What is in news : The Karnataka government will soon issue a notification giving effect to a 10% reservation in the state’s civil services and educational institutions for people from the economically-weaker sections (EWS), or upper castes.

EWS QUOTA

• The 103rd amendment act provide for reservation in appointments to posts under the state and in admissions to educational institutions to “economically weaker sections of citizens [EWS]”. This reservation, can extend up to 10% of the total seats available.
• 103rd amendment act provides for reservation of jobs in central government jobs as well as government educational institutions. It is also applicable on admissions to private higher educational institutions.
• It applies to citizens belonging to the economically weaker sections of any sect of society.
• This reservation is “in addition to the existing reservations and subject to a maximum of 10% of the total seats in each category”.
• It mandates Article 46 of the Constitution of India, a Directive Principle that urges the government to protect the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of society.
• Amended articles of the constitution:
  • Article 15 (6) – provide reservations to economically weaker sections for admission to educational institutions including private educational institutions for those who do not fall in 15 (5) and 15(4) (effectively, SCs, STs and OBCs).
  • Article 16 (6) is added to provide reservations to people from economically weaker sections in government posts