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The issue of reservations is a thorny one- one that provokes a wide range of feelings and opinions. Currently almost every educational institute have around some seats reserved which are filled by SC/SC candidates.

Government may contemplate increasing the intake of students in IITs and IIMs in order to provide reservations for students belonging to backward categories in the wake of recent Constitution amendment.

Reservation in IITs and IIMs is likely to increase from the current level of 22.5 per cent to a maximum of 49.5 per cent. This would mean that while students of the reserved categories can look forward to a higher number of seats, others may need to burn the proverbial midnight oil longer to secure admission.

I believe standard of these institutes would decline if such a thing happens. IITs and IIMs are brands symbolising quality education that India offers. This has been possible not because these institutes have quality faculty members, but also because of the fact that they get meritorious students at the entry level. You cannot make the sub-standard stuff excel.

Securing admission is just the start of a long journey. Most of the quota students spend years completing their degree. This, despite the fact when they are paid extra attention .

Even if the government is persistent over the reservation issue the question arises Why only on the basis of caste? Why not give reservation to poor people rather than a particular poor community?

All my SC/ST friends in college came from affluent families. I have seen how they used to suffer from inferiority complex when they had to stand in separate queues to enjoy their caste benefits.

If we have a look at the merit list of any entrance exam we would hardly find their names in the first 1000 rankers. The problem is not with their intelligence. The laid-back attitude arises when they are given such liberty in the form of reservations.

Instead of compromising on merit to accommodate others at the centres of academic excellence like IIMs and IITs, the Government needs to provide effective primary education to students from deprived sections of the society. This will enable them to compete with others and carve a niche for themselves in the competitive world

Just to lure minorities for the votes, such injustice by the government is a blow to the hard working, and intelligent students.