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Ruling by India’s top court on revising caste affirmative action triggers furore
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![CORRECTION / In this photograph taken on May 6, 2024, women from India's marginalised Dalit caste are pictured in Ayela village on the outskirts of Agra. More than two-thirds of India's 1.4 billion people are estimated to be on the lower rungs of a millennia-old social hierarchy that divides Hindus by function and social standing. Modi's Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has established itself as India's dominant political force with a different pitch: think of your religion first, and caste second. (Photo by Money SHARMA / AFP) / TO GO WITH: India-Vote-Caste, FOCUS Arunabh SAIKIA / “The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Money SHARMA has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [clarifying caption to add reference of Dalit as the marginalised caste]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.”](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/straitstimes/cbac12a674cb996712993954a4a87a4adbe593b6924ce18864fb4f93febfa286?w=480)
Women from India's marginalised Dalits, comprising over 1,000 caste groups across the country recognised as those deserving quotas.
PHOTO: AFP
BENGALURU – A ruling by India’s Supreme Court that allows state governments to modify affirmative action policies to uplift so-called lower caste communities by targeting worst-off groups has triggered heated debate.
Introduced in 1950, affirmative action policies – such as reserving 15 per cent of university seats and government jobs for underprivileged segments of society under a quota system – have benefited millions of Indians, particularly Dalits, or “untouchables”.
