India, Nov. 2 -- "Reservation is an instrument of affirmative action by the State. to ensure an all-inclusive march towards. an egalitarian society while counteracting inequalities," ruled the Supreme Court. For decades, India has employed similar policies to help historically marginalised populations gain access to school, employment, and politics.

The Constitution allows the State to establish "special provisions for the advancement of any socially or educationally backward class. or for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes" and reserve public posts for any backward class "not adequately represented". In practice, this has translated into legally guaranteed quotas known as "reservations" for disadvantaged castes in government posi...