The Orient BlackSwan ‘Policy Studies’ series is designed to address, investigate, and analyse public policy in the field of governance.

At the heart of democratic nation-building is a quest for equality and justice. However, in the face of continuing inequalities based on caste, gender, region, and class, how is India to fulfil the constitutional guarantee of equality?

This book provides an overview of the reservation policy developed by the government and its underlying philosophy, and traces its history from colonial India to the present day. Presenting the most recent data on this policy, the authors assess its impact on various kinds of representation—jobs, higher education and the electorate and ask some pertinent questions: How are reservations tied to the legacy of anti-caste assertions across India? Has the policy effectively tackled historical injustices faced by oppressed groups, including Dalits, Adivasi/tribal communities, and backward classes?

Acknowledging the changing socioeconomic context of the past decades, the book discusses recent expansions in reservation policy, such as the Women’s Reservation Bill and mass agitations for caste-based reservations, and also offers a detailed analysis of the demand for reservation in the private sector.

This book will be essential reading for policymakers, practitioners working in governance and development, as well as for students of policy studies, sociology, and political economy.