Reservation system in India: Can communities remain backward in perpetuity?
Lalit Shastri Constitution of India, at the time of adoption in 1950, laid down the fundamental principles of equality, non-discrimination, and affirmative action in Articles 15 and 16, which allowed the state to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes, including Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). However, the detailed mechanisms for reservation and quotas, as well as provisions for economically weaker sections, were added through subsequent amendments, reflecting the evolving needs and challenges of Indian society. So, while the foundational principles were present in the original Constitution, the specific modalities and extents of reservation were developed over time through legislative and judicial processes. Constitutional Amendments: Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951: Added Article 15(4) and Article 16(4) to enable the state to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward