Rajasthan reserves 10% government jobs for economically weaker sections

New Delhi: The Congress government in Rajasthan has notified 10% reservation for economically weaker sections in government jobs. The department of personnel has issued a notification amending service rules. Two amendments have been brought in Rajasthan Various Service Rules and Rajasthan Public Service Commission (Ministerial and Subordinate Services) rules. The notification says there would “be 10% reservation of vacancies for economically weaker sections in direct recruitment and this would be in addition to the existing reservation.”

The notification clarifies, “In the event of non-availability of eligible and suitable candidates amongst economically weaker sections in a particular year, the vacancies so reserved for them shall be filled in accordance with the normal procedure.” Though the state government has made changes in service rules, there has been no notification for 10% quota in educational institutions.

Bonafide residents of Rajasthan not covered under existing reservation schemes for Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, More Backward Classes and whose family’s gross annual income is below Rs 8 lakh would be eligible for reservation benefits.

GUJJAR PROTESTS
Rajasthan move comes after the state witnessed Gujjar protests and granted 5% reservation

A family which owns agricultural land of five acres or more, a residential flat of 1,000 square feet or above, a residential plot of 100 square yards or above in notified municipalities or a residential plot of 200 square yards in other areas would be excluded.

Rajasthan is the first Congress-ruled state which has moved on the 10% reservation following Modi government’s move. So far, other Congress-ruled states including Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh have maintained they are studying the issue.

Karnataka, where Congress is in a coalition with Janata Dal (Secular), has countered the Centre’s move by forming a Brahmin Development Board to support Brahmins.