Quota Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha

The controversial Quota Bill to provide 27 percent reservation for OBCs in central educational institutions, which is to be made operational from the academic year 2007, was introduced by Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh in the Lok Sabha on Friday.

The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Bill, 2006, makes no mention of the creamy layer.

Asked about the issue of including minority institutions under the purview of reservation, Singh said this was negated by the House earlier.

The Minister said the Bill was brought in order to benefit millions of students belonging to socially and economically weaker sections of society.

It provides for a mandatory increase of seats in central educational institutions, which would be attained over a maximum period of three years, beginning with the 2007 academic session.

It said though it may not be possible to quantify the financial requirement at this stage, 'whatever be the expenditure, it would be met from the Consolidated Fund of India through budgetary provision' under the HRD Ministry.

The Bill applicable to Central Universities, IITs and IIMs and certain other institutions established, maintained or aided by the Central government, defines OBCs as the class or classes of citizens who are socially and educationally backward and are so determined by the central government.