Jammu- The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet on Wednesday approved a major revision of the reservation structure by reducing quotas in the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Reserved Backward Area (RBA) categories to increase the share of Open Merit candidates.

Officials told Kashmir News Observer that the Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, cleared a proposal to cut seven percent from the EWS quota and three percent from the RBA quota. The move is expected to enhance the Open Merit share by ten percent.

They said the Cabinet has implemented in full the recommendations submitted by the Cabinet Sub Committee constituted last year to examine concerns raised by aspirants regarding the existing reservation policy.

The committee had advised that other vertical reservation categories, including ST I, ST II, Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes and Actual Line of Control or International Border residents, should remain untouched.

The revised proposal will now be forwarded to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for approval. Under the rules governing the Union Territory, the LG will have to seek the Centre's view if the changes impact minorities or reserved communities.

At present, ST I, ST II, RBA and EWS each hold ten percent reservation. Scheduled Castes and OBCs each have eight percent, while ALC or IB residents have four percent. Once approved, the Open Merit category is expected to rise to fifty percent of vertical reservation.

Political reactions

Opposition parties have not issued formal statements so far. The BJP said it will respond only once the proposal is made public.

“It would be premature to comment at this juncture,” party spokesperson Sunil Sethi said.

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