The state legislative assembly of Maharashtra on November 29, 2018 passed the Maratha Reservation Bill, approving 16 per cent reservation for the Maratha community in education and job sectors.

The bill will now be sent to the state’s upper house, the legislative council. The Maharashtra cabinet had earlier on November 18, given its approval to the reservation bill.

The decision to introduce the bill was taken by the state government on the basis of the recommendations made by the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission, whose report was submitted to the state government’s Chief Secretary DK Jain on November 15.

The move follows months of massive protests by members of the community demanding reservation in education and jobs.

Key Highlights

• Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that independent reservation will be given to the Maratha community under a new category called SEBC (socially and economically backward category). 

• The Marathas will get the reservation from an independent quota and it is not expected to affect the reservations given to the Other Backward Class (OBC).

• The State Commission for Backward Class had stated in its report that extraordinary and exceptional circumstances prevail among the Marathas, which makes them eligible to reap the benefits of reservation.  

• The commission’s report stated that Marathas are a "socially and educationally backward class of citizens" with minuscule representation in government and semi-government services.

• The percentage of the reservation for the Maratha community will be decided by a sub-committee, which will be constituted by the state cabinet to take statutory steps for the implementation of the recommendations of the backward commission.