Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge says the Modi administration is deliberately leaving 8.2 million central posts empty to undermine reservation for disadvantaged groups. Privatization of PSUs and a surge in contractual hires are further shrinking reserved‑category job opportunities.
- 8.24 lakh central posts vacant in 2024
- 5.1 lakh permanent PSU jobs eliminated
- Contractual workforce grew from 19% to 49%
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday accused the Narendra Modi government of trying to “end reservation through the back door” by allowing more than 8.2 lakh sanctioned posts across civilian central ministries to remain unfilled. He warned that this systematic vacancy strategy denies Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs and Economically Weaker Sections genuine access to government jobs.
Kharge posted a ministry‑wise breakdown on X, showing that the Railways, Defence and Home ministries alone account for 2.40, 2.41 and 1.10 lakh vacancies respectively. He argued that keeping these posts empty effectively blocks reservation‑eligible candidates, while the sale of public‑sector undertakings (PSUs) and the rise of contract labour further erodes the pool of reserved jobs.
According to the data, 5.1 lakh permanent positions in PSUs have been eliminated, and the share of contractual workers has surged from 19% in earlier years to 49% today. This shift not only creates job insecurity but also weakens the constitutional safeguards designed to promote social equity.
Historical Background
Reservation was enshrined in the Indian Constitution of 1950 as a tool for social justice and economic upliftment of historically marginalized communities. While successive governments expanded reservation quotas, the economic liberalization of the 1990s triggered a wave of PSU privatization, gradually reducing the number of permanent, reservation‑covered posts.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that systematic vacancy creation and the rise of contractual hiring can erode constitutional safeguards without any formal amendment, setting a precedent for other democracies grappling with affirmative‑action policies.
“Deliberately leaving posts vacant to render reservation ineffective is a strategic move that undermines democratic constitutional principles.” – Dr. Anita Singh, Constitutional Scholar
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Can filling vacant posts restore the impact of reservation?
A: Yes, if vacancies are genuinely filled and contractual positions are converted to permanent roles, the intended benefits of reservation can be reinstated.
Q2: What long‑term effects does PSU privatization have on reservation?
A: Privatization reduces the number of secure, reservation‑covered jobs, potentially widening social inequality and weakening the policy’s efficacy.
