AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
- May 6, 2021
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Subject: Polity
Context: Need constant review of schemes for SC, ST students: Supreme Court
Concept:
- Affirmative action refers to a set of policies that support members of disadvantaged groups that have previously suffered discrimination in any form.
- The nature of affirmative action policies varies from region to region and exists on a spectrum from a hard quota to merely targeting encouragement for increased participation.
- Some countries use a quota system, whereby a certain percentage of government jobs, political positions, and school vacancies must be reserved for members of a certain group; an example of this is the reservation system in India.
- Historically and internationally, support for affirmative action has sought to achieve goals such as bridging inequalities in employment and pay, increasing access to education, promoting diversity, and redressing apparent past wrongs, harms, or hindrances.
Affirmative actions in India can be categorized into 3 main dimensions, which are given below.
- Appointment and promotion in government services.
- Reservations in public education institutions.
- Reservation of seats in Central and State legislatures.