Supreme Court upholds validity of OBC quota in NEET admissions

Reservation for backward classes is not at odds with merit, the Supreme Court noted on Thursday in its order upholding the existing criteria for admissions to undergraduate and postgraduate courses through the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, reported Live Law.

“Competitive exams do not reflect economic social advantage which is accrued to some classes,” said the bench of Justices DY Chandachud and AS Bopanna. “Merit should be socially contextualised. Reservation is not at odds with merit but furthers its distributive impact.”

The court’s January 7 order meant that 27% of the seats this year will be reserved for OBCs and 10% for those in the Economically Weaker Section category. The annual income criteria of Rs 8 lakh for the Economically Weaker Section quota will also be applicable for this year’s admissions.