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While the reserved quota and its implementation will continue to be indequate for the OBCs, the 10 per cent quota for the hitherto unreserved categories will be fulfilled from the year in which it is rolled out (2019), thereby increasing inequality between the upper castes and backward classes in multiple spheres, writes P.N. Sankaran

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The Congress’ victories and Modi-Shah duo’s defeats in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Assembly elections are being put under the microscope. Dalit voters, savarna voters and Rahul Gandhi’s soft Hindutva are being bandied about as possible reasons but no one is talking about the OBCs, who are the real force behind Congress’ triumphs. Arun Kumar’s analysis

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

P. S. Krishnan, a former secretary to the Government of India, has worked on many laws and projects for the welfare of the Bahujans, whether it is the draft report of the Mandal Commission or the Bill that became the SC-ST Act. Dalit writer Mohandas Nemishrai remembers his interactions with Krishnan

It was Jagdev Prasad who brought the politics of the Backwards and Dalits in Bihar on a par with the politics of Savarnas by founding the Shoshit Dal. Although he himself never became Chief Minister, it was only because of him that B.P. Mandal, Daroga Prasad Rai, Karpoori Thakur, Bhola Paswan Shastri and others could reach the pinnacle of power. However, Jagdev Babu’s struggle is still unfinished. Shoshit Samaj Dal National President Raghuniram Shastri explains

Atal Bihari Vajpayee did nothing that his party BJP or the media have found worth listing. In fact, many of his decisions left the backward classes, minorities, SCs, STs and the workers worse off. Akhil Niranjan explains

P.S. Krishnan was the heart, brain and hand behind a number of constitutional and legislative enactments, such as the granting of constitutional status to the National Commission for SCs and STs, the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 and the implementation of the Mandal commission’s report

Atal Bihari Vajpayee did nothing that his party BJP or the media have found worth listing. In fact, many of his decisions left the backward classes, minorities, SCs, STs and the workers worse off. Akhil Niranjan explains