Social Transformation through Affirmative Action in India: A Critical Analysis

Abstract

In a free and democratic country law is used as an instrument of social change and social transformation as well. In India, after independence, the independent Indian government had to face lots of challenges relating to removing of existing economic and social disparities among different class of people. So many steps have been taken to eradicate the imbalances of status of different classes and castes prevailing in the country. Affirmative action or reservation of seats in educational institutions and public employments is one of them. Affirmative action to eradicate the imbalances brought a great change in the social status of the backward classes people including the schedule castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes. The thrust of this research paper is to make a thorough examination whether after elapse 73 years of reservation policy, any changes occurred in the economic status or social status of these classes? That needs a critical analysis.