Maharashtra approves 16% Maratha quota in jobs and education
Marathas, the politically influential community in Maharashtra, will now be able to get 16% reservation in government jobs and education in the state. The state legislature on Thursday cleared the quota bill within minutes of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis tabling the legislation, first in the state assembly, and later, the upper house.
The bill is called the Maharashtra State Reservation (of seats for admission in education institutions in the state and for appointments in public services and posts under the state) for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act, 2018.
With the move, the caste reservation quota in the state will now reach 68% from the existing 52%. It will come into force as soon as Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao clears the law. But the bill could still undergo intense legal scrutiny.
The previous Congress-Nationalist Congress Party government too had given 16% quota to the Maratha community in 2014, which was later set aside by the court.
The current Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state insists that it has followed a legally viable route since its decision is based on recommendations of the state backward class commission, which has the legal status to decide the backwardness of a particular community. The decision on quota is based on the commission’s recommendations.
The reservation to the community that comprises around 32% population of the state, has been granted on the basis on the report by the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission (MSBCC) that has declared it as socially and educationally backward.
The commission has also recommended that the state government must take appropriate decision for providing reservation benefits to the Marathas under constitutional provisions to address the emerging scenario.
The community has been demanding reservation for decades and will now get reservation facilities as SEBC community. The state government was under tremendous pressure over providing reservation to Marathas as the community outfits had started state-wide agitations for past two years.
All political parties have already declared their support to the reservation demand to Marathas. No discussion took place on the bill, when Fadnavis tabled it in the both the Houses one by one.
Leader of opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar and leaders from all the political parties in the state assembly extended their support to the bill that was passed without any discussion. In council too, it was passed within minutes.

Facial recognition systems, 5-layer cover for Republic Day Parade, tractor march

On Republic Day, Arvind Kejriwal salutes real heroes of the country

Ram temple construction: VHP team expected to meet Delhi CM this week

Republic Day 2021: Where, when to watch the parade

Selfie, sitar, cricket: Google celebrates R-Day with Mumbai artist's doodle

'Jai Hind': PM Modi greets nation on 72nd Republic Day
- Only around 25,000 spectators will be allowed to witness the parade as compared to the average of 1.15 lakh people every year.

Live Updates: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal greets nation on occasion of Republic Day
- Republic Day 2021 Live Updates: The Republic Day Parade ceremony will commence with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the National War Memorial.

With many firsts, India’s military might, cultural diversity on display on R-Day
- The Republic Day Parade ceremony will commence with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the National War Memorial. He will lead the nation in paying tributes to the fallen heroes by laying a wreath.

Much ado about Netaji portrait at Prez House
- The claim, that the portrait was based on Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee, popularly known as Bumba, who played Bose in a 2019 movie, Gumnaami gathered momentum.

Troops come to blows in India-China face-off
- The latest incident took place at Naku La area, which is at a height of over 5,000 metres, on January 20, when Chinese soldiers attempted to intrude into the Indian territory.

Conversion ordinance: Don’t take HC ‘lightly’, top court tells UP govt
- The state government, got adjournments from the high court in the last two hearings citing the pendency of the similar petitions before the Supreme Court.

India to impose permanent ban on 59 Chinese apps, including TikTok: Report

Govt confers 119 Padma honours
- The list of Padma awards also comprised 10 Padma Bhushan and 102 Padma Shri recipients.

SC rejects Andhra govt plea to defer local polls
- On January 8, state election commissioner N Ramesh Kumar released the schedule for elections to be held in four phases

Stage set for mega tractor rally; Parliament march on Feb 1
- The police say about 30,000 tractors are likely to participate in the rally, but farm leaders said the number of vehicles will be closer to 200,000.