Why in news
The Congress party has urged the central government to create a law for reservations in private, non-minority educational institutions for SCs, STs, and OBCs.
This demand is based on the 364th Report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports.
The report recommends new legislation to implement Article 15(5) of the Constitution.
The Congress had promised these reservations in its Lok Sabha election manifesto.
Constitutional provisions
Article 15(5) allows the government to make special provisions for socially and educationally backward classes, including reservations in public and private institutions (except minority ones).
This provision was added through the 93rd Amendment Act in 2005.
Article 19(1)(g) ensures the right to practice any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade, or business.
However, Article 19(1)(g) does not prevent the government from making special provisions under Article 15(5) for reservations in educational institutions.
Article 30 deals with the rights of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice, excluding them from the scope of Article 15(5).
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