General category quota: From eligibility criteria to beneficiary castes, here is all you should know

Just four months before the Lok Sabha polls and weeks after poll defeats in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Union Cabinet today approved 10 per cent reservation for the economically backward section of general category. According to reports, government plans to introduce a Constitution amendment bill tomorrow to implement the quota.

Here are some details about government's plans to implement the quota, criteria for reservation and likely challenges government may face to roll out the big move before the Lok Sabha elections.

Likely beneficiary castes:

*Brahmins, several trading castes like Banias, Rajputs (Thakurs), Jats, Marathas, Gujjars, Bhumihars, Kapus, Kammas

* The poor among the other religions like Muslims and Christians will also get the benefit

Criteria for reservation:
* According to a TOI report, the criteria for deciding on economically weaker sections would be based on the size of land holdings and family income
* Annual income of less than Rs 8 lakh
* Not owning more than five acres of agricultural land
* Quota seekers should also not own a flat of 1000 sq ft or more, land of 100 yards in notified municipality area and 200 yards in non-notified area

Process for implementation:
* Govt plans to introduce a constitutional amendment bill tomorrow, the last day of the Winter Session.
* According to reports, government may extend the session by one day
* Constitution envisages quota for socially and educationally backward classes besides SC and STs, but has no mention of economically weaker section
* The amendment bill seeks to insert a clause in Sections 15 and 16 of the Constitution
* Govt requires support from at least two-thirds of the members in both the Houses to amend the Constitution
* The quota will be over and above the existing 50 per cent reservation to SCs, STs and OBCs

Challenges before implementation:
*Supreme Court has said that the Constitution makes no case for quota on economic ground and only talks of educational and social backwardness.
* In famous Indra Sawhney judgement, the apex court had set a cap of 50 per cent cap on quotas.
* The decision, when implemented, will increase reservation quota to 60 per cent from the existing 50 per cent.
* Though governments in Haryana, Rajasthan and Maharashtra have made laws, they are often struck down by the court on the ground of the judgement in the Indra Sawhney case

Politics behind the move:
*Sections of upper castes had drifted from the party of late following its aggressive push to win over backward classes and Dalits.
* BJP hopes that it will help consolidate the general castes in its support before the Lok Sabha elections
* BJP have faced the wrath of the upper castes, especially in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, over the amendment brought by the Central government to nullify the Supreme Court judgement in the SC-ST Act last year.
* BJP believes that if opposition, whose support is a must for its passage in the Rajya Sabha where the government lacks numbers, vote against it, then they will risk losing support of an influential section of society.