The history of caste-based reservations in India is marked by two landmark events – the Poona Pact of 1932 and the Mandal Commission implementation in 1990. These milestones shaped affirmative action policies to uplift historically marginalised communities. The ongoing debates about caste census and reservation policies continue to influence India’s social and political landscape.
The Poona Pact of 1932
In 1932, Mahatma Gandhi’s fast unto death pressured leaders to resolve the issue of Dalit political representation. The British Communal Award had granted Dalits separate electorates, which Gandhi opposed fearing Hindu society’s division. Dr B.R. Ambedkar initially supported separate electorates for Dalit empowerment. Under intense negotiations, they agreed on the Poona Pact. This replaced separate electorates with reserved seats for Dalits within joint electorates. Dalits gained 148 reserved seats, more than the original 71, but had to contest in general electorates. The Pact also pledged to end untouchability and improve Dalit access to education and jobs. It became India’s first affirmative action blueprint, balancing representation with Hindu unity.
Constitutional Affirmations and Early Reservations
Post-independence, India’s Constitution enshrined special provisions for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in legislatures, education, and jobs. Articles 15(4) and 16(4) empowered the state to promote social equality. These reservations were initially temporary but extended repeatedly. The Constitution also recognised Other Backward Classes (OBCs) as socially and educationally disadvantaged groups. However, identifying OBCs and implementing their reservations remained unresolved for decades.
The Mandal Commission and OBC Reservations
In 1979, the government appointed the Mandal Commission to define backwardness and recommend uplift measures for OBCs. The 1980 report identified 3,743 OBC castes, estimating they formed about 52% of India’s population. It recommended reserving 27% of central government jobs and educational seats for OBCs, keeping total reservations under the Supreme Court’s 50% cap. Implementation was delayed until 1990 when Prime Minister V.P. Singh announced the quota extension. This triggered widespread protests, especially among upper-caste students, and intense debates over merit and social justice.
Impact and Legal Framework Post-Mandal
The Mandal decision reshaped Indian politics, empowering OBC leaders and fragmenting traditional power structures. The Supreme Court upheld the 27% reservation in the 1992 Indra Sawhney judgment. It introduced the creamy layer concept to exclude affluent OBCs from quotas and set limits on reservations in promotions. Reservations helped create a sizeable OBC middle class but also faced criticism for uneven benefit distribution. The Mandal episode remains a defining moment in India’s affirmative action history.
The Caste Census Debate
Accurate data on caste demographics is vital for effective reservation policies. Since 1951, the national Census has not comprehensively counted caste beyond SC/ST categories. The Mandal Commission relied on 1931 data, creating a data gap. The 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) data was not fully released nationally. Recent state surveys, such as Bihar’s 2023 data on OBC/EBC majorities, have intensified demands for a new caste census. The government has signalled plans to include caste enumeration in the upcoming Census. This could enable better policy calibration but also risks deepening caste-based politics.
Questions for UPSC:
- Taking example of the Poona Pact and Mandal Commission, discuss the evolution of affirmative action policies in India and their socio-political impact.
- Examine the role of the Constitution of India in addressing social inequalities through reservation policies and analyse the challenges in their implementation.
- Discuss in the light of India’s caste census debate, the importance of accurate demographic data in formulating inclusive social policies and its potential political implications.
- Critically discuss the balance between meritocracy and social justice in public employment and education reservation systems, with examples from India and other countries.
