UPSC selection process – reservations.
Posted by Irus on July 17, 2008
The UPSC system of selection is a good balance of merit and affirmative action.
What i feel is needed is
Firstly, a clarity on the definition of General/Open Category seats.
Available here refers to giving a choice to candidates at the beginning of the application process
and
Given here refers to the end of selection process where the final list is prepared
should these “open-seats” be “available”+”given” to everyone including reserved category? (As the standard of performance of Reserved candidates goes up continuously “giving” seats will lead eventually to zero selections from general category as they have no quota once we use the definition that “General seats” as “given” to “ALL”) Which is double reservation.
OR
Whether these “open seats” should be “available” to those who mention their category as “General” in their forms from the beginning (As these seats are already “available” to everyone while applying. these should not be “given” to “everyone” once the reserved candidate has forfeited his right of applying in the seats already “available” to all)
and
Secondly, the question of responsibility of state.
Is it to “enable” the backward category to be able to compete for jobs on the same footing as with general via reservations in higher education?
OR
giving reservation in higher education and jobs both? which is double reservation and dilution of the concept of “equality of opportunity”.
Personal Verdict
1. General category should be open to only those who apply as general since the option to apply as general is available to all
2. Reservation benefit should be available at one point, either jobs OR in higher education at the discretion of the candidate, NOT both.
praveen said
upsc does a good job & its the only organisation whose integrity is beyond challenge, offlate it has been vandalized by mandal politicians & student unions that it is discriminating them which is a cheap publicity stunt
in india we fallow a policy of positive affirmative action 2 represent the underrepresented classes in jobs & 49.5% is bench marked for them
regarding the 50-5%, it is open or unreserved which is open to everyone & needs to be filled purely by merit & if it is made open to ppl of of GEN,then 50.5% will become quota for GEN which violates the very principle of reservation as enshrined in our constitution.
the basic flaw in reservation policy is due reservation for OBC who are undefined by constitution unlike SC/ST whose criteria for reservation is just.
there many people in OBC category who really deserve reservation & really poor, but the agony is that under competitive vote bank politics many rich & politically assertive people like Sharad Pawar, Deve Gowda & not to speak about Tamil Nadu got themselves included as OBC’s.
these prosperous people benefitting out from reservation makes GEN cat person who competes under narrow competition feel frustrated against the policy of reservation & ultimately the reservation is turning out be divisive issue & its failing to fulfill the purpose it tends to serve
also these rich people ruin the chances & oppurtunities of poor legitimate OBC’s from rural india who really deserve reservation for upliftment
Deepa said
i agree with you points broadly praveen but what is the solution? Infact when you say this below then this is creating more problems than solving.
“regarding the 50-5%, it is open or unreserved which is open to everyone & needs to be filled purely by merit & if it is made open to ppl of of GEN,then 50.5% will become quota for GEN which violates the very principle of reservation as enshrined in our constitution.”
It becomes a General quota and whats bad about that Praveen? Afterall anyone can apply in General category to begin with.
saurav said
I SINCERELY WISH THAT SCs AND OBCs OF THIS COUNTRY WOULD STOP THE DISGRACEFUL SPECTACLE OF GOING AROUND WITH A BEGGING BOWL AND ON TOP OF THAT ACTING AS IF THE ENTIRE COUNTRY OWES THEM SOMETHING. IT IS DUE TO THE SHAMEFUL PANDERING TO USELESS QUOTA CANDIDATES THAT THE COUNTRY IS SUFFERING FROM AN AFFLICTION OF MEDIOCRITY IN EVERY SINGLE FIELD, BE IT EDUCATION OR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
Abhishek said
I totally agree with Saurav who has commented above me. Just because of this senseless reservation our country will remain in the dumps with corruption being the main issue. People from the so-called backward classes misuse the unfair reservation system! Or country’s going to the dogs! Pls save india!!!
Arun Singh said
I completely disagree with Mr.Praveen’s comment about 50.5% open category. He says that if the open category be made available only to GEN, then it will become a GEN quota. I would rather ask him to compare the population of GEN candidates with those who are reserved.The GEN candidates are clearely being cheated without getting benefit for their meritorious effort.
Infact this hasty gameplan of spoonfeeding through reservation should stop.Otherwise the reserved cat people would never know to struggle in life.And never they can serve poor India because only a man who has struggled to get something can understand the difficulties of others. These candidates who get through without any effort,will never bother to put any effort for the welfare of the nation.Infact they become the branches of already grown tree called “CURRUPTION”
Thats all I would say.
nimisha jha said
Reservation is fine only till when it does not come into the way of meritocracy.
This so called affirmative action has ripped the nation with a sadistic pleasure of looking forward from the back
civil services a common platform for all india candidates has a pass percentage of 0.025 for genral category………..what is this>???? is this justice and to top it all students from the reserved category gets the benefit of resevation in age and attempts and when they get a high rank they take a general seat…..case still pending with SC…this is surely anarchy where is india heading to…..a class APART nation……..