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Parliament clears 10% quota for poor in general category, Prez nod awaited

| Updated: Thursday, January 10, 2019, 0:06 [IST]

New Delhi, Jan 9: Centres's bill allowing for 10 percent quota to economically poor candidates form the general category was also passed in the Rajya Sabha. The quota is over and above 50 percent mandated for the SCs, STs and the OBCs.

A day after Lok Sabha approved The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2019, the Rajya Sabha passed the law with 165 voting in favour and 7 against.

Upper Caste Quota Bill in Rajya Sabha Live: Will it be a smooth passage even in Upper House?

In the last leg of the legislative process, the Bill will now go to the President for approval. And once its gets his ascent, it will become the law that will give economically weaker sections in the general category 10 percent reservation in education as well as central and state government jobs.

It would be applicable to candidates of general category irrespective of religion. 323 lawmakers voted in favour of the bill in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, whereas only three voting against it.

Quota for poor among upper caste: Are you eligible? Check here Quota for poor among upper caste: Are you eligible? Check here

10% quota for upper caste poor: 'Historic,' says BJP; 'election gimmick,' counters Congress 10% quota for upper caste poor: 'Historic,' says BJP; 'election gimmick,' counters Congress

Rajya Sabha clears quota bill: Highlights

Newest First Oldest First

10:26 PM, 9 Jan

10% quota bill clears Parliament test.

10:20 PM, 9 Jan

With 155 noes, the Rajya Sabha rejects proposal to send bill for scrutiny of a select committee. The motion was moved by DMK MP Kanimozhi.

10:18 PM, 9 Jan

A 10 per cent quota in jobs and education for people from general category who also belong to the economically weaker sections became possible today after a bill for this was passed by the Rajya Sabha.

9:28 PM, 9 Jan

“This is a draconian bill which is killing the spirit of constitution. This bill wouldn’t have been passed in any house if was tabled in the current form earlier,” says IUML’s Abdul wahab

9:28 PM, 9 Jan

“This bill is not going to benefit anyone. This bill is nothing but a political gimmick, which is brought at the fag end of the session just keeping elections in mind,” said TDP’s Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar

9:28 PM, 9 Jan

“The bill has been brought to end quota for dalits and other backward. This is the actual agenda of this government,” says AAP’s Sanjay Singh

9:27 PM, 9 Jan

“There should be a system wherein the meritorious students of all classes should compete under general category,” says PL Punia of Congress.

9:27 PM, 9 Jan

“A bill as important as quota bill shouldn’t be passed in haste and should be referred to a select committee,” says CPI’s D Raja.

7:04 PM, 9 Jan

Quota bill is a sixer, says Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in Rajya Sabha on #QuotaBill: Cricket mein chhakka slog over mein lagta hai, jab match close hota hai tab lagta hai. Agar aapko issi pe pareshani hai, to yeh pehla chakka nahi hai, aur chakke aane wale hain. pic.twitter.com/f6yNjppFDB
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2019

6:38 PM, 9 Jan

“The quota bill suffers from 3 huge flaws,” said Congress’ Kapil Sibal

6:38 PM, 9 Jan

“We support the bill, but saddened by the way it has been brought. It’s a very important bill, so it should have been sent to a select committee,” Kapil Sibal

6:38 PM, 9 Jan

“Why is the Opposition is supporting the bill with ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’? Why aren’t the supporting the bill without riders as we are writing history with this bill,” said Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

6:38 PM, 9 Jan

“Everyone’s talking about the 50% cap on reservation. There’s no mention of this cap in the Constitution, it has only come up in judgments. The Supreme Court’s 50%,ceiling in fact, only applies to reservation for backward classes,” said Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

6:37 PM, 9 Jan

“Except for DMK, every party is supporting the quota bill,” said Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

6:37 PM, 9 Jan

“Economic status can not be a criteria for reservation. When you are an OBC, Dalit, you will still face discrimination. You may not be economically weak, but your caste will never leave you,” said DMK’s Kanimozhi

6:37 PM, 9 Jan

“The quota bill has been brought to make right wrong. The government thinks that they can’t decide everything unilaterally and force it upon people of this country,” said DMK’s Kanimozhi

6:36 PM, 9 Jan

“We welcome this historic bill. But, the machinery to decide who will get the benefits needs to be strengthened,” said Shiv Sena’s Anil Desai

6:35 PM, 9 Jan

RJD's Manoj Jha attacked the BJP, claiming that the reservation is not a poverty alleviation program like MNREG, but an "anti-Dalit and anti-poor" scheme.

6:35 PM, 9 Jan

CPI(M) MP Elamaram Kareem charged the BJP of robbing the country of one crore jobs during demonetisation.

6:34 PM, 9 Jan

While the JD (U) has extended its support to the Quota bill, the TDP argues that the bill should have been referred to a Select Committee.

4:39 PM, 9 Jan

TMC dubs demonetisation as the greatest man-made disaster ever.

4:17 PM, 9 Jan

“I want to alert this government, as we have alerted during demonetisation that Supreme Court is going to ask you some questions, they will ask you what surveys you have done, what numbers you have to prove this bill. Where are the jobs. The quota bill an admission of failure to create jobs,” said TMC MP Derek O’ Brien.

4:06 PM, 9 Jan

TMC's Derek O'Brien accuses the government of disrespecting the Parliament. He says quota bill is testimony to the fact that government could not create jobs.

3:54 PM, 9 Jan

The debate continues in the Upper house and it is yet to be seen if it can be passed on the last day of the winter session.

