New Delhi, January 15, 2018

Following the 124th constitutional amendment, 10 per cent reservation quota for economically-weaker sections (EWS) of the general category will be implemented in all educational institutions from the new academic sessions starting this year itself.

Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar announced today that additional seats up to 25 per cent will be increased in varsities towards quota implementation. The decisions were taken following consultations with officials from the ministry, University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE).

The reservation will be implemented from the 2019-2020 academic session itself. Nearly 25 per cent seats will be added to ensure that the reservation does not disturb the existing quota for SC, ST and other categories. There are around 40,000 colleges and 900 universities across the country and supernumerary quota will be provided in these," said Javadekar this evening.

The EWS category quotas will be implemented by private universities too, as per the minister. Rajya Sabha passed the quota Bill on January 9 on the last day of the winter session that was extended by a day in the Upper House amid opposition protests. The amendment seeks to provide 10 per cent EWS general category quota in jobs and education sectors, over and above the existing 50 per cent reservation to Scheduled Castes (SC) , Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Castes (OBC).

"The modalities are being worked out and within a week's time we will have the exact number of seats that will be added. The operation manuals about how to implement the quota will be issued soon. The colleges and universities will also be asked to mention the quota in their prospectus as well and make infrastructural arrangements accordingly," added the minister.

The government has also approved the proposal to extend the 7th Pay Commission benefits to teachers and other academic staff of the central and state government and government aided degree level technical institutions. Rs 1,241 crore has been sanctioned for the same.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/hrd-to-increase-25-seats-in-varsities-to-implement-ews-quota/714223.html