The Centre is hopeful of steering through the Rajya Sabha the bill creating a 10 per cent quota for economically weaker sections (EWS) as several Opposition parties have experimented with such a reservation whenever they have been in power and would now find it difficult to oppose it. This was flagged by Rajya Sabha leader Arun Jaitley at a meeting with Opposition leaders on Tuesday, sources said. Achuthanandan had in 2008 announced a similar quota in Kerala government colleges. Moreover, the Congress had explored the possibility of introducing an EWS quota during its previous tenure and promised to continue the conversation in the party manifesto. The bill is scheduled to be introduced and put up for consideration and passing in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday in a repeat of what transpired in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Source: The Telegraph January 08, 2019 21:45 UTC