Reservation in India refers to the system of affirmative action that provides historically disadvantaged groups, such as Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC), with a quota or a certain percentage of seats in government jobs, educational institutions, and legislatures. The policy is aimed at addressing the historical and social inequalities faced by these groups due to centuries of discrimination and marginalization under the caste system.

The reservation system was introduced as part of India’s efforts to promote social justice and inclusion, and it is enshrined in the Indian Constitution, specifically under Articles 15 and 16, which allow for affirmative action in education and employment. Over time, the scope of reservations has expanded to include provisions for economically weaker sections (EWS) in some states, as well as women, disabled individuals, and other marginalized groups.

The reservation system has been a subject of significant political and social debate in India. Proponents argue that it helps level the playing field for disadvantaged communities and promotes equality, while critics contend that it sometimes leads to reverse discrimination and merit-based opportunities being overlooked.

The debate on expanding, reducing, or maintaining reservations continues to be a key issue in Indian politics, with periodic demands for revising the criteria or extending reservations to other communities.

In April 2024, BOOM investigated a doctored video that falsely claimed to show Amit Shah promising to scrap SC/ST/OBC reservations.

BOOM found that in the original video, Shah was actually promising to scrap Muslim reservation in Telangana during the 2023 Assembly election campaign, not reservations for SC/ST/OBC categories.

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