Bihar Cabinet Approves to Hike Reservation Quota to 65% in Landmark Move

Patna:  In a historic development, the Bihar government, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has given its nod to increase the reservation quota in the state to a staggering 65%, bringing the combined reservation to 75% when accounting for the Centre’s 10% quota for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting on Tuesday evening.

The groundwork for this groundbreaking move had been meticulously prepared, as the cabinet promptly approved the Bihar Reservation Bill 2023 immediately after the presentation of the caste survey report in the Assembly.

The proposed bill, set to be introduced in the Bihar Assembly on November 9, will substantially reshape the reservation landscape in the state, with OBCs set to receive 18% reservation, EBCs to be allocated 25%, SCs to receive 20%, and STs to secure 2% reservation.

This expansion comes in response to the extensive caste survey, revealing that OBCs, including the Extremely Backward Class (EBC) subgroup, make up a substantial 63% of the state’s total population, while SCs and STs account for just over 21%.

In a legislative Assembly address earlier in the day, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar emphasized the need for this critical adjustment, saying, “The total reservation for SC and ST together is 17%. It should be increased to 22%. Similarly, reservation for OBCs should also be raised from the current 55% to 65%. We will take necessary steps after proper consultation. We intend to bring necessary legislation in this regard in the current session.”

The move to raise the reservation quota, however, faces a significant hurdle, as the Supreme Court has previously ruled that the reservation limit cannot surpass 50%. To circumvent this obstacle, the state government, upon successfully passing the bill in both houses, may forward a proposal to increase the reservation ceiling to the Central Government, an option Chief Minister Nitish Kumar alluded to during the Legislative Council proceedings.

In addition to the reservation expansion, a myriad of other crucial agendas were addressed during the cabinet meeting. Among these, the cabinet approved an increase in the allocation for the Sustainable Livelihood Scheme.