Questions are often raised about the need for and efficacy of affirmative action (AA) in India. There are apprehensions about reservation of seats in government-aided educational institutions, government-sector jobs, and the legislature. This piece is an attempt at answering a few of those queries. This article is based on Ashwini Deshpande’s book, ‘Affirmative Action in India’ (2013), published by Oxford University Press, India