Admission quota in KVS may be extended to OBCS

NEW DELHI: The Union human resource development (HRD) ministry has cleared the decks for extending reservation to Other Backward Class (OBC) candidates in admission to state-run Kendriya Vidyalaya and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, according to two senior officials familiar with the matter.

If approved by the Union Cabinet and implemented, this may be the first time OBC quotas are enforced at the school level.

The proposal followed demands from several quarters – including the OBC Commission – to extend reservation to the backward communities, said the first official quoted above. After deliberation, the proposal received the go-ahead from the Union law ministry, added the official.

“The issue was examined in detail. A decision was to be taken soon as admission for the session 2020-21 are fast approaching. After examining all aspects, HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has given his in principle approval to the proposal,” said the official.

The minister was unavailable for comment but in reply to a question by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Ganesh Singh in the Parliament’s winter session, he said, “The matter pertaining to reservation for OBCS in KVS and JNVS is under the active consideration of the ministry.”

The first official said the quantum of reservation would be 27%. When asked whether the “creamy layer” – a term used to denote the economically well-off sections – would be excluded, he said all matters were being looked into.