Introduction
India’s reservation policy has been a key tool for social justice, aimed at uplifting historically marginalized communities such as Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). However, when applied in strategically important sectors like medical education, civil services, defense research, and public sector undertakings (PSUs), the relaxed standards for reserved categories are raising serious concerns about quality, safety, and national security.
This report highlights the dangerous consequences of these relaxations and calls for a balanced approach that safeguards merit without compromising equity.
Medical Education: Degrees Without Passing Exams
- Case Study: Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU), Lucknow (2011)
- Proposed awarding MBBS degrees to SC/ST students who repeatedly failed final exams (some since 1996)
- Relaxations included lowering internal assessment marks and passing criteria
- Risk: Potentially creating inadequately trained doctors, compromising patient safety and public health
Civil Services: Lower Cut-offs and Relaxed Attempts
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UPSC exams maintain reservation with:
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Lower qualifying marks for reserved categories
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Age relaxation and increased number of attempts
- Risk: Potential decline in administrative quality and governance efficiency, impacting law enforcement and policy implementation
Defense Research and Strategic Sectors: Compromising Security Standards
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DRDO, ISRO, and other strategic PSUs grant relaxations in:
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Technical qualifications
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Physical and security screening
- Risk: Undermining national security and global competitiveness due to compromised merit-based recruitment
Banking, Engineering, and PSUs: Reduced Standards
- Relaxations in minimum marks and interview cut-offs for reserved candidates
- Risk: Reduced operational efficiency and economic stability in key sectors
Education and Research Institutions
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IITs and central universities offer:
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Lower entrance marks and special quotas for reserved categories
- Efforts ongoing but performance gaps remain
- Risk: Dilution of academic rigor and research quality
Dangerous Consequences of Over-Relaxation
- Erosion of meritocracy and institutional credibility
- Increased risks to public health and safety
- Administrative inefficiency and poor governance
- Threats to national security
- Social resentment and unrest
Recommendations: Balancing Equity with Excellence
- Enforce minimum competency standards across all sectors
- Provide bridge courses, mentoring, and preparatory support for reserved category students and candidates
- Regularly review and tighten passing criteria and qualifying standards
- Maintain transparency in relaxation policies
- Promote continuous skill development and assessment after recruitment
