Indian governments intention of introducing caste-based quotas for the Other Backward Classes in centrally funded institutions of higher learning and the Prime Ministers suggestion to the private sector to voluntarily go in for reservation, has once again sparked off a debate on the merits and demerits of caste-based reservations. Unfortunately, the predictable divide between the votaries of social justice on one hand and those advocating merit on the other seems to have once again camouflaged the real issues. It is necessary to take a holistic and non-partisan view of the issues involved. The hue and cry about sacrificing merit is untenable simply because merit is, after all, a social construct and it cannot be determined objectively in a historically unjust and unequal context. The idea of competitive merit will be worthy of serious attention only in

Indian governments intention of introducing caste-based quotas for the Other Backward

Classes in centrally funded institutions of higher learning and the Prime Ministers

suggestion to the private sector to voluntarily go in for reservation, has once again

sparked off a debate on the merits and demerits of caste-based reservations.

Unfortunately, the predictable divide between the votaries of social justice on one hand

and those advocating merit on the other seems to have once again camouflaged the

real issues. It is necessary to take a holistic and non-partisan view of the issues

involved.

The hue and cry about sacrificing merit is untenable simply because merit is, after all, a

social construct and it cannot be determined objectively in a historically unjust and

unequal context. The idea of competitive merit will be worthy of serious attention only in

a broadly egalitarian context. But then, caste is not an obstacle in the way of an

egalitarian order.

After all, economic conditions, educational opportunities, and discrimination on the basis

of gender also contribute to the denial of opportunity to express ones true merit and

worth. It is interesting to note that in the ongoing debate, one side refuses to see the

socially constructed nature of the notion of merit while the other side refuses to

recognize the multiplicity of the mechanisms of exclusion with equal vehemence.

The idea of caste-based reservations is justified by the logic of social justice. This

implies the conscious attempt to restructure a given social order in such a way that

individuals belonging to the traditionally and structurally marginalized social groups get

adequate opportunities to actualize their potential and realize their due share in the

resources available.

In any society, particularly in one as diverse and complex as the Indian society, this is

going to be a gigantic exercise and must not be reduced to just one aspect of state

policy. Seen in this light, the caste-based reservation has to work in tandem with other

policies ensuring the elimination of the structures of social marginalization and denial of

access. It has to be seen as a means of achieving social justice and not an end in itself.

By the same logic, it must be assessed and audited from time to time like any other

social policy and economic strategy.

29) What is meant by the phrase Sacrificing merit referring to?

(a) Killing merit

(b) Selection on the basis of merit

(c) Encouraging reservation

(d) None of these

Ans: C

30) What is the author most likely to agree with?

(a) Caste-based reservation is the answer to India’s problems

(b) Gender-based reservation is the answer to India’s problems

(c) There is no solution to bridge the gap between privileged and underprivileged

(d) None of these

Ans: D

31) What do you mean by the word Egalitarian?

(a) Characterized by belief in the equality of all people

(b) Characterized by belief in the inequality of all people

(c) Another word for reservations

(d) Growth

Ans: A