Social Inequality, Social Justice and Affirmative Action Policy in 21st Century in India

The inequality persists in every society in the world. The social inequality is based on caste system in India. The ancient Indian society was based on occupation,which led to social status in India.

After independence, the Government of India set up two commissions to identify the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The Kaka Kalelkar Commission set up in 1951 and it submitted its report in 1953. The Second Backward Class Commission, which is known as Mandal Commission, was set-up in 1979 to identify the OBCs and it submitted its report in 1980.

The Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh implemented the proposals of Mandal Commission in August 1990. It insured the 27 per cent reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in Government jobs.

In 2006, the UPA Government decided to reserve 27 per cent seats for OBCs in Educational Institutions. The Supreme Court allowed the 27 percent reservation for OBCs after exclusion of ‘creamy layer’ or ‘high income families’.

In 2019, the NDA Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, implemented 10 percent reservation for Economically Backward Classes for so-called Upper Castes in Central Government Jobs and admission in Higher Educational Institutions in India. Now there are 15 percent reservation for Scheduled Castes, 7.5 percent for Scheduled Tribes, 27 percent for OBCs and 10 percent for Economically Backward Classes in Upper Castes in India. Now there are 60 percent seats are reserved in Central Government services and Educational institutions in India. It is initiate by government to reduce the inequalities in India.