Bihar cabinet nod to increase quota to 75%, reservation Bill likely in current Assembly session

The proposed Bill is likely to lay provision of 18 per cent quota to OBCs, 25 per cent to EBCs, 20 per cent to scheduled caste (SC) and two per cent to scheduled tribes (ST) besides existing 10 per cent EWS quota. At present, there had been provision of 50 per cent quota in the states – 14 per cent to SC, 10 per cent to ST, 12 per cent to EBC, eight per cent to OBC and three per cent each to women and the poor among general category people. If 10 per cent EWS quota is added to it, the present quota comes to 60 per cent.

The survey report showed that one-third of about 13 crore state population was poor (those earning less than Rs 200 per day or Rs 6,000 in a month).

A government source told The Indian Express, “Since the CM had hinted towards an increase in quota, a draft of the Reservation Bill, 2023, is being readied with advice of legal and constitutional expert”. On Tuesday, the CM had said in Assembly. “As OBC and EBC population have come to 63 per cent, let us consider 65 per cent quota. As we have been giving 35 per cent reservation to women in government jobs, separate existing quota will have no sense. Likewise, with 10 per cent EWS quota in place, three per cent quota to the poor among general category was irrelevant”.