Forward caste

Last updated

Forward caste (or General caste) [1] is a term used in India to denote castes which do not fall under any of the reserved categories or castes that were not listed in OBC, SC or ST reservation lists.

Contents

They are on average considered ahead of other castes economically and educationally. They account for about 30.8% of the population based on Schedule 10 of available data from the National Sample Survey Organisation 55th (1999–2000) and National Sample Survey Organisation 61st Rounds (2004–05) Round Survey.[ citation needed ]

Those groups that qualify for reservation benefits are listed as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Other backward class. They can avail defined quotas amongst other benefits for education, special government schemes, government employment and political representation. The lists of Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward class are compiled irrespective of religion. [2] [3]

Economically Weaker Section among forward castes were later granted less than 10% reservation by government. [4]

General caste

The term 'General caste' is used to describe groups historically considered economically better off or higher in the caste hierarchy of India.

The castes recognized as General caste by the Government of India

Communities that were considered as General caste list in some regions:

Demographics

State, U.TGeneral Castes Population %O.B.C Population %Scheduled Castes Population %Scheduled Tribes Population %
Andhra Pradesh [5] 25.4%50%19%5.6%
Bihar [6] 15.52%63.13%19.65%1.68%

Economic and educational status

As of 2007, forward castes had to compete only in the open category, as they are considered socially, educationally, and economically advanced. The open category seats can be competed and filled by any section of the society irrespective of the caste. Due to rigorous demand and the relative financial weakness of the people of the General category, the Government of India introduced 10% as EWS quota for them, which makes their total reservation to 10%. However, in certain states, such as Tamil Nadu, the reservation percentage is around 69%. [7]

Reservation for economically backward among forward castes

Before 2019, forward castes were only allowed to compete for seats in the unreserved category in educational institutions and central government jobs, regardless of their educational/economical status in society. A significant percentage of the forward caste lives below the poverty line, and more than 30% of the members of this community are illiterate. To meet their aspirations, demands have been raised for providing separate reservations for the poor among forward caste populations. Many political parties like BJP, Samajwadi Party, LJP, Rastriya Janata Dal, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Bahujan Samaj Party [8] [9] [10] [11] have supported proposals for providing a separate reservation for the poor among the forward castes.

Timeline

State and central governments have not released adequate data regarding the representation of various communities in their services and admissions to educational institutions.[ citation needed ] Most of the private companies in India do not collect data regarding the community of their employees.

Rural landholding pattern of various social groups calculated by National Sample Survey 99-00 indicate that OBC and forward castes are comparable in wealth RuralLandholding.jpg
Rural landholding pattern of various social groups calculated by National Sample Survey 99-00 indicate that OBC and forward castes are comparable in wealth

Shrinking educational opportunities

During April 2006, India's Human Resource Minister announced that 27% seats will be reserved exclusively for candidates from Other Backward class in addition to existing 22.5% reservation for Scheduled castes and Scheduled Tribes. [28]

Many states do not have 27% of Other Backward class population, as per national sample surveys. (This includes major Indian states like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Punjab, West Bengal). Some Indian states like Assam [ citation needed ], Goa [ citation needed ], Haryana [ citation needed ], Himachal Pradesh [ citation needed ], Uttarakhand [ citation needed ], have more than 50% Forward castes population, which means the number of seats secured by Forward castes will not be equal to their population proportion even if they secure 100% seats in open competition in central government institutions of these states. Central government, however, excluded 27% reservations to Other Backward class to the areas with high tribal populations. [29]

However, on 7 January 2019, the Union Council of Ministers approved 10% reservation for the forward castes in government jobs and educational institutions. This group is classified as the Economically Weaker Section (EWS). [30] The cabinet decided that this would be over and above the existing 50% reservation for SC/ST/OBC categories. [31]

See also

Related Research Articles

Mala is a Telugu caste from the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. They are also present in smaller numbers in the states of Karnataka and Maharashtra. They are considered as Scheduled Caste (SC) or OBC depending on religious status by the Government of India. According to 2001 census data, Malas constituted 41.6 percent of the Scheduled Castes population in the then state of Andhra Pradesh, which also included the present state of Telangana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arjun Singh (Madhya Pradesh politician)</span> 12th Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, India

Arjun Singh was an Indian politician from the Indian National Congress, who served twice as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh in the 1980s. He also served twice as the Union Minister of Human Resource Development, in the Manmohan Singh and P. V. Narasimha Rao ministries.

The Other Backward Class (OBC) is a collective term used by the Government of India to classify communities that are educationally or socially backward. It is one of several official classifications of the population of India, along with general castes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The OBCs were found to comprise 52% of the country's population by the Mandal Commission report of 1980 and were determined to be 41% in 2006 when the National Sample Survey Organisation took place. There is substantial debate over the exact number of OBCs in India; it is generally estimated to be sizable, but many believe that it is higher than the figures quoted by either the Mandal Commission or the National Sample Survey.

