be stringent so as to give this message that caste discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated in a free nation like ours and that the offenders will be penalized severely. Change begins from home- The upbringing of children should be such that they understand the importance of being inclusive and treating everyone equally. School teaching Indian history, should focus on how these events need to be stopped and a positive change is to be brought. curriculum, wt Question 4: Is the Reservation System bridging the social and economic gaps in the society? 4, Reservation system is bridging the social and economic gaps in the society, 27 responses. @ Aree Disagree © Noutra, doesnot fect me,Inference- In the survey, 55 percent of the people believed that the reservation system has been able to bridge the social and economic gap in the society, while 37 percent believe that it has failed to achieve this objective. There isn’t a robust perception of success of the reservation system in this aspect. Analysis- Majority of the respondents believed that the reservation system has been able to achieve the objectives for which it was implemented. This outlook is probably backed by the changes that have taken place in reality. The reservation system has been instrumental in providing educational and employment opportunities for the marginalized communities, which has enabled them to take part in the economic and social activities of the country. The reservation system has helped in increasing the representation of the socially and economically backward classes in the decision-making process of the country. This has resulted in a greater focus on the welfare and development of these communities, as their voices are heard. This has allowed for better implementation of government policies and schemes, which has resulted in a greater sense of inclusion and betterment of the socio-economic status of these sections of society. But the ultimate goal of the reservation system was to achieve the inclusion of marginalized communities to an extent where we do not need such a system. This the reservation system of our country has failed to achieve as over the years, we can see the reservations increasing instead of decreasing. Hence, a good chunk of participants also feel that the reservation system has failed to achieve the social and economic inclusion that it aimed to achieve. Question 5: Do you think individuals benefiting from the reservation system are less competitive than other categories? 5, Do you think individuals benefiting from the reservation system are less competitive than other categories? @ Asree © Novia, t-doas ot atect me,Inference: Of the 27 responses we received, 74% agreed, 18.5% disagreed with the given statement, and 7.4% opted for neutral. So a significant population under study believes that the people benefiting from the reservation system are less competitive than other categories Analysis: In India, the caste system has the been a fundamental part of its culture. Indian leaders discovered that the oppressed people, who were denied all opportunities, did not receive proper education and were economically backward for many years. Thus, the reservation system came into the picture and gave historically disadvantaged group representation in education, employment, and politics. Based on the provisions in the Indian constitution, allows the Indian government to set reserved quotas, which lower the qualifications required in exams, job openings, and other situations for socially and economically backward citizens. It has aided some marginalized people in achieving higher Positions or services in both the public and private sectors. This kind of advantage that is offered to reserved categories, leads some people to question the ability of indi succeed on their own merit or to compete effectively in a broader context. iduals to ‘At the same time, itis also worth considering that individuals from reserved categories often face significant challenges and barriers in their lives that others may not encounter, such as discrimination, poverty, and lack of access to resources. These challenges can make it difficult for them to compete with those who come from more privileged backgrounds. But even today, it is observed that people hold stereotypes or negative perceptions about the groups likely to benefit from the reservation system like SCs, STS, ete, and such beliefs also contribute to people believing them to be less competent. Question 6: Ethically speaking, a reservation system based on representation to serve social justice outweighs meritocracy. @ Aare © Disagree @ Neutra, does not aect meAnalysi More than half (57.7%) of the people who participated in the survey were of the opinion that from an ethical viewpoint, the reservation system does weigh more than meritocracy. Inference: © The reservation system based on representation aims to address the historical and systemic discrimination and oppression faced by certain marginalized communities, such as indigenous people, ethnic minorities, and other disadvantaged groups. The system reserves a certain percentage of positions or opportunities, such as jobs or educational seats, for these underrepresented groups, in proportion to their population. ¢ From an ethical perspective, the reservation system based on representation serves social justice by providing opportunities for those who have been historically excluded or marginalized due to their social identities, such as race, ethnicity, gender, or caste. The system recognizes that individuals from these groups face significant barriers in accessing education, employment, and other opportunities due to systemic discrimination and historical disadvantage. © Onthe other hand, meritocracy emphasizes that individuals should be selected or promoted based on their individual abilities, skills, and achievements, regardless of their social identity. This approach assumes that everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed and that those who work hard and excel should be rewarded. However, meritocracy fails to consider the social and historical context in which individuals operate, and it often perpetuates existing inequalities. © Therefore, in situations where disadvantaged groups face significant barriers and discrimination, the reservation system based on representation can be seen as more ethical and justifiable than meritocracy. The system recognizes that social identity is a crucial factor in determining opportunities and privileges, and seeks to correct historical injustices by providing targeted support and opportunities to those who have been excluded or marginalized. ‘However, it is important to ensure that the reservation system is implemented fairly and does not lead to reverse discrimination or perpetuate other forms of inequality.Question 7: Reservation System is effectively uplifting the underprivileged in the society. 7. Reservation system is effectively uplifting the underprivileged in the society 26responces @ Ase @ Disagree @ Nowra, doesnot afoct me, India was a country with a rigid caste based hierarchical structure, with ascending order of privileges and descending order of disabilities, which operated for a very long time. The victims of that system comprise present Scheduled castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and other backward classes (OBC). One of the framers of Indian Constitution, B R Ambedkar made certain provisions for ensuring political, social and educational upliftment of the underprivileged sections. Analysis: A significant number of people belonging to the age group 15-25 believe that the reservation system does not help in uplifting the underprivileged sections of society. Inferenes There is a need to find better ways to uplift people. The reservation system has not led to perceptible improvements. Just a minuscule percentage of people belonging to reserved category have actually benefited and moved to a higher standard of living. Promising seats in institutions and jobs in the public sector are not effective ways of ensuring equality and social justice. It’s high time that we revisit the reservation system. There is a need to study and analyze the potential of individuals belonging to underprivileged sections and chalk out broader ways and means to help them grow holistically. We need to find more and better ways to ensure equality of opportunity and upliftment of reserved categories.Question 8:Whom does the reservation system benefit? 