Maratha Reservation

Maratha Reservation

Why in News? 

Recently, Leader Manoj Jarange started his indefinite hunger strike at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan for ‘Maratha Reservation’.

• He demanded recognition of Marathas under Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota for jobs and education.
• Manoj Jarange has been asking for a 10% quota for Marathas under the OBC category.
• He has demanded that Marathas should be identified as Kunbis, an agrarian group already included in the OBC list.

Historical Background of the Maratha Reservation Movement

• 1981–2000: The first organized protest for Maratha reservation was led by Annasaheb Patil in 1981 at Mumbai. He demanded economic justice for the community. His protest ended tragically when he took his own life the next day. This event ignited the Maratha reservation movement. The movement stayed quiet for years after that. 

• 2014-2015: In 2014, the state government set up a panel led by Narayan Rane, which proposed 16% reservation for Marathas before the assembly elections. The move aimed to address community demands, but the decision soon faced legal scrutiny and the Bombay High Court stayed its implementation after challenges were filed.

• 2016–2017: A major wave began after the Kopardi incident in 2016. The community held massive protests across Maharashtra. Marathas demanded reservation and justice. The government responded by creating a special SEBC (Socially and Educationally Backward Classes) category and granted 16 % reservation based on their population share.

• 2018–2019: The state legislature passed the Maratha Reservation Act in November 2018. The act provided 16 % reservation for education and jobs. A cabinet sub-committee (Gaikwad Commission) formed to implement the law. Court petitions challenged the act’s validity. In June 2019, the Bombay High Court upheld it but lowered quotas to 12 % in education and 13 % in jobs.

• 2020–2021: In September 2020, the Supreme Court stayed the Maratha quota, citing constitutional limits on reservation. In May 2021, the Court struck it down legally, saying the law breached the 50 % ceiling. This decision renewed public outrage and reignited protests across the state.

• 2023–2024: The state government formed another cabinet sub-committee in 2022–2023. The panel focused on recognizing Marathas as Kunbi kin to fit within the OBC legal framework. It extended the committee’s mandate in 2023 to explore legal pathways for validating caste certificates for Marathas. Public leaders promised careful compliance with law.

• 2024–2025: On 20 February 2024, the Maharashtra Assembly cleared a fresh law granting 10% quota to Marathas under a separate SEBC category. The bill passed unanimously in a special session. The governor signed it, and it became law shortly after. 

• • • The government relied on findings from the Justice (retd) Sunil Shukre Commission, which submitted its report in January 2024. The commission surveyed nearly 2.5 crore families and highlighted the backwardness and poverty among Marathas. It found that 21.22% of Maratha families live below the poverty line.

• In March 2024, the state included 10 % Maratha quota in a 17,471-position police recruitment drive.

• • A petition challenging the 10 % law for Marathas under SEBC for medical admissions remains before the courts. 
  • In mid-2025, the Supreme Court directed the Bombay High Court to form a special bench and fast-track the case. Court rulings remain pending as of now.

Who are the Marathas?

• Origin: The Marathas emerged as a distinct community in the Deccan region of western India. Historical records trace their presence to the 13th and 14th centuries when many agrarian families began consolidating under regional chieftains. Scholars note that the Marathas evolved from a blend of peasant cultivators, soldiers, and landholding classes. Over time, the community established itself as a martial and agrarian group with strong ties to rural society. 

• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj: The Maratha identity gained stronger recognition during the 17th century under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Born in 1630, Shivaji united several scattered clans and built a strong kingdom in western India. 

• He established the Maratha Empire in 1674 with his coronation at Raigad. Shivaji promoted self-rule, military organization, and agrarian reforms. 

• His leadership helped transform the Marathas into a politically dominant force. 

• After his death in 1680, Maratha generals carried forward the struggle against the Mughals, creating a larger sense of unity among the clans.

• Expansion: During the 18th century, the Marathas rose as the most powerful force in India. The Peshwas, who served as prime ministers, expanded their influence across large parts of the subcontinent. By 1761, the Maratha Confederacy controlled territories from the Deccan to northern India. The defeat in the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761 slowed expansion, but Marathas continued to play a decisive role in Indian politics.

• Social Composition: The Maratha community is not homogenous. It consists of multiple clans with different roles in society. Historically, many Marathas were landowners and cultivators, while others served as soldiers and administrators. Over centuries, they balanced both martial and agrarian roles. 

• • • The top layer of the Marathas—with surnames like More, Deshmukh, Bhonsle, Shirke, Jadhav—are the Kshatriyas (warriors).

• Participation in Freedom Struggles: The Marathas actively contributed to India’s freedom movement. Leaders from the community joined both moderate and revolutionary streams. Figures like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, though more closely associated with the broader Chitpavan Brahmin background, inspired large sections of Marathas to enter politics. Many Maratha youth later became part of the non-cooperation movement and peasant struggles in the early 20th century.

• Modern Identity: Marathas are estimated to make up nearly 30 to 32 percent of the total population in Maharashtra, as indicated by census records. In the 20th century, many Marathas became influential in sugar cooperatives, local politics, and education institutions. The community produced a large number of chief ministers and legislators in the state since independence in 1947. 

Steps Taken by Government

• Extension of Genealogy Committee: The Maharashtra government continues to depend on the Genealogy Committee to address the question of Maratha reservation. On 30 August 2024, the state extended the committee’s tenure up to 30 June 2026. This decision ensures that the verification process for issuing caste certificates and caste validity certificates does not face disruption. 
  • The state had originally created the body in 2023 as the Justice Sandeep Shinde Committee, popularly known as the Genealogy Committee.
• Role of the Committee: The committee works at the tehsil level under the leadership of the Tehsildar, and it verifies the eligibility of individuals who claim links with the Kunbi or Maratha-Kunbi caste. 
  • Its primary role is to examine historical records, agricultural registers, and family documents to determine whether applicants from the Maratha community can be recognised as Kunbis, who already enjoy OBC reservation benefits. 

Way Forward

• The state must follow a path that respects both constitutional limits and the genuine needs of the community. The government should frame policies that remain legally sustainable while also responding to the social and economic challenges faced by Marathas.
• The government should continue to build comprehensive socio-economic surveys that capture the real conditions of Maratha families. Detailed and transparent reports can create a stronger foundation for judicial acceptance of reservation policies.
• Authorities should design welfare schemes such as educational scholarships, skill development programs, and agricultural support systems. These policies will directly reach those families who remain outside formal jobs.

Related Articles 

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• Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill 2024