Reservation Policy

noun phrase

/ˌrez.əˈveɪ.ʃən ˈpɒl.ɪ.si/

The constitutional system under Articles 15(4), 16(4), and 243D of India's Constitution that sets aside a specified percentage of seats in educational institutions, government employment, and elected bodies for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes to redress historical disadvantage

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

The Supreme Court's nine-judge bench in Indra Sawhney v. Union of India (1992) upheld the Mandal Commission's 27% reservation for OBCs while imposing a 50% ceiling on total reservations, balancing compensatory justice with efficiency imperatives.

Synonyms

affirmative actionquota systemprotective discriminationscheduled caste reservation

Antonyms

open competitionmerit-only selectionnon-quota system

🌱 Word Family

reservation policy (n phrase), reserve (v), reservation (n), reserved (adj), reservationist (n, informal)

🔡 Root

Latin reservare = to keep back (re- = back + servare = to keep/save) + Greek politeia = citizenship/governance

📜 Etymology

Reserve entered Middle English from Old French reserver; the reservation policy in India traces its constitutional roots to Article 46 of the Directive Principles and Articles 15-16; landmark judgments including Indra Sawhney (1992) defined its scope and limits

🧠 Memory Hook

RESERVE + -ATION POLICY: the state RESERVES (sets aside) seats — like reserving a table at a restaurant — ensuring marginalised groups have a guaranteed place

⚖️ Social Justice 📖 Seen in: Dalit Rights & SC/ST Atrocities Act — ...

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