Reservation System for General Category in Educational Institutions and Government Jobs in India
The reservation system in India for educational institutions and government jobs varies significantly by state and institution. While specific quotas are allocated for various categories such as Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), there is no fixed percentage of seats reserved for the general category candidates.
Understanding the General Category Reservation System
General category candidates typically compete for the remaining seats after the reserved categories have been allocated their share. In some institutions, especially in the context of EWS, a certain percentage (10% as of 2023) of seats may be reserved for economically weaker sections within the general category. However, this does not mean that 50% of seats are reserved for the general category overall.
No Fixed Percentage Quota for General Category
There is no reservation for the general category; candidates in this category are considered "UR," which stands for "Unreserved." Reservation is only for categories such as ST (7.5%), SC (15%), OBC (27%), and now EWS (10%). Collectively, this indicates that 59.5% of seats are reserved, leaving 40.5% unreserved.
Flexible Reservation Policies Across Different Contexts
The percentage of reservation is not uniform across educational streams or job categories or across different states and the central government. In some contexts, the reservation percentage can exceed 50%. For example, in central government jobs, it has reached 69% due to the reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). In Tamil Nadu, the reservation can touch 74% to 90% depending on the stream or stage (11th standard, college, etc.).
It is crucial to understand that the seats that remain after the reserved categories have been allocated cannot be considered reserved for the general category. The term 'Open Category' is used to refer to this unreserved section. The Open Category includes seats for candidates belonging to castes or religions or categories that do not have reservation and candidates belonging to the 'Creamy Layer' if defined for various caste categories. Additionally, seats are also available for candidates from reserved categories who secure a rank above the Open Category cut-off.
Therefore, the seats that are left after reserving for specific categories are not reserved for any particular category, including the general category. Instead, they are open to all candidates, and the cut-off for the general category candidates is the same as for other categories who apply for those seats.
In summary, while reservation policies exist for various categories to promote social equity, the general category does not have a fixed quota of reserved seats. The remaining seats after allocations are open to all candidates, making the competition for these seats equal for all categories.