Bihar Assembly Greenlights Historic Reservation Hike to 65% for SCs, STs, OBCs, EBCs

Patna: The Bihar assembly on Thursday approved a hike in reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Castes (OBCs) and Extremely Backward Castes (EBCs) from the current 50 per cent to 65 per cent.

The development is based on the outcome of a caste-based survey and socio-economic data report tabled in the house on Tuesday.

Based on the findings of the caste-based survey, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar recommended a hike in the reservation of OBCs (18 per cent) and EBCs (25 per cent) to 43 per cent, 20 per cent for SCs and 2 per cent for STs.

The state government also explained that the quota for EWS would remain 10 percent raising the limit to 75 per cent.

While addressing the assembly Chief Minister Nitish Kumar explained that the decision to undertake the caste-based survey was made after extensive consultations with all political parties in Bihar. He highlighted that a delegation had met the Prime Minister and requested him to conduct the nationwide caste census, but when the central government declined, Bihar took the initiative to carry out the survey.

“The decision to conduct caste-based survey was taken after consulting all political parties in Bihar. A delegation had also met the Prime Minister and urged him to conduct caste census in the country but when the Centre refused we took the initiative”, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said.

He added, “At that time I had also said that we will not only conduct the caste-based survey but will also find the socio-economic condition of all classes. The decision was taken after consulting nine political parties. After the bill is passed unanimously the reservation limit will increase to 75 per cent.

Furthermore, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also encouraged members of the BJP to propose a similar nationwide caste-based survey to the Central government. He expressed a willingness to raise the limits even further if such surveys were conducted in the country.

“The caste-based survey was conducted after consulting all political parties in Bihar. It would be better if you (BJP) request the central government to carry out caste-based surveys nationwide. If this happens we will be happy to raise the reservation limit”, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said.

The findings of the caste-based survey revealed that EBCs and OBCs together constitute a substantial 63 per cent of Bihar’s total population of 13.07 Crores.

The development comes after the Bihar cabinet approved the proposal to increase quotas for OBCs, EBCs, SCs, and STs in the state.

The results of the caste-based survey and socio-economic report were presented in the state assembly and legislative council on Tuesday.

While presenting the caste-based survey report Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had said that the Bill would be brought in to affect the quota hike for backward classes in accordance with their share in the state’s population.