National

Maratha Quota Bill Passed In Maharashtra Assembly

February 20, 2024
Bharat Times English News

Today, the Maharashtra assembly unanimously approved the Maratha Reservation Bill, which entails providing a 10 percent reservation to the Maratha community in both educational institutions and government employment. The Maharashtra State Socially and Educationally Backward Bill 2024, once when becomes law, will be subject to a comprehensive review after being implemented for a decade. Here are the 5 key points on Maratha Quota Bill passed in Maharashtra assembly:

  1. With the passage of this bill, the total reservation in Maharashtra will now stand at 62 percent, including the newly added 10 percent reservation for Marathas.
  2. Prior to this amendment, the total reservation in the state was 52 percent, as per the 2001 State Reservation Act.
  3. The existing reservation included quotas for Scheduled Castes (13%), Scheduled Tribes (7%), Other Backward Classes (19%), Special Backward Class (2%), Vimukta Jati (3%), Nomadic Tribe B (2.5%), Nomadic Tribe C-Dhangar (3.5%), and Nomadic Tribe D-Vanjari (2%).
  4. The addition of the 12-13 percent Maratha quota in 2019, upheld by the Bombay High Court, had temporarily increased the total reservation to 64-65 percent. However, this was later struck down by the Supreme Court in May 2021, reverting the total reservation back to 52 percent.
  5. Additionally, the state has also implemented a 10 percent quota for economically weaker sections (EWS), further diversifying the reservation landscape

The decision was made following a detailed report submitted by the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission, which conducted a survey encompassing nearly 2.5 crore families. This survey extensively examines the social, economic, and educational challenges encountered by the Maratha community in the state.

As per the report, the Maratha community comprises a substantial 28 percent of Maharashtra’s population. Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde stated, “The survey has been conducted on nearly 2-2.5 crore people. On February 20, we have called a special session of the assembly after which Maratha reservation will be given according to the law.”

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The main aim of the new legislation is to tackle the economic challenges faced by the Maratha community. According to the survey, 21.22 percent of Maratha families fall below the poverty line, surpassing the state average of 17.4 percent. Furthermore, 84 percent of Maratha families do not fit into the ‘progressed’ category, rendering them eligible for reservation as specified in the bill.