In India, reservation is allotted to the ST, SC and other backward class candidates in all the prestigious institutions all across the country.This act by the government has been overly debated up on by many, supporting and opposing reservation for backward class in institutions for higher education.  Even though, the reservation for backward classes is expected to have positive impact on the higher education in India.

Reservation in Higher Studies

The top most institutions in India like IITs, AIIMS and IIMs have immense name domestically and internationally. In all these institutions the students admitted to various courses are the representing figures of the modern India. The decision of the government to execute policy of reservation in Central institutions is because of the inequality in terms of lack of access to quality education for students from these back ward categories. The reservation policy is executed as to balance the inequality faced by the SC, ST and OBC community. The proposed government policy also promises to improve the quality of education at all level as to have a common platform for all students from different community. But this is still not treated as a practical solution to address this inequality problem.

Benefits of Reservation on Higher Education

One of the most criticized topics on the reservation policy is that it takes the edge off against the endorsement of merit. There is no doubt on the massive demand for higher education in a country like India. And on the contrary quality education is not accessible to all as it is extremely under-provided. Consequently, there is stern rationing in admission for seats, particularly in the top institutions. The issue therefore is not on reservation, but how reservation would be applicable to get the best outcome in the prevailing social circumstances.

At present the admission process in most of the top institutions is based on the “merit” score in various entrance exams. Even though any teacher or administrator in these institutions will agree that normally quite a few hundred candidates of similar quality reach at the top, and the admission of students is very miniscule out of them. As a result, there is a great facet of luck and unpredictability in the process of selection of students. Therefore the probability of students from the deprived category getting admission if they are not offered reservation in the top colleges for higher education is quite slender taking into consideration the luck factor as well as intense competition.

It is a well known fact that the entrance exams carried by most of these institution for admission is typically not actually on the basis of intelligence or pure ability of the students. But the main aptitude and ingredient to crack these tests are pure skills, which can be learned and developed from any good training institution which is widely spread all over the country. This type of training will cost a lot of money and time, which in actual fact exclude most potential candidates.

One of the prominent factors for bringing up reservation in higher studies is apparently the lack of socially neutral process. The institutions for higher learning are overly dominated by the candidates who are mostly from the upper caste as they are more associated and inclined towards education as well as they can afford them too. This itself show the undercurrent of discrimination prevailing through the education system. The student populace in higher education is extremely socially homogenous.

It must be understood that intelligence and talent aren’t the monopoly of a few social groups. In fact it should be spread across the society normally and evenly. It is clear to everyone knowledge that the current system is inefficient as the selection of candidates is only done from a smaller section of society in place of the entire population. This will later on affect the sub-optimal outcome for society as a whole. The reservation for the higher education is on the basis of social competence grounds, which is quite separate from other arguments about creating a more democratic and inclusive education process in general.

Impact of the Reservation policy

The Reservation policy can be implemented successfully if it is complemented by several other factors which have short term and long term effects. Significantly, it strongly recommends the compulsory universal elementary education along with quality in secondary level education as to make best use of the positive impact of reservation in higher education. As there is privatization of education institution in India, it will result in the dilution of the benefits of reservation. A large percentage of SC, ST, OBC category students will thus fall at a disadvantage.

The Reservation policy also points out that, having reservation allotted in top institutions has not impacted in the dilution of merits or even the lessen the quality of professional education. The Reservation policy report portrays the fact that reservation to non-creamy layer OBC category as a crucial step ahead in helping the financially deprived and marginalized students access quality higher education.

In states like UP, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, where the reservations for backward class in the educational institution has a strong history shows positive results and the students are equally competitive just like the students from general category in most of the competitive, entrance and final exams.

In most of the tribal, rural and urban areas the quality of elementary and secondary level education obtainable to backward community is very poor. This result in the competency level of the students from these community and will be faced with serious obstruction to compete for seats in top colleges. Most of the students from the deprived community seriously face lack of access to corrective and coaching and this makes it more complicated for students to compete with individuals having access to improved bequest and chances in terms of community background, education and further provision for coaching.

Opportunity Maters

By offering an opportunity through reservation the backward class students get a better chance to compete and gain access to higher education and opportunity and get admission in top institutions. In a free and fair country like India, the students who deserve and are worthy must get the chance for higher education without the inference of caste, creed and religion.

Higher Studies

The competition to get in to fine colleges like IIT’s, AIIMS, IIM’s etc is very high and the number of students take in is also very low. Other than the cost of studies, the chance of surviving the admission process itself may not be on a fair stand for the students from the deprive classes due to lack of proper training. So the reservation in higher education can be a great chance for many students from the lower category to have a chance for quality education, which otherwise they may not get.

The students from the disadvantaged groups are not naturally lacking ability. But, in fact it is the lack of proper training and opportunity in the primary education system which had handicapped them in the lateral stage. There for in order to level up the playing field, along with reservation the basic level education also has to be improved.

Conversely, reservations are inadequate and moderately rigid instruments of confirmatory action. Even though they have many advantages and that’s why they are still preferred. Reservation policies to the minority students are actually transparent, inexpensive to put into operation and supervise and therefore it can be effortlessly enforced.

In India we still could do better with reservations for diverse groups in higher education. It is not an ideal instrument which will resolve the long-standing bias regarding cast, but they are still the best method which is practical and effective which will take the education system in the right direction. And primarily, considering the temperament of Indian society such measures is necessary to ensures exclusion of social discrimination as to persist and strengthen the society.