In a historic move, Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar granted approval to the ‘Bihar Reservation Amendment Bill’ on November 17. The legislation, unanimously passed in the recent winter session, secures an increased reservation quota for Backward, Extremely Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes, elevating it from 50% to 65%. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, committed to swift implementation, anticipates a publication of the gazette shortly.
Chief Minister Kumar, addressing the Assembly after the unanimous passage, assured prompt execution of the bill’s provisions. The new allocation redistributes quotas, elevating Extremely Backward Class (EBC) from 18% to 25%, Backward Class (BC) from 12% to 18%, Scheduled Caste (SC) from 16% to 20%, and doubling the quota for Scheduled Tribe (ST) from 1% to 2%. Notably, the 3% reservation for BC women has been rescinded.
This legislative stride extends beyond social reservations, encompassing educational institutions and government jobs. Companion bills, grounded in a comprehensive caste survey conducted by the state government, received unanimous approval through voice vote in the state assembly. Chief Minister Kumar, who proposed the amendments on November 7, expressed openness to further adjustments based on need.
The caste survey, revealing EBCs comprising 36% and BCs 27.1% of the state’s population, underscores the substantial impact of this amendment, pushing the overall quota to 75%. The Chief Minister emphasized a commitment to promptly execute the enhanced reservation, aligning with the government’s proactive stance.