3:35 PM, 9 Jan

You tried to break the Supreme Court ceiling of 50% reservation. Will it stand the court of law? Reserved categories under-represented in bureaucracy, says Ram Gopal Yadav, Samajwadi Party.

3:16 PM, 9 Jan

"Cut-offs in this category would go higher than general merit," says Ram Gopal Yadav. He says 10% quote move would be counter productive.

3:13 PM, 9 Jan

The bill could have been introduced anytime, why now, asks SP's Ram Gopal Yadav.

3:07 PM, 9 Jan

"We get to see PM Modi in several attires on TV these days from several places, but not in the House," says Anand Sharma.

3:04 PM, 9 Jan

Anand Sharma asks why government mum on women reservation bill. He says BJP mislead country once in 2014 by making false promises, but it won't happen again.

3:01 PM, 9 Jan

Congress' Anand Sharma says he "abhors" government's attitude of trying to change the Constitution.

11:44 AM, 9 Jan

While the quota bill has not been listed in the list of business for the day so far, it is expected to be list for later in the day.

11:44 AM, 9 Jan

Like the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha was expected to end the Winter Session yesterday. However, it was extended by one to help consider and pass the quota bill.

12:00 PM, 9 Jan

The proposed quota would be over and above the 50 per cent reservation already available to SC/ST and Other Backward Castes.

12:00 PM, 9 Jan

Being a constitutional amendment bill, the quota bill for upper caste poor will require presence of at least half of the members even in the upper house and support from two-third of them.

12:01 PM, 9 Jan

Rajya Sabha adjourned.

12:02 PM, 9 Jan

Rajya Sabha adjourned amid uproar over Quota Bill.

12:12 PM, 9 Jan

Debate on quota bill resumes in Rajya Sabha. 10% quota bill has been tabled.

12:16 PM, 9 Jan

"On Tuesday, a historic Bill was passed in Lok Sabha. 10% quota signifies strong work of BJP towards 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'" PM Modi says in his address in Solapur.

12:22 PM, 9 Jan

"The bill should go to a select committee. First we should discuss on that. All procedures have not been followed," says CPI's D Raja.

12:23 PM, 9 Jan

Ruckus in Rajya Sabha over quota bill. Opposition parties accuse the government of politicising quota.

12:26 PM, 9 Jan

Congress questions timing of the bill, says it is being brought keeping general elections in mind. Asks why government is in haste.

12:26 PM, 9 Jan

Union Minister Tawarchand Gehlot says that intentions behind the bill are nobel.

12:31 PM, 9 Jan

RJD's Manoj Jha says the government is tinkering with the basic structure of quota system.

12:33 PM, 9 Jan

"This bill will uplift the poor of the nation. This decision has been taken with thorough consideration," says Union Minister TC Gehlot.

12:34 PM, 9 Jan

Opposition leaders troop into the well of the House as the minister speaks on the Bill.

12:36 PM, 9 Jan

"I am sure that the House will pass this bill. This is a historic bill," says BJP's Prabhat Jha.

12:37 PM, 9 Jan

"We know that the Bill is being introduced in a hurry because of the upcoming elections. We understand what is happening we are not kids," says Congress' Anand Sharma.

12:38 PM, 9 Jan

"The Quota Bill has not been passed in a hurry. The intentions behind this Bill are noble; country's poor need this quota," says minister TC Gehlot.

12:39 PM, 9 Jan

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm.

2:03 PM, 9 Jan

Debate on upper caste quota bill resumes in Rajya Sabha.

2:32 PM, 9 Jan

Opposition maintains that bill be sent to select committee.

2:34 PM, 9 Jan

"I urge all parties to rise above party lines and unite in the name of Vikas (Development)," says BJP's Prabhat Jha.

2:55 PM, 9 Jan

"It's not about PM Modi but about crores of India's youth, says BJP MP Prabhat Jha, requesting Opposition to pass the Quota Bill in Rajya Sabha. "It's only Narendra Modi who has followed slogan of 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas' in its true spirit, like a devout would chant verses of Gita. Let's join our hands for development of all," Jha adds.

3:01 PM, 9 Jan

Congress' Anand Sharma says he "abhors" government's attitude of trying to change the Constitution.

3:04 PM, 9 Jan

Anand Sharma asks why government mum on women reservation bill. He says BJP mislead country once in 2014 by making false promises, but it won't happen again.

3:07 PM, 9 Jan

"We get to see PM Modi in several attires on TV these days from several places, but not in the House," says Anand Sharma.

3:13 PM, 9 Jan

The bill could have been introduced anytime, why now, asks SP's Ram Gopal Yadav.

3:16 PM, 9 Jan

"Cut-offs in this category would go higher than general merit," says Ram Gopal Yadav. He says 10% quote move would be counter productive.

3:35 PM, 9 Jan

You tried to break the Supreme Court ceiling of 50% reservation. Will it stand the court of law? Reserved categories under-represented in bureaucracy, says Ram Gopal Yadav, Samajwadi Party.

3:54 PM, 9 Jan

The debate continues in the Upper house and it is yet to be seen if it can be passed on the last day of the winter session.

The proposed reservation will be over and above the existing 50 per cent reservation enjoyed by the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes, and will take the total reservation to 60 per cent.

Among the major castes to benefit from the proposed law are Brahmins, Rajputs (Thakurs), Jats, Marathas, Bhumihars, several trading castes, Kapus and Kammas among other Upper Castes. The ruling BJP hopes that the bill will help consolidate the general castes in its support as it begins campaign for the Lok Sabha elections scheduled in April-May.