Triple Test

Recently, the Allahabad High Court (HC) ordered the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government to hold urban local body elections without reservation for OBCs as the 'triple test' requirement for the quota had not been fulfilled.

• In response, the UP government set up a five-member commission to conduct a survey to ensure that the OBCs are provided reservation on the basis of the triple test, as mandated by the Supreme Court.

About Triple Test: The triple test requires the government to complete three tasks for finalisation of reservation to OBCs in the local bodies. These include:

1. To set up a dedicated commission to conduct a rigorous empirical inquiry into the nature and implications of the backwardness in local bodies;
2. To specify the proportion of reservation required in local bodies in light of recommendations of the commission, so as not to fall foul of over-breadth;
3. To ensure reservation for SCs/STs/OBCs taken together does not exceed an aggregate of 50 per cent of the total seats.