Question

$103^{rd}$ Constitution Amendment Act deals with:

• A. Goods and Services Tax
• B. Co-Operative Societies
• C. Reservation for Economically Weaker Sections
• D. Inclusion of Maithili in the 8th Schedule

Hint:

103rd Amendment = 10% EWS Quota. It marks the first time economic status alone was used as a basis for reservation in the Constitution.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept: The 103rd Amendment (2019) introduced a major shift in India's reservation policy by moving beyond purely "social and educational" backwardness to include "economic" criteria.

Step 1: Constitutional Changes.
The amendment added Article 15(6) and Article 16(6) to the Constitution. These articles empower the State to make special provisions, including reservations in educational institutions and government jobs, for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of citizens.

Step 2: The 10% Quota.
It permits a maximum of 10% reservation for EWS. This is in addition to the existing reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs. The "EWS" are defined as those who are not covered under the existing schemes of reservation and fulfill certain income/asset criteria.

Step 3: Legal Significance.
This amendment challenged the traditional interpretation of the "50% cap" on reservations set by the Supreme Court in the *Indra Sawhney* case. However, in 2022, the Supreme Court upheld the validity of the 103rd Amendment, stating that economic criteria can be a valid basis for affirmative action.