New Delhi, January 15: Four days after the President cleared the law sanctioning 10 per cent reservation for the economically weaker section among the general category, the Ministry of Human Resources and Development (HRD) has decided to implement the additional quota system in the upcoming admissions for various courses in recognised universities affiliated colleges.

At the meeting chaired on Tuesday by HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar with senior officials of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), it was decided to increase the number of seats in higher educational institutes by upto 25 per cent. Gujarat 1st State to Implement 10% Upper Caste Reservation, Law in Force From Jan 14.

"The reservation will be implemented from the 2019-2020 academic session itself. Nearly 25 per cent seats will be added to ensure that the reservation does not disturb the existing quota for SC, ST and other categories. There are around 40,000 colleges and 900 universities across the country and supernumerary quota will be provided in these," Javadekar told reporters.

The Minister, however, did not specify the number of seats which will be added.

"The modalities are being worked out and within a week's time we will have the exact number of seats that will be added. The operation manuals about how to implement the quota will be issued soon. The colleges and universities will also be asked to mention the quota in their prospectus as well and make infrastructural arrangements accordingly," he added.

Javadekar also said that the private universities are also ready to implement the quota.

The Rajya Sabha on January 9 approved amending the Constitution to provide 10 per cent reservation to general category poor in jobs and education, with the government terming the landmark move as "slog over sixes".

The quota will be over and above the existing 50 per cent reservation to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 15, 2019 11:07 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).