8. Reservation system benefits 27 responses, © Targeted underprivileged population (© Creamy layer of the population ofthe respective categories (© Neutra, it does not affect me Inference: The responses to this question were consistent and agreed with some of the questions mentioned later, therefore majority of our respondents felt that the benefits of the reservation were benefitting the creamy layer of the population of their respective castes and categories. Analysis: Our respondents feel that the creamy layer, who have significant resources, and knowledge about the benefits offered by reservation, are the ones who avail all the perquisites therefore, the main targets for reservation, the people who need assistance both socially and financially miss out on them and thus the cycle continues. Question 9: Reservation system promotes social exclusion. 9. Reservation system promote social exclusion 26 responses. @ Aree Disagree © Noutral, doesnot fect meInference: Majority of our respondents felt that reservation does promote social exclusion and a fairly good number feel that it does not affect them, thus implying that they ei been discriminated against or they have never been a part of a group which is discriminated against. jer have not Analysis: Majority of our respondents, obviously, through personal experiences and through the media feel that people who come to institutions through reservation are discriminated against, and are made to feel inferior at these institutions. This obviously hampers national integration as people get divided based on their caste identities and the whole idea of bringing the underprivileged to level with the others gets defeated. Due to discrimination, the reservation system creates the same problem it was meant to solve. }o you welcome the creation of the EWS category in the reservation system? @ ves No © Neutra, t doesnot afect me EWS System in India: ‘The economically weaker section (EWS) is the section of the society in India that belongs to the un-reserved category (not in SC/ST/OBC) and has an annual family income of less than 8 lakh rupees. A 10% reservation in government jobs and educational institutes for the economically weaker section or EWS of the general category was approved by the union council of india in the year 2019. However, an important thing to note is that this legislation was above the 50% cap set by the government for the reservation criteria, taking it up to 59.5 %.Inference: 1) Recognition of the need for inclusive growth: Agreeing with the EWS reservation policy reflects a recognition of the need for inclusive growth. Inclusive growth refers to economic growth that benefits all sections of society, inclu economically weaker. 1g those who are 2) Not against the reservation system as a whole: Respondents want the reformation of the reservation system and not its elimination. This can be inferred by recognizing the fact that people have responded in a positive way to the introduction of the EWS category, even when it reduces the percentage of the reservation category to less than 50%. Question 11: Is revision of the ST and SC in the reservation system required? 11. Is Revision of the Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) in the reservation system required ? 27 responses © Yes, creamy layer shouldbe ntocuced @ No, no revision required © Neutra, doesnot afect me, The Creamy Layer Concept: Creamy Layer is a term used to refer to a certain population of the people in the backward class that are socially, educationally and economically advanced when compared to other members of that class. In simpler terms this is the “forward section of a backward class”. People who are recognized as the creamy layer are excluded from any benefits that they may receive from the Reservation system and are treated like the unreserved category.Presently the creamy layer concept is present in the OBC Category and they are treated like General Category in case of competitive exams and admission to educational institutions ete. In the SC and ST Category this is present only in the case of Promotions in Public Employment. Analysis: Out of the 28 people surveyed, 66.7% of the people were of the view that creamy layer should be introduced to the SC and ST categories (in the same way that it is introduced in the OBC category). This coincides with the view that most people feel reservation benefits only to the creamy layer of the respective backward class. 18.5% people were neutral to the statement and 14.8% believed no change was required, Introducing the creamy layer concept in the SC and ST categories might prove to be beneficial because the objective of reservations is to ensure that backward classes are able to progress on an equal basis with other citizens. However, those belonging to the creamy layer in the SC/ST category bag the coveted jobs in the public sector because they have access to better resources. ‘Those who are truly backward are unable to access the benefits of reservations and therefore ‘the majority of our respondents feel the need for implementation of the creamy layer concept in the SC and ST category. Question 12: Would you avail the benefits of the reservation system if you are eligible? 12. Would you avail the benefits of the reservation system if you are eligible? 26 responses. @ v5 @ Maybe Inference: Out of the 28 respondents 38.5% felt that they wouldn't avail the benefits of the reservation system if they were eligible, 34.6% would avail the benefits whereas 26.9% might avail the benefits. This is the only question in the survey where the views of the respondents were not heavily polarized and there was almost a mixed reaction.tations of the Survey: 1. Because of the very nature of the questions, we could not actually gauge the real perception of the public since they had only limited options to choose from and were not able to state their viewpoint even in a mere statement. 2. Since, the survey was not conducted in in-person mode, hence we could not actually have a clear idea about the sincerity of the people while filing the questionnaire. 3. There might be a possibility of people misunderstanding a statement due to general linguistic differences. 4, The interpretation and analysis of data might possess an element of personal bias even though we have tried to shun it to the best of our abilities, Conclusion: Respondents were willing to share their perception of the reservation system and showed active involvement. Majority of respondents know about the reservation system and they are of the opinion that it has not bridged the social and economic gaps prevailing in the society. While they agree that social justice outweighs meritocracy, they do feel that the current reservation system is not effectively uplifting the underprivileged sections of the society. They support the introduction of EWS. Most respondents want a reform which presents a positive picture and shows that people look beyond their personal benefits and wish to see a constructive shift in the paradigm which would benefit less privileged citizens and that people expect welfare-oriented policies which is. the very soul of Indian democracy.