Downloads: 0
Research Paper | Law | Volume 15 Issue 3, March 2026 | Pages: 687 - 693 | India
Law and Social Change Through Reservation in India: A Critical Analysis of Constitutional Provisions, Inclusivity, and Diversity
Abstract: Reservation in India has long functioned as a transformative constitutional mechanism aimed at achieving substantive equality and social justice for historically disadvantaged communities. Rooted in the constitutional vision of equality under Articles 14, 15, and 16, reservation policies seek to address entrenched structural inequalities arising from caste, social exclusion, and economic marginalisation. This paper critically examines the role of reservation as an instrument of law-led social change, analysing its constitutional foundations, judicial evolution, and contemporary relevance within India's dynamic socio-legal landscape. Adopting a doctrinal and socio-legal approach, the study traces the evolution of reservation through landmark constitutional amendments and judicial interpretations, including key Supreme Court decisions that have shaped the contours of affirmative action. It evaluates how courts have attempted to balance competing constitutional values such as equality, merit, efficiency, and social justice, while responding to changing social realities. The paper further examines recent developments, including the expansion of reservation to Economically Weaker Sections, and assesses their implications for the traditional understanding of social backwardness and constitutional equality. Beyond traditional doctrinal analysis, the paper situates reservation within emerging legal challenges such as digital governance, algorithmic decision-making, environmental justice, and labour rights in the context of the gig economy. It argues that new forms of exclusion generated by technological advancement, climate-induced displacement, and precarious employment necessitate a re-examination of reservation policies through an inclusive and forward-looking constitutional lens. The paper contends that reservation must be understood not as a static policy tool but as a dynamic constitutional response to evolving patterns of inequality. It concludes by advocating for a responsive and principled legal framework that integrates constitutional morality, empirical assessment, and institutional accountability, ensuring that reservation continues to function as an effective mechanism for social transformation in a rapidly changing society.
Keywords: Reservation, Social Justice, Constitutional Law, Social Change, Digital Governance
How to Cite?: Bini Anil Pillai, Dr. Sanjaya Chaudhari, "Law and Social Change Through Reservation in India: A Critical Analysis of Constitutional Provisions, Inclusivity, and Diversity", Volume 15 Issue 3, March 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 687-693, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26310215527, DOI: https://dx.dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26310215527