NEW DELHI: The Modi government is likely to approve “age relaxation” for the economically weaker sections in the new 10% reservation system, in a move that would virtually equate the upper castes with OBCs and accelerate the negation of the uniqueness assumed for socially backward communities.

The “age relaxation” gives concession in eligibility age laid down for appointment in a government job or admission in an educational institution. Sources said relaxation for upper castes is likely to be three years, which is what is available to OBCs under the 27% Mandal reservations. The proposal may come for Cabinet approval soon, possibly in the next meeting itself.

As reported by TOI on August 5, 2019, the Department of Personnel and Training turned down an earlier proposal from Union social justice ministry for “age relaxation” under the EWS quota. In its negative response, DoPT minister Jitendra Singh had argued that “in the past, the question of age relaxation has been decided only after observing the impact of reservation policy, ie, whether the required number of persons from that particular category are getting inducted in the services reserved for them or not.”

It implies that age concession is given only if the beneficiary group of a particular quota regime is unable to compete and succeed within the laid down norms of age.

Given the argument, relaxation under EWS was seen as unlikely because economically weaker upper castes are assumed to be competitive. This is unlike Dalits and backwards who, because of historical social handicap, are unable to compete under a lower age bar. The shortfall noticed during earlier years of SC/ST/OBC quotas led to their being given the age rebate.

In his response, minister Singh had pointed out that quotas for OBCs were implemented in 1993 but the age relaxation was extended to them in 1995. Also, quotas for SCs and STs came into existence before and after independence while age relaxation to them was given in 1952 for non-gazetted posts and in 1955 for gazetted posts.

Given the backdrop, the sudden turnaround by the Centre reflects an urgency on the part of BJP to build on the upper caste olive branch. The 10% EWS reservation was approved by the BJP government ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls after its defeat in Madhya Pradesh , Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan assembly polls in December 2018.

In wake of the defeat, the ruling party had come to believe that upper castes were angry with its moves like undoing the Supreme Court order diluting the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.

