25% HIKE IN SEATS TO PROTECT SC/STs

10% quota law will be applicable to all higher education institutions, both private and government

The 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections among the upper castes will start from the 2019 academic session. More important, nearly 25 per cent seats will be added across the board to educational institutions, to ensure that the 10 per cent quota does not disturb existing quotas for the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes.

The decision was taken on Tuesday at a meeting of officials from the HRD ministry, University Grants Commission and the All India Council of Technical Education.

The HRD Minister, Prakash Javadekar, however, did not specify the number of seats which will be added. "The modalities are being worked out and within a week's time we will have the exact number of seats that will be added. The operation manuals about how to implement the quota will be issued soon. The colleges and universities will also be asked to mention the quota in their prospectus as well and make infrastructural arrangements,’’ he added.

Incidentally, the quota law will be applicable to all higher education institutions whether private or government. There are around 40,000 colleges and 900 universities across the country.

‘‘The unreserved category is getting quota benefit for first time. If 100 seats are being offered today to the reserved caste-based category, there will be 125 seats from now on, to ensure that the existing quota is not affected," Javadekar said at a press meet, adding that colleges will be given an operational mandate in a week's time.

The Union Minister's announcement came a few days after President Ram Nath Kovind cleared a Bill ensuring 10% reservation in government jobs and college seats for the EWS population. People from the general category who have an annual income under Rs. 8 lakh and own fewer than five acres of land would be eligible for benefits under the new amendment to the Constitution.