Reservation as a Tool of Affirmative Action: Constitutional Vision and Reality

This paper examines the role of reservation as a tool of affirmative action in independent India. After going through the provisions of reservation in the Indian Constitution and how it has worked out so far, it tries to analyse how far it has been able to fulfill the goals for which it was adopted, after 60 years of independence. It asks for necessary changes and modifications that are required to be made to make it more effective in today's globalised world marked by liberal market economy. It concludes by suggesting for moving towards a more secular scheme of affirmative action.