The Mandal Commission or the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission (SEBC), was established in India in 1979 by the Janata Party government under Prime Minister Morarji Desai with a mandate to "identify the socially or educationally backward classes" of India. It was headed by B. P. Mandal, an Indian member of parliament, to consider the question of reservations for people to address caste discrimination, and to use eleven social, economic, and educational indicators to determine backwardness. In 1980, based on its rationale that OBCs identified on the basis of caste, social, economic indicators made up 52% of India's population, the commission's report recommended that members of Other Backward Classes (OBC) be granted reservations to 27% of jobs under the central government and public sector undertakings, thus making the total number of reservations for SC, ST and OBC to 49.5%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lohar</span> Caste or clan in India and Nepal

Lohar is considered to be a caste among Hindus and a clan among Muslims and Sikhs in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, and in Nepal. They form traditionally artisanal castes. Writers of the Raj period often used the term Lohar as a synonym for blacksmith, although there are other traditional smiting communities, such as the Ramgarhia and Sikligar, and numerous non-traditional communities, including the Kayastha, Rajput and Brahmin.

Reservation is a system of caste-based affirmative action in India. Based on provisions in the Indian Constitution, it allows the Union Government and the States and Territories of India to set a percentage of reserved quotas or seats, in higher education admissions, employment, political bodies, etc., for "socially and economically backward citizens."


The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) practices affirmative action and offers reservation to the "backward and weaker sections" of the society that includes SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/PWD/Girl candidates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Indian anti-reservation protests</span> Protest in India against reservation for OBCs

The 2006 Indian anti-reservation protests were a series of protests that took place in India in 2006 in opposition to the decision of the Union Government of India, led by the Indian National Congress-headed multiparty coalition United Progressive Alliance, to implement reservations for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in central and private institutes of higher education. These protests were one of the two major protests against the Indian reservation system, the other one being the 1990 anti-Mandal protests.

Ashoka Kumar Thakur v. Union of India is an Indian public interest litigation case challenging the conclusion of the Mandal Commission that about 52% of the total population of India belonged to Other Backward Classes classification. The National Sample Survey Organisation had estimated the OBC segment to be 42 per cent.

Creamy layer is a term used in Indian politics to refer to some members of a backward class who are highly advanced socially as well as economically and educationally. They constitute the forward section of that particular backward class – as forward as any other forward class member. They are not eligible for government-sponsored educational and professional benefit programs. The term was introduced by the Sattanathan Commission in 1971, which directed that the "creamy layer" should be excluded from the reservations (quotas) of civil posts. It was also identified later by Justice Ram Nandan Committee in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caste politics</span> Identity politics on caste system lines in India

In India, a caste although it's a western stratification arrived from Portuguese word Casta and Latin word castus ,is a social group where membership is decided by birth. Broadly, Indian castes are divided into the Forward Castes, Other Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes. Indian Christians and Indian Muslims are also function as castes. With castes separating individuals into different social groups, it follows that each group will have conflicting interests; oftentimes putting those with lower social standing in less favorable positions. An attempt to address this inequality has been the reservation system, which essentially acts as affirmative action to provide representation to caste groups that have been systematically disadvantaged. There have also been other cases where political parties, like the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), was formed to challenge the power of the upper castes.

Reservation policy in Tamil Nadu is a system of affirmative action that provides historically disadvantaged groups representation in education and employment. Reservations in the state rose from 41 percent in 1954 to 69 percent in 1990.

The National Commission for Backward Classes is an Indian constitutional body under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India established through Constitution Act, 2018 this amendment act in the constitution to make it a constitutional body under Article 338B of the Indian Constitution. It was constituted pursuant to the provisions of the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jat reservation agitation</span> 2016 violent protests

The Jat reservation agitation was a series of violent protests in February 2016 by the Jat people of North India, especially those in the state of Haryana, which "paralysed" the state for 10 days. The protestors sought inclusion of their caste in the Other Backward Class (OBC) category, which would make them eligible for affirmative action benefits. Besides Haryana, the protests also spread to the neighbouring states, such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and the National Capital Region.

Economically Weaker Section (EWS) in India is a subcategory of people having an annual family income less than ₹8 lakh (US$9,600) and who do not belong to any category such as SC/ST/OBC across India, nor to MBC in Tamil Nadu. A candidate who does not fall under SC/ST/OBC and fulfils the EWS economic criteria are to be part of the EWS category.

The One Hundred and Third Amendment of the Constitution of India, officially known as the Constitution Act, 2019, introduces 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of society for admission to Central Government-run educational institutions and private educational institutions, and for employment in Central Government jobs. The Amendment does not make such reservations mandatory in State Government-run educational institutions or State Government jobs. However, some states have chosen to implement the 10% reservation for economically weaker sections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indra Sawhney & Others v. Union of India</span> Indian public interest litigation case

Indra Sawhney & Others v. Union of India also known as the Mandal verdict was an Indian landmark public interest litigation case delivered by a 9-judge constitution bench.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Bihar caste-based survey</span> 2023 Survey in Bihar, India

The 2022 Bihar Caste Based Survey was notified by the Government of Bihar on 6 June 2022 by gazette notification after a Supreme Court ruling. The survey was conducted in two phases, house listing and caste and economic enumeration. The data collection for the survey began on 7 January 2023 and the data was released on 2 October 2023. The responsibility to conduct the survey was given to the General Administration Department (GAD) of the Government of Bihar. The government planned to collect the data digitally by mobile application named Bijaga- Bihar Jaati Adharit Ganana. BELTRON, a Government of Bihar agency provided IT support, hired the services of a Maharashtra-based private firm Trigyn Technologies to develop the mobile app.

