Browsing by Author "Arvind, Shriyam"

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    Caste vs. Economic Criteria in Reservations: A Constitutional Analysis of Caste-Based Reservation Versus Economic-Based Reservations
    (National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam, 2025-06) Arvind, Shriyam
    The Indian Constitution envisions justice, equality, and dignity for all, particularly for those historically marginalized by caste-based exclusion. Caste-based reservations have long served as a corrective mechanism to address entrenched social and educational backwardness. However, the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019, introduced a 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) among unreserved categories, marking a shift from traditional caste-based affirmative action to economic criteria. This shift raises critical constitutional questions: Can economic disadvantage, divorced from social stigma, justify affirmative action? Does this inclusion of economic criteria dilute the original purpose of reservations, or does it expand the scope of substantive equality? As social and economic backwardness increasingly intersect, concerns arise about equating economic hardship with the unique, systemic oppression rooted in caste.