UPSC Mains 2024 GS1 Q18: model answer

The Constitution provides for affirmative action through Articles 15(4), 16(4), 46, 330 and 332, along with reservation in education, jobs and legislatures for SCs, STs and OBCs, and since 2019 for EWS.

Achievements

• A visible Dalit and tribal middle class; representation in legislatures and services.
• Literacy gaps between SCs/STs and others have narrowed.
• Political empowerment: reserved panchayat seats brought many women and Dalits into leadership.

Gaps

• Concentration of benefits: a few dominant sub-castes corner most benefits. In August 2024, the Supreme Court (State of Punjab v. Davinder Singh) allowed States to sub-classify SCs for this reason.
• Unfilled posts: backlog vacancies in reserved categories, especially at higher levels.
• Shrinking public jobs: privatisation and contract work reduce the space for reservation.
• Quality: poor schooling means many cannot compete even for reserved seats.
• Social discrimination: manual scavenging persists; atrocities under the SC/ST Act still reported.
• Awareness: scholarships and schemes often do not reach remote tribal areas.

Way forward

• Sub-classification based on data, periodic review of lists.
• Fill backlog posts; enforce reservation in contractual jobs.
• Invest in quality schools (Eklavya Model Residential Schools), coaching and scholarships.
• Encourage diversity in the private sector.
• Strict enforcement of anti-discrimination laws.

Affirmative action has opened doors; the task now is to carry the benefits to the last and the least, as Ambedkar intended.