Centre clears 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker upper castes

New Delhi: The union cabinet meeting approved 10 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions for the economically backward section in the general category.

The cabinet meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This reservation will be over and above the existing 50 per cent reservation.

"The reservation will be given to those economically backward poor people who are not availing the benefit of reservation as of now," a source explained to PTI.

The reservation benefit is likely to be availed by those whose annual income is below Rs 8 lakh and have up to five acres of land, the source further said.

The source also added that Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution will have to be amended for implementation of the decision.

The government is ready with a constitutional amendment bill and will be introduced in the Parliament tomorrow, the last day of the Winter Session.

This decision comes months before the government’s tenure is about to end and the country is headed into election mode.

(With PTI inputs)