Ahmedabad, January 14: Gujarat has become the first state to implement the 10 per cent quota for the Economically Weaker Sections in General Category. The announcement was made by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Monday. The legislation brought by the Narendra Modi government sanctioning 10 per cent quota for the economically weaker section among the upper caste communities was signed by President Ram Nath Kovind on January 11. 10% Upper Caste Quota Bill Cleared by President Ram Nath Kovind.

The 124th Constitution Amendment Bill - which clears reservation beyond the 50 per cent cap - was passed by Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha last week. Rupani announced that the 10 per cent reservation given by the central government in government jobs and education to the economically weaker sections in the general category will come into effect in Gujarat from January 14, Monday. 10% Upper Caste Quota to Boost Confidence of Financially Weak Citizens: PM Modi at BJP National Convention.

The reservation is meant for economically-weaker individuals whose annual earning is below Rs 8 lakh and who possess less than 5 acres of agriculture land.

Speaking on the Bill last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the new law was not aimed at diluting the reservation guaranteed in the Constitution to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. The sole intention of the Bill is "to boost confidence of the financially weak citizens in the general category", he said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 14, 2019 11:37 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).