The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by Parliament on January 8, 2019. The persons, belonging to EWSs, who are not covered under the scheme of reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs shall get 10% reservation in direct recruitment in civil posts and services in the Government and admission in educational institutions.
Background
The persons, belonging to Economically Weaker Sections, who were not covered under the scheme of reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs were also demanding reservation on the similar line.
Reservation in India- A timeline
Salient Features
Articles 15(6) and 16(6) have been inserted in the Constitution, which enables the State to provide the benefits of reservation on preferential basis to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWSs) in civil posts and services in the Government of India and admission in educational institutions.
Criteria for EWS
Persons whose family has gross annual income below Rs 8 lakh (Rupees eight lakh) are to be identified as EWSs for benefit of reservation. Income shall also include income from all sources i.e. salary, agriculture, business, profession, etc.
Also persons whose family owns or possesses any of the following assets shall be excluded from being identified as EWS, irrespective of the family income:-
Thus in effect, long standing demand of economically not well-off segment for equal treatment was catered to which enabled social integration among the reserved and unreserved.
Impact of EWS Reservation
Excluded groups develop hate, thus providing reservation on the basis of economic criteria is a step towards assimilation.