How are the percentages for reservation decided?

In one line

The rule

Reservation means setting aside a certain percentage of seats or jobs for specific groups who have been treated unfairly in the past, so they get equal opportunities.

There is no single formula, but the main rule is:

• The total reservation for all groups should not cross 50% (as per Supreme Court guidelines), unless there are special reasons.

Let's understand it simply

Imagine your school is giving out 100 laddus as prizes. Some students have always got fewer laddus because of unfair rules. To fix this, the teacher decides: “Let’s keep aside some laddus just for those students, so they get a fair share.”

This is what reservation does. The government keeps aside a part of seats in schools, colleges, or jobs for groups who were treated unfairly for many years. The number of seats kept aside is called the reservation percentage.

How it works

1. The government studies which groups (like Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes) have been left behind.
2. They look at the population of these groups using census data (a count of people in India).
3. Experts and commissions (like Mandal Commission) suggest what percentage should be reserved for each group.
4. The government decides the percentages, keeping in mind the Supreme Court’s rule: total reservation should not go above 50%, except in special cases.
5. Parliament or state assemblies pass laws to set these percentages.
6. Sometimes, courts check if the percentages are fair and legal.

The story behind it

After India became independent in 1947, leaders saw that some groups had faced unfair treatment for centuries. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who helped write the Constitution, wanted to give these groups a fair chance. The Constitution of India (1950) allowed reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).

Later, in 1979, the Mandal Commission was set up to study Other Backward Classes (OBCs). In 1990, the government accepted its suggestion to reserve 27% for OBCs. The Supreme Court, in the Indra Sawhney case (1992), said total reservation should not cross 50%, except in special cases.

Where you see it in real life

• College admissions: Out of 100 seats, 15 may be for SC, 7.5 for ST, and 27 for OBC, as per government rules.
• Government jobs: Some posts are kept for reserved categories, so everyone gets a chance.
• Panchayat elections: Seats for village leaders are reserved for women, SC, or ST, so they can represent their people.
• Medical entrance exams (NEET): Reservation percentages are used to decide who gets a seat.
• Central universities: Follow the same reservation rules for admissions and jobs.
• State jobs and colleges: Each state can set its own reservation percentages, based on its population.

Why it matters

• Gives a fair chance to groups who faced discrimination.
• Helps reduce inequality in education and jobs.
• Encourages diversity in schools, colleges, and workplaces.
• Builds a more equal society, where everyone can succeed.

Worked example

Let’s say a government college has 200 seats. The reservation is:

• 15% for SC
• 7.5% for ST
• 27% for OBC

How many seats for each group?

Given: Total seats = 200
Step 1: SC seats = 15% of 200 = 0.15 × 200 = 30
Step 2: ST seats = 7.5% of 200 = 0.075 × 200 = 15
Step 3: OBC seats = 27% of 200 = 0.27 × 200 = 54
Step 4: General seats = 200 - (30 + 15 + 54) = 101

So, 30 seats for SC, 15 for ST, 54 for OBC, and 101 for General category.

Common mistakes

• Thinking reservation is the same everywhere: Each state can have different percentages.
• Believing reservation is only for SC/ST: OBC and sometimes Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) also get reservation.
• Assuming reservation is forever: It is reviewed and can change based on new data.
• Forgetting the 50% rule: Total reservation usually cannot cross 50%, except in special cases (like Tamil Nadu).

Remember it

Reservation percentages are set by the government, based on population and need, and usually total up to 50%.