Bhaai Kapil, in addition to what Jitender Sir has already added.. Let me give another fine example of how reservation can actually
improve the over all competition.
Case is of Tamilnadu Medical entrance exam, See what happened to cut-off over a period of 10 year:
Year 1996, the cut-off was
OC - 294
BC - 289
MBC - 283
SC - 269
Year 2005, the cut off was
OC - 297
BC - 295
MBC - 294
SC - 291
(OC is open category, BC is backward, MBC is Most backward and SC has the usual meaning.)
So, what is your conclusion here?? [By the way, during 1996-2005 there was no new caste addition in any of these categories. You can conclude the obvious effect of reservation here.

]
Now coming to Jat reservation: If there is no increase in 50% limit (of maximum reservation, as per Supreme Court directives) and Jats are included in the OBC list; it will do wonders to the cut-off for OBC category.. (cut-off will go up at once) And
most importantly, NO harm to open category merit !!
Giving some % of reservation to a small section DOES effect the merit, including more and more castes under reserve category does
NO further harm.
It actually negates the ill-effect of reservation!!
>> If you really support the ideology "
merit should prevail", then you have NO reason to
oppose the inclusion of JATs into OBC.
>> BUT if it is more of JAT ego "
"हाम कमीण थोड़े ना हैं... जाट हैं... हामने reservation ना चाहिए; इब कमिणा खड़े हौंगे हाम ""; I do understand the sentiments and this shallow JAT pride. Even, my younger brother said that JAT should not be given reservation.
He, like most here, has no cogent reason to oppose reservation.. ONLY Ego.. stupid, misplaced JAT pride.
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Kapil, I do appreciate your balanced view on almost all topics.. But i do not subscribe your theory here.
Of course, there is NO way that i can prove you wrong!! [
simply because it is hypothetical; this is something you believe is going to happen based on certain assumptions]
But... by the same token, i can say that:
"lowering of bar" will encourage me to aim higher !!
i mean, why hey NIT or some stupid engineering college.. now i am in OBC; Why not IIT!!
why SSC graduation level exam.. lets give a crack at UPSC, why bank PO.. why not try for CAT; why Rohtak medical college.. why not AFMC pune or AIIMS, why phd from DU or PU.. Lets face the IISc interview!!
What i mean to say is this: Even if somebody is under the illusion that OBC reservation "lowers the bar" (which it does NOT) and the fact that there are "many fields" with
different bar heights;
rather than aiming for the 'bar' lower than his/her potential, one can always choose other higher field as per his/her potential.
Benefit of reservation is not in terms of lower cut-off.. It is more about number of seats one fights for. I would not suggest anybody in OBC to prepare any lesser than what he/she would have prepared had he/she been in open category.
You take the example IIT-JEE... how much is the in-take ratio: 2-3% (m not sure)!! Students, who were in 3-4% range from the top are more or less of same IQ/competent. Situation is same in all other exams!
If reservation for Jats increases the competition in OBCs and it can improve the lives of even a few fellow Jats.. I have absolutely no reason to oppose it. Do I ??