Maharashtra Government Greenlights 10% Reservation for Marathas, Extending Beyond 50% Cap

MAHARASHTRA, 20 february 2024, In a special session of the state legislature on Tuesday, the Maharashtra government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, approved a bill to extend reservation to Marathas beyond the 50% cap. This move echoes the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Act, 2018, previously introduced by the Devendra Fadnavis government.

This marks the third instance in a decade where the state has enacted legislation to address the Maratha quota. The decision to convene the special session was prompted by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil, currently on a hunger strike in the Antarwali Saarati village in Jalna district.

The 10% Maratha quota, approved by the Mahayuti government, aligns with the existing 10% reservation for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), with Marathas being the primary beneficiaries, claiming 85% of this allocation.

The Maharashtra Backward Class Commission (MBCC), which was chaired by(Retired) Justice Sunil Shukre,delivered a crucial document to the Maharashtra government, which became the foundation for the extended reservation .For the report , a survey of 2.5 crore households was done within nine days, which emphasized on Maratha community’s the social and educational backwardness .

The Devendra Fadnavis government formed the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission (MSBCC) in June 2017, to evaluate the Maratha community’s social, financial, and educational status . Therefore, in November 2018,they were classified into socially and educationally backward class (SEBC) by the Commission’s report .

Emphasizing adherence to legal terms, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde assured that the reservation for Marathas would be implemented in accordance with the law. The approval of the bill during the special assembly session underscores the state’s commitment to addressing the concerns of the Maratha community through inclusive policies.