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VOL. 13, ISSUE 2 (2026)
Reservation and social mobility: Revisiting Mandal Movement
Authors
Dr. Akash Kumar Rawat, Akanksha Kumari
Abstract
Mandal Movement was one of the crucial social
justice movements in independent India. This movement sparked extensive
discussions on caste, meritocracy, and affirmative action. It was based on the
Mandal Commission’s 1979 recommendations, according to that there was 27% quota
reserve for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in public employment of the central
government. This study examines the impact of reservation policy on the socio-economic
mobility of OBC community. It looks at how affirmative action changed access to
political representation, work, and education. It includes escalating
caste-based division and sparking protests across the country as well. It
examines whether reservation has served as a legitimate tool of social mobility
or as a politically useful tactic. The confluence of caste with class and
gender, geographical differences, and intra-OBC disparities is all given
particular emphasis. The results imply that although the Mandal Movement gave
millions of OBCs more chances. It also revealed structural flaws in India’s
affirmative action system. The Mandal Movement provides important insights into
the intricate connections between changes in society, state policy, and the
ongoing discussions in India about inclusive development and reservations.
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Pages:279-283
How to cite this article:
Dr. Akash Kumar Rawat, Akanksha Kumari "Reservation and social mobility: Revisiting Mandal Movement". International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development, Vol 13, Issue 2, 2026, Pages 279-283
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