Despite Protests, Indian Government To Implement Quota Proposal
Nidhi Sharma - All Headline News Contributor
New Delhi, India (AHN) – The Indian government on Tuesday night went ahead with its controversial proposal of enhancing caste-based quotas in higher educational institutions. The ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government decided to implement the proposal to reserve 27 percent in central educational institutions from June 2007 after a meeting with its Left allies. Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee says the number of seats in educational institutions under the purview of the Central government will be increased to ensure the interests of all students. Once the legislation is passed by Parliament, the new legislation will be implemented in all Central government education institutions from the academic session starting June 2007. In a move that is bound to have nationwide repercussions the quota for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) will add to the existing 22.5 percent reservations for the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in educational institutions - taking the effective figure to 49.5 percent. The proposed quota will be applicable to all institutions of higher learning in the purview of the central government, including the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Management and medical colleges, reports NDTV. The sections of the upper caste students in major cities, have been protesting the proposal, with medical students a |
