The government today announced a 10% reservation in government jobs and higher education for economically weaker sections in the general category and said it would move a constitutional amendment bill to bring it into effect. According to the government, those who earn less than Rs 8 lakh a year and have less than five acres of land qualify for the quota. The government also said Brahmins, Baniyas, Christians and Muslims will benefit from this. While the government says this has been a long-standing demand, the timing of the announcement, just months before the 2019 elections are announced, is triggering questions. So is this a masterstroke, or mere lip service?
