Patna: In a landmark move, Bihar has expanded the ambit of reservation to 65%, with the Reservation Amendment Bill 2023 receiving unanimous approval in both houses of the Bihar Assembly. The Bihar government issued a gazette notification for the development, solidifying the policy change.
The legislation, which was introduced on November 9 during the winter session, garnered support from the main opposition party, the BJP.
As of Tuesday, the increased reservation applies to jobs and educational institutions, offering a substantial boost to members of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Extremely Backward Classes (EBC), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). The Bihar government officially gazetted the development.
According to the revised reservation quota, Other Backward Classes (OBCs) will receive 18% reservation, Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) will get 25%, Scheduled Castes (SCs) will get 20%, and Scheduled Tribes (STs) to benefit from a 2% reservation.
The initiative was spearheaded by Chief Minister (CM) Nitish, who, on November 7, announced the government’s commitment to elevating the reservation quota from 50% to 65% or higher. With Centre’s 10% quota for economically weaker sections, the overall reservation percentage in the state is set to surge to an unprecedented 75%.
Governor Vishwanath Arlekar swiftly granted approval to the Reservation Bill-2023 upon his return from Delhi. The bill had been presented to the assembly on the fourth day of the winter session, where it received unanimous support from legislators.
The swift legislative process began with the announcement in the legislative assembly, prompting a prompt cabinet meeting within two and a half hours. The cabinet, under the leadership of CM Nitish, endorsed the proposal, setting the stage for its subsequent unanimous passage in both houses.
