Bihar clears bill to raise caste quota from 50-65%

The Bihar assembly on Thursday cleared two bills that seek to increase the caste-based quota in education and government employment to 65%, setting the stage for a potential shake-up of heartland politics that could elevate caste as a key poll plank for next summer's general elections.

- Arun Kumar and Dhrubo Jyoti

The Bihar Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services Amendment Bill and the Bihar Reservation (Admission In Educational Institutions) Amendment Bill, 2023 came days after the government tabled the detailed analysis of the state's landmark caste survey that showed that marginalised castes were significantly worse off economically and socially than general categories, who were found to be over-represented in government jobs and among the educated sections.

The two bills which were passed unanimously in the assembly will now be sent to governor Rajendra Arlekar for his assent. If they becomes law, Bihar will join only a handful of other states such as Tamil Nadu where the quantum of castebased quota exceeds 50%.

To be sure, the total quantum of reservation in jobs and educational institutions will stand at 75%, after taking into account 10% quota for economically weaker sections (EWS).

"The caste survey has provided us with a comprehensive data. We will use it to introduce more measures for the uplift of socially, educationally and economically backward sections of society. I will be glad if the Centre, too, agrees to a caste census and raises reservations across the country," said chief minister Nitish Kumar.

Both bills raised the quota for Scheduled Castes (SC) from 16% to 20%, scheduled tribes (STS) from 1% to 2%, extremely backward castes (EBCs) from 18% to 25% and other backward classes (OBCs) from 15% to 18% to elevate the total quantum of caste-based reservations to 65%.

"This is for the first time in the history of India that a total of 75% reservation is given... The two bills about reservation in recruitment and educational institutions have been passed today... We increased the reservation for Dalits, tribals, backward classes and extremely backward classes," said deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav.