Bihar assembly approves hike in caste quota from 50% to 65%

PATNA: The Bihar assembly on Thursday increased the reservation for deprived castes from 50 per cent to 65 per cent in government jobs and educational institutions, resulting in an overall reservation of 75 per cent.
Chief minister Nitish Kumar, addressing the House, emphasized that this now includes the 10 per cent quota for economically weaker sections introduced by the Centre a few years ago and implemented in the state.

Earlier in the day, the assembly unanimously approved bills to raise quotas for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) from 50 per cent to 65 per cent. These bills, designed in response to a comprehensive caste survey conducted by the Nitish Kumar government, were passed unanimously through a voice vote.
The new quotas outlined in the bills include doubling the quota for STs from one to two percent and raising the quota for SCs from 16 percent to 20 per cent. Additionally, EBCs will now have a 25 per cent quota, up from 18 percent, and OBCs will see an increase from 12 percent to 15 percent.
Nitish Kumar highlighted the importance of the caste survey and expressed the intention to use the data for further measures to uplift socially, educationally, and economically backward sections of society. He also urged the Centre to consider a caste census and extend reservations nationwide.
Seizing the moment, Kumar renewed his call for special status for Bihar, citing the state’s historical significance and the need for assistance to reclaim its past glory.
(With inptus from agencies)