The Narendra Modi government’s landmark bill reserving 10 percent of government jobs for the economically weaker sections among the upper castes, a move criticised by opposition parties as a pre-election gimmick amid high unemployment rates in the country, cleared the Parliament test with the Rajya Sabha passing it late on Wednesday.

The approval in Rajya Sabha was a formality after almost all political parties voiced their support for it. The Lok Sabha already passed the bill.

In the last leg of the legislative process, the bill will now go to the President for approval. And once its gets his ascent, it will become the law that will give economically weaker sections in the general category 10 percent reservation in education as well as central and state government jobs.

In the upper house on Wednesday night, 165 members voted in support of the so-called Constitution (103rd Amendment) Bill, which seeks to amend Article 15 and 16 of the Constitution to enable reservation for the "economically weaker" sections in the general category. This section had so far been kept out of the ambit of reservation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the passage of the quota bill as a victory of social justice and said it will ensure a wider canvas for the youth to showcase their prowess and contribute towards the country's transformation.

Delighted the Rajya Sabha has passed The Constitution (One Hundred And Twenty-Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2019.

Glad to see such widespread support for the Bill.The House also witnessed a vibrant debate, where several members expressed their insightful opinions.— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 9, 2019

On Tuesday, Lok Sabha passed the bill with 323 members voting in support of the bill. Three members voted against the bill.

Opposition parties, including the Congress, dubbed the proposed law as a political gimmick that may not stand judicial scrutiny but came around to support it during voting, underlining the huge political import of the measure aimed at placating upper castes.

The bill to amend the Constitution was floated by the ruling BJP days after losing power in three big states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh ahead of the general elections due by May. Beneficiaries of new reservation the must be classed as "economically weak". Only people with an annual income below Rs 8 lakh) and owning fewer than five acres of land will be eligible.

Unemployment in India shot up to a 15-month high last month, data from independent think-tank the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) showed, underlining the biggest challenge to Modi's bid to retain power in a general election due by May.

The data also showed that India lost as many as 11 million jobs last year with around 83 percent in rural areas, as operational costs surged for small businesses since the launch of the goods and services tax in 2017 and ban in 2016 on high value currency notes.

The bill was approved after the House rejected 5 amendments moved by Opposition members. The quota will be over and above the existing 50 percent reservation to SCs, STs and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

Replying to nearly eight hour long debate in Rajya Sabha, social justice and empowerment minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot asked Congress how it would have implemented the promise it made in its election manifesto of giving giving reservation to poor of general category but by amending the Constitution.

He said reservation to SC, ST and OBCs will not be touched by the amendment and opposition parties should have supported the legislation without any ifs and buts.

The changes in the Constitution being made to provide the reservation will hold scrutiny of the Supreme Court, he hoped. Filling up of jobs reserved for SC/STs and OBCs is an ongoing process, he said, adding the bill was an attempt to benefit poor of general category who have been deprived so far.

While opposition parties questioned the motive behind bringing the legislation just four months before the general elections, union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad used cricketing anology to justify the move saying 'sixes are hit only in the slog overs' and said more such "sixers" are in the pipeline.

Several opposition members raised doubts about the legality of the bill in view of the Supreme Court setting limit of quotas at 50 percent. Minister of state for social justice and empowerment Ramdas Athawale said he saw nothing wrong in bringing a bill to win election.

Congress and other opposition parties also raised doubts over the move actually benefiting the deserving when, they said, government jobs are drying and the economy is witnessing a jobless growth.

Questioning the criteria defined to classify economically backward classes in general caterogy as persons with annual family income of Rs 8 lakh when income tax exemption limit is only Rs 2.5 lakh, they also asked why in the four-and-half-years the Modi government did not bring women's reservation

bill and one for reservation for SCs in promotion.

Satish Chandra Misra (BSP) said the bill was motivated by meeting of his party chief and Samajwadi Party head for a possible poll alliance in Uttar Pradesh, which sends most MPs in the Lok Sabha.

(With inputs from PTI)

First Published:Jan 9, 2019 10:16 PM IST