New Delhi: The Union Government is closely examining the recommendation of the Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet to reduce the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) quota by seven percent in order to increase the share of Open Merit jobs and seats, official sources said.
The Cabinet Sub Committee (CSC) report on reservation is currently with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, which is studying the proposal in detail. Sources indicated that most States and Union Territories have implemented a 10 percent reservation for the EWS category. In that context, reducing it to three percent in Jammu and Kashmir may not find favour, particularly in the absence of what is being described as adequate data and detailed study to justify such a cut.
According to sources, one of the key concerns flagged is the lack of comprehensive data on the EWS population in the Union Territory to support the proposed reduction.
The CSC had recommended a 10 percent restructuring within the existing reservation framework to increase Open Merit representation by an equal percentage. Under the proposal cleared by the UT Cabinet, the EWS quota would be reduced from 10 percent to 3 percent, while the RBA quota would be brought down from 10 percent to 7 percent.
Sources suggested that reducing the RBA quota may not pose significant issues, but added that the category itself requires periodic review, as some areas earlier classified as backward may have seen development over time.
The CSC was constituted on December 10, 2024, by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. It comprised Ministers Sakina Itoo, Javed Rana and Satish Sharma, and submitted its report within the stipulated six-month period. The UT Cabinet approved the recommendations on December 3, 2025, and forwarded them to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who in turn sent them to the Ministry of Home Affairs for final consideration.
If approved, the recommendations would increase Open Merit jobs and seats to 40 percent in direct quota and 50 percent in vertical reservation, up from the current 30 percent. At present, reservations including EWS account for 70 percent of jobs and seats in Jammu and Kashmir.
Currently, ST-I, ST-II, RBA and EWS categories each have 10 percent reservation. Scheduled Castes and OBCs have 8 percent each, while the ALC/IB category has 4 percent. Additionally, there is a 10 percent horizontal reservation, including 6 percent for ex-servicemen and 4 percent for persons with disabilities.
The final decision now rests with the Centre, and clarity is expected once the Ministry of Home Affairs completes its review.
