Over 2 lakh additional seats will be created in 158 Central Educational Institutions (CEIs) across the country to implement 10 per cent reservation for the Economically Weaker Section, with the Union Cabinet giving a go ahead on Monday, sources said.
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday approved the provisions of reservations in admission for EWS students in Central Educational Institutions.
According to sources, the HRD Ministry had sought thepermission of the Election Commission before moving the proposal in theCabinet, as the Model Code of Conduct has been enforced ahead of Lok Sabhaelections.
“With the approval of the Cabinet, a total of 2,14,766additional seats will be created. While 1,19,983 additional seats will becreated during 2019-20 academic session, 95,783 seats will be added in2020-21,” sources said.
A sanction of Rs 4315.15 crore has been approved for the 158CEIs for implementation of reservation in admission to students belonging toEWS.
The Rajya Sabha on January 9 approved amending theConstitution to provide 10 per cent reservation to general category poor injobs and education, with the government terming the landmark move as “slogover sixes”.
The quota will be over and above the existing 50 per centreservation to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes(OBCs).
In pursuance of 103rd Constitutional Amendment andguidelines of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) to provide for10 per cent reservations for EWS category, without adversely affecting theproportionate reservations for SC/ST an SEBC and also not reducing the seatavailability in General category, the HRD Ministry had issued instructions inJanuary this year to all CEIs to increase the intake of students in allbranches of study.
The interim budget for 2019-20 also provided for an increase of 25 per cent of all seats in CEIs.