The proportion of SCs in Group A government jobs was only 1.64 per cent at the beginning of 1965. That had risen to 12.5 per cent by January 2008. Similarly, the share of STs in top government jobs increased from a meagre 0.27 per cent in 1965 to 4.9 per cent in 2008, according to data in the latest brochure on reservation brought out by the government.
Even in the lower levels of bureaucracy, the reservation policy has had a similar impact, as 2008 figures show. From 13.17 per cent as of January 1, 1965, the share of SCs in all government jobs increased to 17.51 per cent. STs now have 6.82 per cent of all government jobs as compared to 2.25 per cent in 1965.
This is the first time the government has brought out such a brochure since reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) was introduced in 1993. The previous such brochure in fact came out in 1993 itself. However, the impact of reservations on OBCs during these years has not been quantified.
SCs and STs have been eligible for reservation in government service from the time of Independence. As of now, SCs, STs and OBCs get 15 per cent, 7.5 per cent and 27 per cent reservation respectively in all government posts where appointment is done by open competition.