Bihar reservation bill clears Assembly unanimously, quota raised from 50% to 65%

The main beneficiaries are the EBCs and OBCs, whose quota is proposed to be raised from 12% to 25% and 8% to 18% respectively. According to the state’s caste survey, 36.01% of the population are EBCs, and 27.13% are OBCs.

For SCs, the proposed new quota is 20%, up from the existing 14%. The SC population is estimated at 19.65%. The quota for STs, however, is proposed to be slashed from 10% to 2%. With most of the tribal areas going to Jharkhand after the bifurcation of Bihar in 2000, the tribal population in Bihar is less than 2%.

The Bill will be tabled in the Legislative Council on Friday, and is likely to be passed unanimously there too.

Clarifying that the additional 10% EWS quota would continue to exist, State Finance Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said: “The Bill shows our commitment towards inclusive growth.”

“The increase in quota will address inequality in society. We have been in support of a quota increase ever since the caste survey report was made public,” said senior BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav.

“Our government’s idea is to focus on EBCs, OBCs, SCs and STs. EBCs are the main focus, our prime constituency. Our government has already announced Rs 2 lakh for five years to over 94 lakh poor families having less than Rs 6,000 monthly income and a one-time aid of Rs 1 lakh to 67 lakh homeless families to build homes. The caste survey has given us the right direction to reframe our policies,” said a JD(U) leader.

In its 1992 decision in ‘Indra Sawhney vs Union of India’, the Supreme Court had fixed the reservation ceiling at 50%.