I. The Indian Constitution and Reservation Policy: The Constitution provides for three kinds of reservations for the SCs and STs. There are:

1. reservation of jobs in government services and in public sector.

2. reservation in educational institutions. and

3. reservations in legislative representations. 

II. Different Articles and Reservation Policy:

(a) Under Article 16(A), 320 (4) and 333, 15% and 7% of the jobs are reserved at all levels in the public services for the SCs and STs respectively. This reservation however, must as far as it may be, consistent with the maintenance of efficiency of the administration (Article 35).

(b) Article 15(4) deals with the reservation of seats in the educational institutions. Accordingly, the Union and the State governments have reserved 20% of the seats in all educational institutions maintained by public money.

(c) Articles 330 and 332 provide for reservation of seats in the Lok Sabha and StateLegislative Assemblies.

Reservations for the OBCs: In a few states provision for the reservation of jobs at all levels in the public services and seats in educational institutions, have also be made for OBCs.

The Union Government, however, took a very long time in deciding to provide reservation to the OBCs in the central services. The Commission known as Mandal Commission submitted its report in 1982. It identified 3943 castes as OBC and recommended 27% reservation in government and semi-government jobs and admission to educational institution for OBCs.