Gujarat gives 10 % quota as per new law, may postpone civil service exam

New Delhi : After the implementation of 10% reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS) of the upper caste, Gujarat becomes the first Indian state to act on the law. The state would give 10% quota to poor sections of general category in government jobs and higher education from Makar Sankranti Day, chief minister Vijay Rupani tweets.

Accordingly, there will be change of date of civil service exams slated for January 20, tweeted Gujarat Public Service Commission chairman Dinesh Dasa.

The Gujarat CM also confirmed that 10% quota will be implemented in all recruitments where advertisements have been published but the first stage of exam is yet to be held.

According the government statement, the ongoing process would be cancelled and a fresh course would begin after the implementation of 10% additional quota. Conversely, the reservation would not be applicable in cases where the process of recruitment is written, oral, computer proficiency or preliminary tests, that begun before January 14. 

Meanwhile, the centre's new quota law has been challenged in the Supreme Court by the organisation Youth For Equality, which argues that the economic criterion cannot be the sole basis for reservation and that the quota violates the top court's ceiling. Also, the Gujarat Congress has criticised the state government saying the "hurriedly made announcement" will create confusion.