Jammu and Kashmir New Reservation Rules

Understanding the New Reservation Rules in Jammu & Kashmir

In a significant move to enhance social equity, the Jammu & Kashmir administration has introduced amendments to the J&K Reservation Rules, 2005. These changes come as part of the J&K Reservation (Amendment) Act, 2023, and are set to reshape the landscape of educational and employment opportunities within the Union Territory.

Key Highlights of the Amendments:

Inclusion of New Tribes: The amendments have added four new tribes to the Scheduled Tribes Order, namely the Pahari Ethnic Group, Paddari Tribe, Kolis, and Gadda Brahmins¹. This inclusion aims to provide these communities with better access to government jobs and professional courses, addressing their historical social and educational disadvantages.
Enhanced Reservation for STs: A dedicated 10% reservation has been approved for the newly added tribes, increasing the total reservation for Scheduled Tribes to 20%. This ensures that both existing and newly added tribes benefit from reservation policies.
OBC Reservation Increase: The Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation has been raised to 8%, with the addition of 15 new castes to the OBC list². This move is expected to fulfill long-standing demands for greater representation of OBCs in the Union Territory.

Changes in Caste Nomenclature: The amendments also include changes in the nomenclature and synonymy of certain castes as recommended by the Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBC) Commission².
Alignment with Disability Rights: In a step towards inclusivity, the term ‘physically challenged persons’ or ‘handicapped’ has been replaced with ‘Persons with Disabilities’ in the rules, aligning with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016