After implementing the Maratha reservation demand in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is set to make a major change in the Scheduled Caste reservation formula. Speaking at a conclave in Mumbai on the issues of reservation and caste movements, Devendra Fadnavis indicated that a sub-quota within the Scheduled Caste reservation quota will be implemented soon.

Speaking on the reservation issue, Chief Minister Fadnavis said that the OBC reservation has a creamy layer provision, which shows that if a person from the OBC community is affluent, they will not get the benefit of reservation. The benefit of reservation can be availed by the non-creamy layer class of OBCs. The Supreme Court has very clearly explained the creamy layer and non-creamy layer.

‘Reservation classification in one to two months’

Fadnavis said that recently, in one of its orders, the Supreme Court mentioned implementing the creamy layer formula within the Scheduled Castes as well. Even among the Scheduled Castes, in every state, one caste is dominant and is availing the benefits of reservation. Furthermore, the Supreme Court has spoken about classifying Scheduled Caste reservations because many castes in society have not been able to avail the proper benefits of reservation.

The Chief Minister said that the classification of Scheduled Caste reservation will be implemented within one to two months. He informed that a committee has been formed for the distribution of Scheduled Caste reservations. This committee, headed by a former High Court judge, is working on the classification of reservations. The committee’s report is now in its final stages. It will be implemented as soon as the report is received.

13% reservation benefit for Scheduled Castes

Scheduled Castes are currently receiving 13% reservation, and there has been a long-standing demand for classification, meaning a sub-quota within this quota. It is believed that larger castes like Mahar, Charmakar, and Dhor are availing the benefits of reservation, while castes with less representation in the state are not getting the benefit. In such a scenario, the 13% Scheduled Caste reservation will be divided into two parts.

Political debate on reservation classification

There has been a long-standing debate in various states of the country regarding sub-categories within Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and the OBC class, and their reservation issues. In August 2024, a bench of the Supreme Court, headed by the Chief Justice, ruled that the power to categorize SC-ST reservations lies with the state government.

In every state of the country, there is a dominant caste within the Dalit community. In Bihar, it’s the Paswan; in Uttar Pradesh, it’s the Jatav; and in Maharashtra, it’s the Mahar. These are castes against which other Dalit castes are mobilized for political use. In Maharashtra, the demand for a sub-quota within the Dalit community’s reservation has been raised for a long time.

Mahar vs Non-Mahar in Maharashtra

The Dalit population in Maharashtra, which is around 13 percent, is divided into two parts: Mahar and Non-Mahar. The Mahar caste constituted a little over fifty percent of Maharashtra’s Dalits. When Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar started the Dalit movement, mostly Mahars from his caste joined him. Besides this, other Dalit castes include Mang, Kori, Khatik, Matang, Bhed, Chamar, Dhor, Dom, Aulakh, and Gotraj. When Dr. Ambedkar converted, mostly Mahars became Buddhists.

In Maharashtra, it has often been alleged that the Mahar caste has availed most of the benefits of Dalit reservation, leading to a persistent demand for a separate quota and reservation for non-Mahar castes. Following the Supreme Court’s decision, it has become easier for the state government to take steps to categorize Dalit reservations in Maharashtra, and now Devendra Fadnavis has made a major announcement in this direction.

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is the highest judicial body in the United States, established by the Constitution in 1789 to head the federal judiciary. Its primary role is to interpret the law and ensure equal justice, with its power of judicial review—established by the 1803 case *Marbury v. Madison*—allowing it to invalidate laws it deems unconstitutional. The Court’s decisions on fundamental issues like civil rights and federal power have profoundly shaped American law and society.

Maharashtra

Maharashtra is a state in western India with a rich history as a center of powerful empires like the Marathas. It is home to Mumbai, India’s financial capital, and the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Ajanta and Ellora caves, renowned for their ancient rock-cut Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain monuments. The state’s culture is a vibrant blend of traditional festivals, classical music, and a globally influential film industry, Bollywood.

Mumbai

Mumbai is a major port city on India’s west coast, historically known as Bombay. It was originally a collection of seven islands gifted to Portugal and later transferred to the British East India Company, growing into a global trade hub. Today, it is India’s financial, commercial, and entertainment capital, famous for the Bollywood film industry and landmarks like the Gateway of India.

Bihar

Bihar is a state in northeastern India, historically known as Magadha, which was the center of powerful ancient empires like the Mauryan and Gupta dynasties. It is a region of immense historical and cultural significance, being the birthplace of Buddhism, as Buddha attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya. The state also contains the ancient Nalanda University, a renowned center of learning that attracted scholars from across Asia for centuries.

Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh is a state in northern India with a profound historical and cultural heritage, often considered the heartland of Hinduism. It was the center of ancient and medieval Indian empires and is home to iconic sites like the Taj Mahal in Agra and the holy cities of Varanasi and Ayodhya. The state played a pivotal role in India’s independence movement and continues to be a major political and religious influence in the country.

Mahar

I am unable to provide a specific summary for «Mahar» as it is not a clearly identifiable place or cultural site. The term could refer to a common surname in India, a village name in several countries, or potentially a misspelling. If you have more context, such as a country or region, I would be happy to try again.

Dalit

«Dalit» is not a specific place or cultural site, but a term for a group of people in South Asia. It refers to individuals who have historically been subjected to caste-based discrimination and were considered «untouchable» outside of the traditional varna system. The Dalit rights movement is a significant part of modern Indian history, fighting for social equality and against historical oppression.

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was a principal architect of the Indian Constitution and a pioneering social reformer who dedicated his life to campaigning against social discrimination and for the rights of the Dalit community and laborers. His legacy is honored across India through numerous memorials, with the most prominent being the Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai, his final resting place, which has become a site of pilgrimage and a symbol of the fight for equality. These sites commemorate his immense contribution to modern India and his enduring status as a symbol of social justice.