The civil services is the holy grail of lakhs of aspirants seeking high-level government jobs. Every year, there’s the odd story or two of candidates from remote parts making it to the IAS, IFS, IPS or other premier civil service branches against great odds. But such stories are rare. No wonder the Centre’s recent move to introduce quotas in promotions in government jobs through a constitutional amendment—essentially to blunt a Supreme Court decision against such quotas—has its share of supporters and opponents. For, it touches on a whole gamut of issues, from the human to the political to the humdrum realm of administration.

In the coming weeks, the government will move to amend the Constitution yet again, making requisite changes in Article 16—dealing with equality of opportunity in matters of public employment. Beyond the obvious question of political advantage, the precise mode and language the government employs to do this will be crucial. At a definitional level, say, ‘backwardness’ may be deemed as an automatically fixed...