Janhit Abhiyan v. Union of India , also known as the EWS Reservation case, was a landmark decision of the Supreme Court of India.

Reservation policy in Bihar is a system of affirmative action that provides historically disadvantaged groups representation in education and employment. Reservations in the state rose from 60 percent in 2021 to 75 percent in 2023. In June 2024, Patna High Court struck down the new reservation policy.

References

  1. ↑ Sumedha Gupta. The Study of the Impact of Early Life Conditions on Later Life Events. Rozenberg publishers. p. 119.
  2. ↑ Gaurang R. Sahay (2004). "Hierarchy, difference and the caste system". In Dipankar Gupta (ed.). Caste in Question. SAGE. pp. 130–131. ISBN   9780761933243.
  3. ↑ Girukamukkalla Savaraiah (1988). Rural Banking in India. Daya Publishing House. ISBN   9788170350446.
  4. ↑ Balakrishnan Nair, V. (1994). Social Development and Demographic Changes in South India. ISBN   9788185880501 . Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  5. ↑ Minhaz, Ayesha (7 November 2023). "Andhra Pradesh hopes caste census will enhance data-driven governance". Frontline. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  6. ↑ Joy, Shemin. "Caste survey in Bihar: OBCs, EBCs make up 63.13% of population; Gen Category 15.52%". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  7. ↑ Tamil Nadu's quota stir an assertion of its 69 percent? (NEWS ANALYSIS) - India Archived 2012-07-13 at archive.today
  8. ↑ Laloo bats for upper caste reservations, ExpressIndia, 5 May 2006. Archived March 12, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ Left strikes a masterstroke, ExpressIndia, 17 May 2006. Archived 2007-03-11 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ "Paswan for quota for economically backward". The Hindu. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007. Retrieved 14 June 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. ↑ "Cong. for 'quota' for poor among forward castes". The Hindu. 14 August 2003. Archived from the original on 17 March 2004.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  12. ↑ Bureau, The Rediff News. "Will Modi's quota meet same fate as Narasimha Rao's?". Rediff. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  13. ↑ "The Hindu : GoM to study quota for poor among forward castes". Archived from the original on October 21, 2003. Retrieved 14 June 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  14. ↑ "The Hindu Business Line: Jobs for economically backward classes: 4-member commission set up" . Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  15. ↑ "Commission for economically backward classes constituted". The Hindu . 2006-07-25. Archived from the original on 2007-03-13. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  16. ↑ "The Kerala Professional Colleges Bill And Social Justice" . Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  17. ↑ "TN Act on reservation under 9th schedule illegal". The Hindu. 31 October 2006. Archived from the original on 2008-05-23.
  18. ↑ "League locks horns with upper castes, The Milli Gazette, Vol.5 No.15, MG109 (1-15 Aug 04)" . Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  19. ↑ "Are Brahmins the Dalits of today?" . Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  20. ↑ FINAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE -3.10.2006.doc
  21. ↑ "OBC population has increased: NSSO". Hindustan Times. 31 October 2006. Archived from the original on 21 March 2007. Retrieved 9 November 2006. The National The Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) report released on Tuesday reveals that the OBC population has increased from 35.8 per cent in 1999 to 41 per cent in 2004-05. The survey brings out that the OBCs have a buying capacity almost equal to that of the forward communities and more than SC's and ST's. In rural India, as many as eight per cent of OBCs spends Rs 1,100 or more every month as compared to 11 per cent of the forward communities.
  22. ↑ Surjit S Bhalla, OBC: the Oh, so average Indian, Business Standard, 14 June 2013.
  23. ↑ "Union Cabinet approves 10% reservation for economically weak among upper caste". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  24. ↑ "Plea in SC challenges 10% quota to poor in general category". The Economic Times. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  25. ↑ "Quotas for poor among 'forward castes' upheld: Here's the case and what the SC has ruled".
  26. ↑ "Supreme Court upholds EWS quota in 3-2 split verdict, CJI in minority". The Times of India .
  27. ↑ "Reservation policy cannot stay for indefinite period, says Supreme Court". The Hindu .
  28. ↑ "Quota for OBCs: "No escape for Government"". The Hindu . 2006-04-08. Archived from the original on 2006-04-09. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  29. ↑ "Reserve 27% seats for OBCs in 3 years: Bill". 30 August 2006. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  30. ↑ "Union Cabinet approves 10% reservation for economically weak among upper caste". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  31. ↑ "Plea in SC challenges 10% quota to poor in general category". The Economic Times. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.